Taylor Swift Takes The Piss

At this point it's been out for over 24hrs, so I know you will have seen it by now. Yes, I'm talking about Taylor Swift's new music video for Blank Space. I've been listening to the album non stop since I wrote my album review, and I've come to the decision, this is one of my favourite hits on 1989!

The video however, has taken this love to a whole new adoration level. But I can't help but notice the theme of Taylor taking the piss out of herself, or to be more accurate, what the media portrays her as. Let's have a closer look at these incidences...

1.The White Horse Came Back Around

The single, White Horse was released almost six years ago. Damn. Once upon a time, she told us "it's too late"... but here we are in 2014, and not only is the rather fabulous (in many, many ways) Sean O'pry sitting there on his snowy stallion, but so is Taylor. Can we also point out she stood up on a bloody horse?! Totally not special effects.

Anyway, clearly a sassy metaphor... love it!

2. A Manor House and a Ballgown... Deja vu?

Does all that running about in formal wear seem familiar? Well, it's probably because of Miss Swift and her fairytale-istic music video for Love Story...
This is probably the song which catapulted her to worldwide recognition, and image which many associate her with. Perhaps a princess? delusional? I don't know, I've heard them all. But her growth since this song is fabulous.
Look at that smile in Blank Space... yeah, I'd be smiling too if I were in that situation.
Here's a few more Love Story parallels:

3. Bikes, Begin Again? 

Old Swifty's at it again: riding a beautiful antique bike. I remember the release of Begin Again video and people were commenting on the bike riding, especially with the skirt... hey, it's just exercising, plus have you seen that girl's legs? It must be doing something. But in the 1989 era, there's one difference, and that's that she seems so much happier and confident. It's almost as if she is joking about the pouty, romanticised Begin Again video.

4. He's The Reason For The Teardrops On My... Fireplace?

Teardrops On My Guitar is probably one of the most criticized of Taylor's songs. And maybe she was better off not being so concerned over some douche guy, but none of us know what the situation was like.

That saying, she's now learnt that the best way to deal with these people criticizing her, is to give them what they want. You think she's a psycho sobbing over a beautiful fireplace? She's going to give you that, with some scarily good scary eyes!

Have you found any more parallels in Taylor's new video, Blank Space? Why not watch the video and drop a comment below if you do!

MTV EMA Playlist

If you're like me and didn't get tickets to the EMAs, you're probably sitting at home in your pjs feeling sorry for yourself, remote in hand. So while the show goes on (and only a few miles away from me!), have a listen to this playlist... just as good as being at the awards!

5 Ways Pixar Has Shaped Our Lives

Today has been a very exciting day for those in their teens to the early twenties, damn it even your parent's and little cousins are going to be squealing with happiness!

Toy Story 4 has just been announced, and is set for release on 16th of June 2017! The reason I say, even adults will be excited is because, Pixar don't do "wishy washy" plot-less dribble: the stories often have amazing morals attached to them and the odd adult joke. Do you remember the "I'll tell you when you're older" line you were given? And now we all know...

Let's take a look back at what lessons were taught, stories were told and memories made by this awesome company!

1. Pizza Planet Truck

You went to go see a Pixar movie, knowing one thing is for sure: the Pizza Planet Truck would be there! Except for in The Incredibles, but we won't speak of that. Many people went to see Brave, to see how the animators would fit in the iconic vehicle into ancient Scotland. You can see in the first picture above, how they managed to do so by having the witch/wood carver (we saw right through you!) chopping away, to make one.
Rule 1: You might have no interest in the plot (what the hell is wrong with you?!), but you will go to spot the Pizza Planet Trucks!

2. Woody and Buzz taught us about friendship

Before Toy Story, there wasn't much representation of what real friendships are like. Sure, you might "rip the shit" out of each other, but you definitely will save them from an evil toy collector, or the bully next door, or demonic toys. Never has there been a bromance quite like Woody and Buzz on the silver screen.

3. Nemo helped us (and our parent's) learn we are braver and stronger than we think

Nemo was a little guy with an abnormally small fin. But he's the toughest guy you ever did see in a Pixar movie. He might have been scared at the start but, in the end he saved himself and Dory, along with a little help from his Dad.

I know for me, my family tell me that I can't do this or that, because I'm not strong enough, tall enough, old enough (yes, and I'm 19), independent enough... In general: just not enough. And so did Marlin with Nemo. It took a big step for them both to realise Nemo's potential, even if he had a small fin. A brilliant moral, that actually has some really inspiring undertones!

4. Monster's Inc followed us through life

Released in 2001

Released in 2013

In 2001 I was six, so pretty close to the age of Boo. I still remember going to the cinema and being terrified of Randall. What if my door at night suddenly opened up to the Antarctic?! What if the Abominable Snowman offered me a snow cone?! The possible repercussions don't bare thinking about.

But then Monster's University came around, and it was Sully and Mike's age I was close to. In fact it came out the year I started University. You can't help but think, with Pixar's track record, that this was not a coincidence. It's a really scary period for young people to go through. You go on your first day, not knowing if you're going speak to anyone when it comes to making friends, or if classes are going to be way too advanced for you, or if you'll even enjoy your degree. I think it's important to thank Pixar for the representation of young people going through that point in their lives. Thank you!

5. Inside Out - coming 19th June 2015!

I'm super excited for this movie. Emotions are not something really, properly shown in Hollywood, and I guess it can screw kids up. But this movie has a normal young girl, living in an identikit town, has feelings, and facing a realistic situation. Especially with mental illness being something still taboo (wtf), this is a really big step forward! Bravo, Pixar.

Plus it also features the fabulous Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, and Bill Hader... How will it not be a hit?!

The Happy Secret To Better Work: A Video That Helped My Anxiety

This video at first sight might look like a drag. But it's far from that, it's about human nature.

I have gone through periods of really bad anxiety, only to go to the doctors and be given a leaflet. It's almost a comical representation of healthcare nowadays.

But when I watched this talk, I was captured by Shawn Achor's humour and couldn't help but feel positive. It's not until you give positivity a go, you realise the potential behind the theory. 

He talks about being a student, and I completely understand what he is saying about these young people and their struggles. Somehow, and I believe it's largely down to positive thinking, I've managed to open myself up to a whole range of experiences, just over two years ago I'd have gone into a crying, panic attack over. This includes going to University. 

There's various different people, gurus, organisations, you-name-it that promote this kind of thinking, but this is a great, concise video that introduces the practice of positive psychology. Give it a watch!

My Hair History

I'm only nineteen, yet I've gone through a multitude of hairstyles, hair colours and... um, hair traumas... So let's take a look back at the sequence of events... and questionable trends. P.s. excuse the 2008-esque selfies

The Early Days

As a child my Mum had complete control over the style of my hair. Which basically meant shoulder length and fringe: beautiful... I'd have to give this 5/10, there was much worse to come. (p.s. a strapless Christmas dance dress is being worn here, not what you're thinking)

The Highlights of the Highlights

Around 2007 I began experimenting with my hair, making me aged eleven to twelve. You know kids want to emulate their mum, so I asked for highlights (about a level 7) like hers and had a mid-length swoopy side fringe (really, it was in!). This was a nice look and brightened up my face: 7/10, cute for younger me...

But blonde gets addictive and I wanted more... I convinced my mum to let me buy some wash in wash out dye in a light blonde, and because most of my hair was virgin, the colour took amazingly well! If I could, I'd try and aim for something like this right now, a root colour (level 6?) blending into a lighter colour (level 7/8). Bit nicer, 8/10!

Mahogany and "The Pob"

But I grew bored of the natural blonde and wanted something a little more... interesting. Being a child in the early naughties, I loved STEPS, and I loved Lisa from STEPS, along with her hair. So I went Mahogany with the L'oreal Casting Creme. But this was done with the assistance of my Dad: Mother did not approve, so it soon went and faded. Not too bad, so 7.5/10.

I got fed up again and did something crazy with my haircut: I got an A line bob, of course styled after Victoria Beckham... I'm still gobsmacked when people don't remember the famed Pob (Posh bob, if you didn't get that one!). This was not a cute look on me... oops 4/10.

The Regrowth and the Black

I spent a long, long time trying to grow that out. I also spent a long time trying to grow out of that baby fat, both eventually happened.

My aim was to be able to grow my hair over my boobs. I was a classy girl, what can I say. I got it to a certain point before I decided I wanted hair like Megan Fox a-la overly dark hair (L'oreal Casting Creme in Dark Chocolate... still can't believe I took myself to a level 3/4). This was probably the point my hair started to become over-processed. Hmm, 3/10.

Black to Blea(k)ch

I soon took my mothers advice of the colour being too dark, and stopped after about three or four reapplications. But my hair was so bulked out with dye molecules, that there was no way I could lighten this safely. I thought all was lost, and would have to wait for regrowth all over again. That was until one day I was watching the tv and saw an advert for a product called Colour B4, which strips the dye from the hair. I gave it a go and it was wonderful: I went from a level 3 to a level 5-ish, without peroxide. Best condition I had been in ages, also that nasty fringe was on its way out! 7/10, I liked it a lot.

But that didn't last long, I craved blonde again, so went on a long journey to become an icey platinum. A lot of my friends still say they'll see pictures of me blonde and be shocked, I'm quite obviously a better brunette. The regrowth was dyer (pun intended) and I was getting it done professionally. I have since vowed to never go to the completely blonde side again.

Back to Brown

I returned to brown, by going to the hairdresser and dying over the bleached hair. This was a lovely colour, but would came out of the hair easily, after the amount of bleach that had previously made it porous . Also, this was the first time I went to that specific hairdresser and he cut about three or so inches off my hair (after asking for one): the colour was so natural, but I sobbed over my now "long bob". Safe to say, I never went back. But hair grows, as it does, and I then loved how it looked. I'd like to say 7/10.

My mop had very little differentiation for a couple of years as I grew it back to a long length. There was a bit of lightening with John Frieda Go Blonder Lightening Spray, which did cause a little damage. That resulted in me going back to the hairdressers after the disastrous cut. I was confident as they are known to be the best salon brand in the West of Scotland. But when I started getting colour there, to try and even it out: that was where the nightmare began. They would make it so dark and it had such a strong red undertone! But after four or five washes, it would fade to a nice natural colour. Ehh, 5/10.

The Balayage and the Beast, To Now

My mum had gone away for the weekend up to the North of Scotland, while I stayed at home, preparing for a new year at University. I decided I wanted something natural and lighter. That's when I discovered balayage. I took the picture below to the salon, you know, the famously good one I previously mentioned, and asked for something similar.

The criteria I gave was: to be recognisable as brunette (no bleach blonde again please!), blended as I wanted it to look super natural, no lighter than a level 7, and ashy.

That saying the hairdresser threw that aside and gave me this (0/10!):

I was beyond pissed, especially since it cost £130, but I pretended I liked once it was done: maybe I was just being a spoilt brate that'd never be happy with her hair. I cried and cried and refused to go out, so the next day my grandparents took me back for them to fix this disaster, Guy Tang would be appalled by this site!

They basically put highlights through it (it was like going blonde all over again: disaster!) to "fix it", but It turned out horrifically too... I heard the hairdresser saying she was using a level 10 blonde, no wonder! Then the salon's colourist came over and fixed by blending from a level 5 brown, to a level 6. It was nice enough, just incredibly dark (and not those levels). It faded quickly on the ends, since it was porous and had go back, costing me another £90.

I've not gone back to that specific salon, but another in the franchise, for a cut. I figured if I got some shorter layers cut into it, that'd chop a whole lot of that nasty bleach out. And it did, thank god. Also, since I've been on holiday, so that level 5 brown you see above (who are you kidding), has faded to a lovely level 5.5. Furthermore, because of the highlights that were placed in the "colour correction", I now have actual balayage, hooray! I'm loving my hair right now: 9/10.

Let me know, have you had any hair disasters? Or even better, amazing hairstyles you've loved?