Highlights of 2016 ❤

I think it's safe to say that 2016 has been a rollercoaster of a year that, when looking back, seems to have more highs than lows. However, I think it's also proof that we can remain strong even in the darkest of times. While there have been a lot of lows for me personally this year, I've also been fortunate enough to have a lot of highlights that outweigh the lows. So, this blogpost is going to be about my highlights of 2016. 

JANUARY

I celebrated two birthdays this month as it was my brother's 27th birthday on the 7th (that's his cake in the picture, it was amazing) and my mum's on the 24th. For my brother's birthday, we just relaxed at home by playing games and having a fun night. For my Mum's birthday, we went out to Wetherspoons for her birthday meal. I also watched Joy, which stars Jennifer Lawrence as the title character, at the cinema and I loved it. Not only that but Charlotte Crosby did a signing for her second fitness DVD at my local HMV in Manchester and I met her for a third time, she was just as sweet and funny as always. 

FEBRUARY

I'm known for having a very messy room as it's very small and there's not enough space to put all my things which end up on the floor. I also was sleeping on a bed that had a hole in the middle and was full of old books and magazines under the bed so my dad decided that he would treat me to a new bed and help me sort out my room. In February, we spent a few days cleaning my room and getting rid of all the stuff that I didn't need. I was shocked at how much rubbish there was under my bed and by rubbish I mean that it was full of old books and magazines that I'd kept hidden for years. After getting rid of the rubbish and my old bed, Dad took me out to get a new bed and mattress. You can see the new bed in the right picture and it's definitely a lot better than my previous one. It's a lot comfier and my bedroom looks a lot more tidier now. Other highlights of this month include going to the cinema to watch Deadpool, which was one of the funniest films I've watched, and watching my favourite band Little Mix perform at the BRITs.

MARCH

 I think that March was definitely one of the best months of the year. On the 12th, I met Vicky Pattison, who did an in-store appearance at House Of CB at Manchester Arndale, for a third time and she was so down to earth as usual. A week later, on the 19th, I saw Ellie Goulding perform at the Manchester Arena on her Delirium tour and she was amazing. I'm a huge fan of her and her songs and she has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. However, my favourite highlight of this month was seeing Little Mix on their Glory Days tour. This was the first of their tour that I'd been to and I couldn't have been more excited. I had great seats (I was about three rows from the front) because I had the VIP Up Close & Personal package. Little Mix certainly did not disappoint and they performed all of their best songs including Wings, DNA, Salute, Move and they also performed new songs from their album including Black Magic, Love Me Like You, Secret Love Song and many more. I had the most incredible night and I remember leaving thinking that I wanted to see them again. Fortunately, earlier this year, Little Mix released their fourth album, Glory Days, and announced that they were touring in late 2017 and that they're doing three dates at Manchester Arena. I'm seeing the girls on October 20th and November 22nd next year and I couldn't be more excited to see them perform again. I've written a blogpost about Little Mix's Get Weird Tour, you can read it here.

APRIL

To be honest, I don't remember much from April as I think I was quite ill this month but I do remember going to the cinema and watching films like The Huntsman: Winter's War and 10 Cloverfield Lane, both of which were very good films (click the link to read my reviews). I remember when 10 Cloverfield Lane was released, I thought I wasn't going to watch it as I didn't think I would enjoy it, so I read the entire synopsis on IMDb (Internet Movie Database). However, a month later, Mum was dying to see it as she'd love the first film, Cloverfield, so I watched 10 Cloverfield Lane with her and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It was more of a thriller than a horror and focused on three characters. Despite knowing how the film was going to turn out, I was still on the edge of my seat especially during the climax. This is definitely one of the best films I've watched this year and is worth a watch if you like thrillers.

MAY

If you know me, you'll know that I love films. As you've probably guessed by this blogpost, I enjoy going to the cinema so I thought that I would get a Cineworld Unlimited Card which means, by paying a monthly fee, I can go to the cinema as many times as I want and get a 10% discount off all snacks and drinks. I think getting a Cineworld Unlimited Card is one of the best things I've done and I've seen so many amazing films this year. One of my favourite things about the Unlimited Card is that I get to see certain films at 'Unlimited Screenings' before they're officially released. If you're a film fan like me, I'd definitely recommend getting this card. One of the first films I watched was X-Men: Apocalypse which is the seventh film in the X-Men franchise and I loved it. Definitely one of the best films in the franchise.

JUNE

In April, one of my favourite YouTubers, Emma Blackery, announced that she was touring with Busted on their 'Pigs Can Fly' tour and I couldn't have been more happier for her as I know that, when she was a teenager, she was a huge fan of Busted. I didn't think I was going to go as I thought all the tickets for the Manchester date were sold out but, fortunately, Busted did an extra date on June 3rd and I managed to get myself a ticket near the stage. I was so happy that I was finally seeing Emma perform live after supporting her for over three years. Despite suffering from a cold, she didn't disappoint and was so full of energy. She performed her single, Sucks To Be You, which is from her EP of the same name, Look What You Made Me Do, which is from the same EP, and Perfect, which is one of her well-known songs as it's uplifting. Wheatus were also there supporting Busted and I danced and sung along to their classic song, Teenage Dirtbag. I really enjoyed watching Busted, I was surprised at how many of their songs I recognised considering that I was just a child when they first started out. My favourite of their songs are Year 3000 (who doesn't love that song?), Thunderbirds Are Go and Falling For You. Overall, I had a brilliant night seeing Emma Blackery, Wheatus and Busted. Another highlight of June would be when I went to Soccer Aid which is a charity football match featuring various celebrities and raises money for Unicef. I also saw Nadiya Hussain (who won The Great British Bake Off in 2015) who did a food demo at the Food Festival at the Lowry Outlet Mall and, despite the terrible weather, she was still really professional and served up some delicious treats whilst discussing her time on the competitive baking show.

JULY

In February 2015, I met Fleur De Force at her 'The Glam Guide' book signing at the Manchester Arndale. Fleur is a YouTuber and mainly uploads make-up tutorials and does beauty hauls. She was just as sweet as she is on YouTube and we discussed Twitter and got a picture together. I was so happy when, over a year later, Fleur published her second book, 'The Luxe Life', and was doing another book signing in Manchester. When I met her, I told her that I'd met her at her 'The Glam Guide' book signing and she said that she felt very nostalgic returning to the Arndale because she loves it here. She was very sweet and down to earth as always and I had an amazing time meeting her. Another highlight of July would be hearing Cher Lloyd's new song, Activated, as I've been a huge fan of Cher's since she was on The X Factor in 2010. 

AUGUST

The biggest highlight of August was meeting Vicky Pattison for a fourth time. It's weird to think that it was only in September 2014 that I began supporting her after meeting her at her 'Nothing But The Truth' book signing and, since then, she's achieved so much. Before I met her in 2014, she was best known for appearing in reality TV series, Geordie Shore, which is set in Newcastle. However, she left and released her first autobiography in late 2014. Now, two years later, she's become an author, TV presenter and she also has her own clothing range with HoneyzUK. Not only that but, in 2015, she won I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and became Queen of the Jungle. Earlier this year, she was a panelist on ITV daytime show, Loose Women, where a group of four women discuss the latest headlines and talk to a celebrity guest. Apart from Charlotte Crosby, Vicky is one of the most successful people to come from Geordie Shore. I had previously met Vicky earlier this year in March and I wasn't sure if I'd get a chance to meet her again. Fortunately, she announced that she was publishing her first lifestyle guide, 'The Real Me', and was doing a book signing at the Trafford Centre in Manchester. I was so happy and I loved meeting her. When she was on Geordie Shore, producers edited the show so that she was perceived as an angry bitch who got drunk a lot but that's far from who she is. Vicky was so friendly and spent the entire day making sure she met everyone in the queue. Despite having met her four times, I suddenly became starstruck when I met her and rambled on about how 'proud I am' of her and she was like 'aww thank you so much, it's because of people like you that keep me grounded' and we got selfies together. It was an amazing day that was made better by watching Finding Dory at the cinema later on. 

SEPTEMBER

The highlight of September is always going to be my birthday and, this year, I celebrated my 19th by watching Bridget Jones's Baby, which is the latest film in the Bridget Jones franchise and was hilarious. I then went home and got ready to go out for my birthday meal at Zizzi's which is a restaurant that serves Italian food. I'd previously been there for my auntie's birthday meal in May and I loved it. I got the spaghetti pomodoro which is my favourite thing to order there. Most people celebrate their 19th birthday by going out to clubs and drinking alcohol but, because I don't drink alcohol and don't have any friends, I spent the day with my family and I had a really lovely day. I also loved my cake, which you can see in the picture above, it was delicious. Earlier this month, on the 12th, I met Carrie Hope Fletcher at her 'On The Other Side' book event at The Glee Club in Birmingham and I had a great time. I'd previously met Carrie at her 'All I Know Now' book event in Manchester (read blogpost here) where she talked about her first book and answered questions from the audience. The event in Birmingham was very similar to the one in Manchester because she talked about her debut novel, 'On The Other Side', and then went on to answer questions from the audience. After a five minute break, Carrie came back and met all members of the audience. When it was my turn to meet her, I told her that I'd previously met her in Manchester the year before and she was like 'Wow, really?' and thanked me for coming to Birmingham. We did get a picture together on my phone but, unfortunately, I'd left the flash on so the picture didn't come out great. However, I was just happy to have met Carrie. I've written a blogpost about this amazing day, you can read it here. Throughout her talk and Q&A, I'd been filming her on my camera so had a lot of videos for me to watch back. The day after the event, Carrie tweeted asking if anyone had any videos from the event so I sent her one of my videos and she included it in her vlog on her YouTube channel and mentioned my name in the description. You can watch her video here and my video is from 1:18-1:54. I had the best time seeing Carrie and hearing her talk about 'On The Other Side' which is a great novel and I highly recommend it. 

OCTOBER

October was a great month for me. On the 24th, I met Emma Blackery at her first headline tour at Sound Control in Manchester. Since 2013, I've watched Emma's videos on YouTube and supported her music career. I remember when she released her 'Perfect' ep in November 2014 and I was so happy. I never got the chance to see her at one of her gigs until earlier this year in June. I was so happy and I really wanted to see her again. Fortunately, in October, she went on her first headline tour. I had a VIP Upgrade ticket which meant I could get early entry and meet and greet with Emma. This was my first time meeting her so it was weird seeing her in person after watching on YouTube for over three years. I was wearing her 'EB' top which I bought from the merchandise stand at the Busted tour and the first thing she said to me, after we hugged, was 'Nice top ;)' and I was like 'Yeah, I bought it when I saw you tour with Busted in June'. I couldn't believe I was talking to Emma. After talking to her, we posed for the picture, and, as you can probably tell by the picture, I was so happy. We then hugged again and I went on my way, feeling really happy. Because I got early entry, I managed to get to the barrier which meant I was close to the stage. From 9pm-10pm, Emma performed and she was incredible. I had the best night. I've written about this evening, you can read it here. Two days later, I saw Sarah Harding perform as Molly in 'Ghost: The Musical' at the Manchester Palace Theatre and I thought she was amazing. The musical is based on the 1990 film of the same name starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. The next day, I went to the Trafford Centre to watch the Christmas Light Switch-On. Reggie N' Bollie, who were runner ups on last years The X Factor, performed and Fleur East, who was a runner up on The X Factor in 2014, performed and turned the lights on. Fleur is best known for her number one single, 'Sax', which she performed. 

NOVEMBER

The biggest highlight from November would be Bonfire Night on the 5th and I celebrated by going to a local firework display. Obviously, because it's 'Bonfire Night', there was a bonfire and I stayed near there as it was a very cold evening and took lots of pictures and videos. At about 8pm, the firework display started and they were amazing. I love fireworks and think they always look stunning. After the display finished, I went home and spent the rest of Saturday evening with my family. Another highlight of November would be watching Arrival at a Cineworld Unlimited Screening. Arrival is a sci-fi starring Amy Adams and it was amazing, definitely one of the best films of this year. I also watched Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which is another film that is set in the Wizarding World and is a part of the Harry Potter franchise. It stars Eddie Redmayne as the main character, Newt Scamader. I mentioned this film in my 'Five Things I'm Looking Forward To' blogpost in April and it was one of my highly anticipated films of this year. Fortunately, it didn't disappoint and it was just as good as the Harry Potter films. 

DECEMBER

Personally, December wasn't a great month for me which is a shame because everyone is supposed to be in the festive mood and preparing for Christmas. Unfortunately, at the beginning of this month, my cat, Tinkerbell (who I had for over ten years), lost control of her back legs and couldn't walk properly. After trying for four days, my Mum and I took her to the vets and they agreed that, because she couldn't control her bladder, it was best to let her go. This was truly heartbreaking to hear but I knew it was best for her. Tinkerbell passed away around 10am on December 5th. This day was incredibly difficult for me as I loved Tinkerbell as she loved being cuddled and stroked. Anyone who has a pet will know that you create a bond with them. I grew up with Tinkerbell and I remember when we first got her and I fell in love with her immediately. She was well looked after and had a long and happy life. Losing a pet is never easy but I know that deep down it was best for her as it wasn't fair to make her live her life suffering. It's better to die in peace than to live suffering. This month, we also lost the lives of George Michael, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, all within a few days. They each all brought their unique talent to the world and were also the most kind-hearted people. George Michael, who was a homosexual, struggled a lot in the limelight, however, he remained strong. It's also been revealed that he donated money to those in need, including a woman in need of IVF treatment. Carrie Fisher, who is best known for portraying Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, struggled with growing up gracefully in Hollywood and suffered from bipolar disorder, which is a mental health. However, like George, she, too, remained strong. Unfortunately, just a day after her death, her mother, Debbie Reynolds died after having a stroke. Reynolds was also a Hollywood star in her own right, best known for appearing in the iconic 1952 musical, Singin' In The Rain. It's important that we remember them, not only for their unique talent, but who they were as a person. The main highlight for this month was, of course, Christmas. Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year as I get to spend time with my family and eat yummy roast dinner. I had a really good day and I feel very fortunate that I was able to spend the day with my loved ones.

Those were my highlights of this year. Thank you for reading, I do appreciate it. I hope 2016 was a good year for you, if not, I hope 2017 brings you happiness.

❤

November Favourites ❤

It's come to that time where I write a blogpost about what I've been loving this month.

November has been a really good month for me, I hope yours was good too.

I can't believe it's almost Christmas, this year has gone by so quickly.

Anyway, here are my November favourites.

Glory Days - Little Mix

Little Mix's latest album, Glory Days, might be their best yet. Since winning The X Factor in 2011, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards have all achieved phenomenal success with their songs, the majority of which are fun, energetic and upbeat. They've already spent three weeks at number one with Shoutout To My Ex, the first single from Glory Days. If you loved their single then there's no reason why you won't enjoy their fourth album. Like Shoutout To My Ex, most of the songs are upbeat anthems you can sing along to. The girls are also known for producing powerful and emotional ballads. On Glory Days, the stand out ballad is Nobody Like You and this is where the girls' vocals are at their strongest. If you enjoy listening to catchy pop tunes, I recommend listening to Nothing Else Matters, as it's a fun and optimistic song about being in love. I've written a review on Glory Days on my blog, if you'd like to read it, click here. 

Arrival 

In the past few years, we've had some of the most thought provoking science fiction films released including The Martian, Interstellar, Gravity and many more. Arrival is one of the highly anticipated films we've had this year and fortunately, it didn't disappoint and is just as good as the aforementioned films, maybe even better. Although an alien invasion does feature, the film isn't necessarily about the aliens themselves and focuses instead on Amy Adams' character, Louise Banks, who is a linguist and is recruited by the military to try and translate what the aliens are saying so the film is actually about communication. Earlier this year, we had the sequel to the 1996 action film, Independence Day, and I don't think you can even call it science fiction as there was no science in the film. The film focuses on trying to destroy the aliens that had invaded Earth rather than trying to figure out what they wanted. This is why I'm appreciative of films like Arrival as, when done properly, they can be thought provoking and gripping at the same time. Arrival is, not only the best science fiction film, but also one of the best films we've had this year. If you'd like to read my full review, click here.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Like Arrival, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them was also one of the most anticipated films this year because of its connections to the Harry Potter franchise. When the final film in the Potter franchise, Deathly Hallows Part 2, was released, many fans were devastated as they thought this was the end of the Wizarding World and it's unique and interesting characters. Fortunately, J.K. Rowling admitted she couldn't let go of that magical world she had created and, instead of writing another book, she wrote her first screenplay, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which was based on one of the textbooks that the students read at Hogwarts and is written by Newt Scamander, a magizoologist (someone who studies creatures). I'm happy that we got a film instead of book because I enjoyed watching the Wizarding World come to life once again via the silver screen. Eddie Redmayne was cast as the main character, Newt, and he portrays him perfectly. Too many films have brave and confident protagonists so it was refreshing to have a character who is shy, introverted and has a better relationship with his creatures than he does with fellow wizards and witches. Fantastic Beasts is set in New York in the 1920s (several decades before Harry Potter was even born) and features a great cast and some of the most unique creatures ever created on screen. I doubt fans of Harry Potter will be disappointed with this new addition to the popular franchise. If you would like to read my full review, click here.

The Big Bang Theory Season 10 (contains spoilers)

If you know me, you'll know that my favourite TV series is The Big Bang Theory and has been since I first began watching it in 2013 when season 7 had just begun. I loved how the characters were different to any I've seen in any sitcom before and were all likable in their own unique way. I find it hard to believe that this show is on its tenth season already and next year will mark ten years since the programme first began. The characters have developed so well and transitioned so much since the first season. For example, Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) is known for avoiding physical contact as much as possible and rarely hugs so it was a big surprise when he formed a relationship with Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik). It was even more of a shock when he kissed her in season 7 and had sex with her in season 9. It's something that no-one, not even the characters in the sitcom, expected Sheldon to do. This is why it's one of my favourite TV programmes. Every episode is different yet still manages to be just as funny as the previous episode. So far, I'm on episode nine of season 10 and I'm really enjoying it so far. The characters and their lives are still entertaining to watch. 

I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

It's hard to believe that I'm A Celebrity... has been running for fourteen years and is currently on its sixteenth series. For those of you who don't know, I'm A Celebrity is a gaming show in which celebrities live in jungle conditions with few creature comforts. In order to win food, celebrities must participate in various Bushtucker Trials. The trials consist of various games that feature many different creatures and insects, including snakes, spiders and many other creepy crawlies. They're also incredibly challenging. Viewers choose which celebrity they want to do the trial by voting via the official app. The show is presented by Ant and Dec, a Geordie duo who have been presenting for over twenty years. They bring comic relief by making sarcastic comments about the celebrities themselves and the tasks that they had to do. This is what makes them successful presenters as they're not afraid to be themselves. The main source of entertainment comes from watching the celebrities face their fears by doing the Bushtucker Trials. However, if a celebrity wants to give up during a task, they must call out 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here' (hence the title of the show). This series has been good so far and has a great group of celebrities including Scarlett Moffatt (best known for appearing in reality TV series, Gogglebox), Larry Lamb (best known for appearing in TV shows such as Gavin & Stacey and Eastenders), Carol Vorderman (who used to do the sums on Countdown) and many more. One thing that is important in these type of shows is chemistry and these campmates have all been getting along. I think this may be one of the best series yet. I've also been really enjoying Extra Camp which is the live aftershow presented by Vicky Pattison, Stacey Solomon, Joe Swash and Chris Ramsey. I've met both Vicky and Stacey and they really are two of the most down to Earth celebrities I've met and both of them have won this show in the past (Vicky in 2015 and Stacey in 2010). In the aftershow, the presenters go behind the scenes and even try the Bushtucker Trials that the celebrities have completed and they also talk to the campmates and various celebrities to get their opinion of the show. All four of the presenters have natural chemistry and are really funny together. This series of I'm A Celebrity... has been great so far and I can't wait to see which celebrity wins and becomes King/Queen of the Jungle. 

'Winters' Snow' by Carrie Hope Fletcher (contains spoilers)

In July, Carrie Hope Fletcher published her first novel, On The Other Side. The story focused on Evie, a woman who has recently passed away but wakes up in the lift in her old apartment building. Confused, Evie walks to her apartment door but finds it locked, however, her former landlord tells her that on the other side of her door is the entrance to heaven. Unfortunately, she can't get through because her soul is too heavy as it's holding three secrets. Evie soon learns that, in order to pass through the door, she must rid herself of the three secrets she's been carrying all her life. This was a really enjoyable story to read and was full of magic realism, romance and drama. It proved how talented Carrie was at writing. Winters' Snow is Carrie's first novella and focuses on Vincent Winters, who was Evie's boyfriend and the only person she ever loved. Of course, Vincent is saddened to hear about Evie's death and this short story focuses on his journey to finding her so they can live in heaven together. In his journey, he meets Evie's cruel and strict mother who we see another side to and his fellow friend, Sonny. It's a really sweet story and, if you enjoyed On The Other Side, I'd recommend reading this book too.

Those were my November Favourites.

Thank you so much for reading my blogpost,

I hope you enjoyed it. 

❤

Little Mix - Glory Days album review ❤

Since winning The X Factor almost five years ago, Little Mix have achieved phenomenal success. They've had four UK number one singles, nine UK top ten singles, they've spent a total of eight weeks at number one with their singles and so much more. 

They are, without a doubt, one of the biggest girl groups out there at the moment. It's only been a year since their previous album, Get Weird, yet all four of the girls have been working incredibly hard on their latest album, Glory Days. 

I can safely say that Glory Days is their best one yet. Like their previous albums, Get Weird, Salute and DNA, it's got a wide range of songs. From the female-empowering number one single, 'Shout Out To My Ex' to the pop anthem 'Nothing Else Matters' there's definitely something on here for everyone.

Without further ado, here's my review of Little Mix's latest album, Glory Days, track by track.

1. Shout Out To My Ex

This is Little Mix's first single from their fourth album and it was number one in the Official Charts for three weeks after they performed it live on The X Factor. It's no surprise that this was a huge hit. A lot of artists write about love and most songs about break ups are sad and they sing about how much they miss them and how they wish the relationship never ended. While this isn't always a bad thing, it can get a bit tiresome. Some relationships you're glad they ended and Little Mix prove this in Shout Out To My Ex which is empowering and is a feel good anthem. The girls certainly don't hold back as Perrie sings 'I hope she gettin' better sex / Hope she ain't faking it like I did, babe'. Many listeners have wondered if this lyric is about her relationship with former member of One Direction, Zayn Malik. The pair were together for four years and were engaged for two, however, their relationship ended last year. Perrie has neither confirmed nor denied this but it's still a sassy lyric that I'm sure a lot of people will be singing after a break-up. I'm so happy that the girls chose this as their first single from Glory Days as fans will get an idea of what's to come from their fourth album.

2. Touch

Touch is the complete opposite to Shout Out To My Ex and is about being in love and how 'just a touch of your love is enough to knock me off my feet'. This is the perfect song to listen to if you're in a relationship and/or in love. Despite a lot of their fans aging between 12-15, the girls don't shy away from saucy lyrics as they sing 'Fingers on my buttons and now you're playing'. However, I doubt Little Mix's young fans will notice this but I wouldn't recommend playing this song in front of them. This is one of my favourites on the album as it's really catchy and has a dance vibe to it. I can imagine a lot of people dancing to this in the club with their partners and friends. 

3. F.U.

For anyone that's been cheated on by their partner, this is the perfect song for you. Instead of wallowing in self pity, I would highly recommend listening to this track from Glory Days. The girls sing about how they waited for their partner to come home despite knowing they were with someone else. They don't hold back their anger as they sing 'You're dirty, disgusting' and 'Boy I hate you, really hate you'. However, despite this, their partner persuades them to continue their relationship with kisses and sweet words. This is one of the best on the album as, like Shout Out To My Ex, it's empowering and will give many people the confidence to leave their cheating partners whilst singing 'A, B, C, D, E, FU'. This track is one of the many reasons why Little Mix are one of the most inspiring artists in the music industry at the moment. They don't hold back from venting their feelings in their songs and giving their fans the confidence to be themselves. I think that, after listening to this song, many people won't be afraid of opening up about how they feel to their partners.

4. Oops (featuring Charlie Puth)

This song is for anyone who has ended a relationship thinking that they would be better off as friends but the feelings are still there. The girls sing about how they 'accidentally need you' because they are still in love with their partner. It's an infectious pop tune and the chorus is really catchy. Charlie Puth features on this track and, while it's not as good as Little Mix's collaboration with Jason Derulo on their single Secret Love Song, it's still a fun and entertaining song to listen to.

5. You Gotta Not

The intro to You Gotta Not may sound like one of Meghan Trainor's songs and that's no surprise considering she wrote this track. I'm not the biggest fan of Meghan because of her comments regarding her 'struggle' with anoxeria which is an eating disorder. Millions of people suffer from EDs and, when being interviewed, Meghan explained how she wasn't 'strong enough' to have an eating disorder and said that she tried to 'go anorexic for a few hours'. While I don't have an eating disorder, the comments still offended me and many others. Her songs aren't that great either as she body shames in her number one single 'All About That Bass' and is sexist in her song, 'Dear Future Husband'. I'm not going to lie, I was surprised when it was announced that Little Mix have recorded this song which was written by Meghan. The lyrics, unlike the girls' other songs, aren't empowering and actually shame males for different things including 'You love wearing tighty-whities (you gotta not!) as they only show off your muffin top'. This lyric implies that having a 'muffin top', which is a round belly, is a bad thing which it's not. This is why You Gotta Not is my least favourite track on the album as it shames men for many things. It's a shame that we still can't accept people for who they are and constantly shame people for different things. Unless you're a fan of Meghan Trainor's, I would advise giving this track a miss.

6. Down & Dirty

Down & Dirty is worth listening to just for Perrie's high note towards the end of the song. While every member of Little Mix can sing amazingly, Perrie's vocals stand out the most, especially in this song. Down & Dirty is probably one of their most racy songs yet. The song begins with Jesy singing 'I'm tasty, delicious, I'm rough round the edges / My mind is obsessive, my flex is agressive' which is really suggestive. I would say that this song is similar to A.D.I.D.A.S from their previous album, Get Weird, not in terms of sound but what the songs are about. Like Touch, I would avoid playing this in front of young children who might wonder what the song is about. This is another one of their songs that it's easy to dance to.

7. Power

This is one of my favourite songs on Glory Days because it's really empowering. I would recommend this song to anyone lacking in confidence, it'll give you that boost you need and you'll be singing 'I got the power' for a long time after listening to this song. Jade's vocals stand out in this song especially during the final verses. The chorus is powerful (pun not intended) and both the verse and bridge are just as equally as exciting as the chorus. This is definitely one of the tracks I'm looking forward to hearing Little Mix perform on their tour.

8. Your Love

Of course, it wouldn't be a Little Mix album without a ballad that shows off the girls' powerful voices. I doubt anyone, after listening to this song, will say that the girls can't sing. Despite this being a ballad, it also has a pop vibe to it. The girls sing about how a person's love makes them feel like 'Dirty dancing in the moonlight'. This is the perfect song for anyone who is in love. This song is further proof that Little Mix are at their best when singing about love. 

9. Nobody Like You

 Like the previous track, Your Love, Nobody Like You is a ballad. This is another one of their songs dealing with life post-breakup but, unlike Shout Out To My Ex, it's sad and emotional as the person is still in love with their ex. The lyrics are beautifully poetic especially the first line 'I'm alive, and living's just a beating heart'. If you've currently gone through a breakup and are in need of a good cry, I would recommend listening to this track. This is another one of their best songs as it shows how amazing the girls' vocals and songwriting skills are.

10. No More Sad Songs

For anyone who aren't fans of sad ballads, this is a song I would recommend to you. The lyrics are probably the best thing about this song, my favourite is 'Dancing with danger, talking to strangers / Don't care where I go, just can't be alone'.In terms of vocals, Jade really stands out in this track. I would like to see Little Mix release this as a single in the future.

11. Private Show

Private Show is another one of the songs on Glory Days that has explicit lyrics. It's full of energy and the sound reminds me of Britney Spears' single Circus, which is one of my favourite songs of hers and an early noughties hit, AM to PM by Christina Milian. I can imagine the girls choreography to this song being very energetic and exciting and I'm looking forward to watching them perform this on tour.

12. Nothing Else Matters

If I had to choose a favourite song on this album, it would be Nothing Else Matters. This is the definition of pop which is one of my favourite song genres. This song is about admitting all the highlights and flaws of their relationships and staying together. Many relationships end due to too many arguments, however, some of them remain united which is the premise of this song. Little Mix sing 'Nothing else matters like us / nothing else matters like love / I don't wanna fight, not tonight / Cause we're having fun now' which will show their fans how important it is to remain positive even during the hardest times of the relationship. It's an upbeat anthem that I'm sure a lot of fans will love. 

13. Beep Beep

Avoid playing Beep Beep in front of young children as this song is one of their most risque. This song is very similar to their track from Get Weird, A.D.I.D.A.S. Both songs are about wanting to be with someone desperately. This is one of the songs that features exclusively on the Deluxe Edition of Glory Days. I would say that, if you liked A.D.I.D.A.S and are a fan of infectious and upbeat pop tunes, I would recommend listening to this. 

14. Freak

Like F.U., this is a song that is aimed at fans whose partners have cheated on them. The girls all sing about how their partner won't 'get these kisses for free'. For anyone struggling to confront their partner, Freak is the best song for you. Unlike F.U., the girls refuse to forgive their partner and are willing to end the relationship. Too many people in relationships are forgiving of their partner and take them back, despite knowing they'll most likely hurt them again. Freak is one of the most energetic songs on the album and will give you the confidence you need to leave your partner.

Verdict

Little Mix have yet again released another album that I'm sure will be their most successful one yet. Almost every song is enjoyable and easy to sing along to. I doubt Mixers will be disappointed with Glory Days. Speaking of, the title, Glory Days, is perfect as I think that Little Mix are at their most succesful right now and these are definitely their 'Glory Days'.

If I had to pick three favourite songs from this album I would choose Nothing Else Matters, Touch and Nobody Like You.

A lot of artists tend to stick to the same sound and release albums that are more of the same but Little Mix prove that they're not afraid to change it up. These songs are completely different to any of the songs featured on their previous three albums. 

4/5

Thank you for reading my blogpost, I hope you enjoyed it.

❤

October Favourites ❤

This month has come to an end which means it's time for me

to write another blogpost on my favourite things from October.

October has been a great month for me as so much has happened.

I hope you've had a good month too, if not, I hope November is better. 

'Shoutout To My Ex' - Little Mix

Little Mix's latest single, 'Shoutout To My Ex', is probably one of their best yet. Despite only being released over two weeks ago, it's already sitting in the number one spot in the Official Charts. It's an feel good anthem for those who have gone through a break up and are need of cheering up. This is definitely a confident come back for Little Mix who are about to release their fourth album, Glory Days, next month. In this song, the foursome prove that there's no point wallowing in sadness after going through a break-up as they sing about how they're 'all the way up' and that their ex 'will never bring me down'. After the girls performed this hit on The X Factor (the show that they won almost five years ago), they, unfortunately, received criticism on their choice of costume and were branded too 'slutty' for the show. However, these negative comments didn't bring them down as they stated that there's a double standard and that if a male singer were to perform topless, they would be praised but if a female were to show any bit of skin they'd be shamed. I think that Little Mix looked amazing and their performance on the show was brilliant. I'm so proud of these four girls because they've come so far and made so many achievements since winning The X Factor in 2011.

'Our World' by Little Mix

Not only have Little Mix released a single, announced a new album and tour but they've also published a new book, 'Our World'. In this, their hugely anticipated second book (the first being Ready To Fly published in 2012), the girls provide an insight into life as the world's hottest girl group. Sharing their most personal experiences, they talk about friendship, reveal the truth about their relationships and all the lessons they've learned on their incredible journey to superstardom. So far, I've really enjoyed reading this. The book consists of nine different chapters including: The Beginning; A Little Dream, A Lot Of Love; DNA; We Are Who We Are; Little Me; About The Boy; Different Beat; Change Your Life and The End. In each chapter, the girls talk about different aspects of their life including growing up, personal issues, their first relationships, their experience on The X Factor and the success they've received since. Most people would think that those who are in the spotlight have a perfect life but, in Our World, the girls prove that it isn't all glitz and glamour. For example, after Little Mix won the show, Jesy Nelson received a lot of cyber bullying about her weight and appearance. She explains that this made her feel incredibly insecure but, fortunately, with the help of her fellow bandmates and fans, she has now grown into a confident and happy young woman. I'd definitely recommend this book even if you're not a fan of Little Mix as you see a whole other side to them and a deep insight into what it's really like being in one of the biggest girl groups in the world.

'Where Am I Now?' by Mara Wilson

If, like me, you watched Matilda as a child then you may recognise the little girl on the front cover of this book. Her name is Mara Wilson and she portrayed the title character in 1996 adaptation of Roald Dahl's book. It's still one of my favourite films to this day and I've wondered for a long time what happened to the young actress who played her. Not only did she play Matilda but she also appeared in other films as well: in 1993, she appeared in Mrs. Doubtfire alongside Robin Williams as his daughter, Natalie; a year later, in 1994, she played Susan in Miracle On 34th Street alongside Richard Attenborough; in 1997, she portrayed Anabel in A Simple Wish with Martin Short and, in 2000, she appeared as Lily in Thomas and the Magic Railroad which also starred Alec Baldwin. These were some of my favourite films as a child and, it was after making The Magic Railroad, that Mara decided to quit acting at the age of 13 and focus on writing. In this book, she describes that there was a lot of pressure to remain the cute actress that she was known as in the 1990s. Mara also talks about what it was like working alongside great actors such as the late Robin Williams and how the two ended up meeting almost a decade after working on Mrs. Doubtfire. Many people may remember her for playing the title character in Matilda and Mara also gives in an insight to what it was like working on that film and alongside Danny DeVito. Of course, these are all the positive aspects of her life but she has also had some struggles along the way too. Whilst working on Matilda, she, sadly, lost her mother to breast cancer when she was only nine years old. Mara also bravely opens up about her experience with anxiety and depression. Even if you've never seen any of Mara's films, it's definitely worth a read. As a child, I wanted Mara to be in more films because I liked all of her other films, especially Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire but, now that we're both adults, I respect in her decision in quitting acting and focusing on what she really wanted to do which was to write.

The Girl On The Train

I recently read the book last month and thought it was a thrilling read so I was very much looking forward to the film which starred Emily Blunt as the title character, Rachel. Fortunately, it didn't disappoint. However, shortly after its release, it received a lot of criticism. I think that this was because most people were expecting something among the lines of Gone Girl which was a thriller adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel released in 2014. I didn't think that The Girl On The Train would be like Gone Girl because the only thing they have in common is that they're both dramatic films about mysteries. I think that this is a great adaptation of Paula Hawkin's bestseller novel, which was published in early 2015. Blunt's performance was spot-on as Rachel who is an alcoholic and is obsessed with riding the same train just to see two houses, one of which is her old home which she used to share with her, now ex, husband, Tom who is now married and has a daughter with Anna. The second home is owned by a couple, Megan and Scott, who Rachel thinks are the 'embodiment of true love'. However, after riding the same train on Friday morning, Rachel sees something that she wasn't expecting to see and is filled with anger. Suddenly, it's Saturday morning and she has woken up with a hangover and no recollection of the previous night and she soon learns that Megan is missing. Now, Rachel becomes caught up in this shocking mystery and is determined to find out what happened to Megan. I think that this is one of the most original films we've had this year. It's not a sequel or a remake (not that they are bad, we've just had too many of them) and features strong performances from the whole cast and a great twist. If you'd like to read my full review, click here.

Highlight of the Month - Meeting Emma Blackery (24/10/16)

If you know me, you'll know that I'm a fan of Emma Blackery's and have been watching her videos since 2013. I thought that her videos were really funny, creative and original. I liked how her videos were more focused on entertaining her viewers. I immediately subscribed and I soon discovered that she wrote and sung her own songs. Her most popular song, The Promise, really made me emotional and I respected her a lot for writing a song aimed at those who suffer from urges to self-harm, suicidal thoughts and depression. I do think that if you are currently struggling you should listen to The Promise. Despite it being a slow and sad ballad, the lyrics are incredibly uplifting including 'I promise that you are so beautiful' and 'just believe in yourself when nobody is listening'. I was fortunate enough to see Emma on Busted's 'Pigs Can Fly' tour in June and, despite suffering from a cold, she was still amazing. I bought myself a general admission ticket and a VIP Upgrade to Emma's gig at Sound Control in Manchester. I was so excited because I was finally meeting Emma after supporting her for over three years. I met Emma at about 7pm and she greeted me with a hug and was just as nice as you'd expect her to be. I've written a blogpost on this day, if you'd like to read it, click here.

So those were my highlights from October.

I really hoped you enjoyed reading it.

Every view does mean a lot to me so thank you for reading it.

❤

Meeting Emma Blackery - 24/10/16

*WARNING - This blogpost contains spoilers for Emma's setlist, if you're going to her tour and want to be surprised, don't read this.*

If you know me, you'll know I am a fan of Emma Blackery and have been supporting her since 2013. I think that her videos on YouTube are really funny and original and she also talks about serious topics in a honest way which I admire. I soon discovered that Emma is also a singer and songwriter and fell in love with her songs. Since discovering Emma in 2013, I've had eight tweets and several likes from her which may not mean much to some people but to me they mean a lot. 

When Emma announced she was going on tour and she was coming to Manchester, I couldn't have been more happier. I got myself a ticket and a VIP Upgrade which meant I was going to finally meeting Emma after supporting her for three years. Despite being really excited to meet her, I was also a bit nervous. I was attending the concert and queueing by myself which I've done before lots of times but it still makes me anxious especially when I'm the only one by myself. I got to the Sound Control venue in Manchester at about 5pm and, of course, there was a big queue of people. I went to the back and waited patiently. At about 6pm, those with a VIP Upgrade were let in and, after being handed a VIP laminate and a signed poster, we waited in a room in a queue. At about 6:20pm, Emma's tour manager showed up and explained the rules of the meet and greet. No selfies or videos were allowed but he would take a picture of us with Emma. And, at 6:30pm, I saw Emma walk down the stairs and the excitement started to creep in. I waited about half an hour in the queue and, at about 7pm, I met Emma! 

Emma greeted me with a hug and was like 'Nice top' because I was wearing her top I bought from the merchandise stand at the Busted gig. I told her I wore it specifically for tonight and I handed my two tickets for her to sign and told her that I saw her at the Busted gig in Manchester and that she was amazing and she was like 'thank you so much!'. We then posed for the picture and we hugged again and I said 'see you tonight!' and I walked up the stairs feeling like the happiest girl alive.

At 8pm, the support act, Arthur Walwin, performed a few of his original songs and was amazing and really got the audience jumping. Arthur is a friend of Emma's and has produced some of her songs and also features in her song, Next To You. If you ever get the chance to see him, you should go because he is a brilliant performer. 

 Emma came on stage at 9pm and her opening song was 'Sucks To Be You' which is a single from her latest EP of the same name. This is definitely my favourite song of hers as the main theme of the song is getting over an ex and telling them that it 'sucks to be you'. It's very catchy and lively and I'm sure a lot of people will be able to relate to the lyrics in this song. This was written by Emma and she sings about how one of her exes tried to get back in touch with her after she started making it big on YouTube.
Her next song was 'Go The Distance' which was one of the first songs she released in 2013. This song is completely different to STBY as it's about being in love with someone and thinking that you'll 'go the distance' with them. It's a pop song that, again, I'm sure a lot of people who are in love or in a relationship will be able to relate to. The whole audience was singing along as this is one of her best known songs. 

'Look What You Made Me Do', which also features on Emma's latest EP, was her next song that she performed. This is my favourite song from her latest EP as it's a pop/rock song about being in love and waiting for that person to notice you which is something I, and a lot of people, can definitely relate to. 
In 2014, Emma released her 'Perfect' EP which features a song called 'Pictures' and this was Emma's next song. This is very similar to 'Go The Distance' as they're both about being in a happy and loving relationship with someone. A lot of couples tend to take a lot of selfies and pictures which is cute but in this song Emma says that she and her partner aren't taking pictures as they're too busy having 'fun fun fun fun fun'. This is definitely one of her most upbeat and energetic songs. She then performed 'Perfect' which is a song she wrote for her viewers and tells them that despite the imperfections, we're all the same, we're only human and tells us that 'you're perfect the way you are'. If you ever feel insecure, I recommend listening to this song as it will improve your mood and make you feel a lot better about yourself. 
I mentioned earlier that Arthur Walwin, Emma's friend and support act, featured on one of her songs, 'Next To You', which was the next song Emma performed. This is a sweet and slow song about how happy you are waking up next to your partner. 

A few months ago, Emma announced she had ended her relationship with Luke Cutforth who she had been dating for over three years after they met through YouTube (he's also a YouTuber). Last month, Emma uploaded a video of her singing an original song she'd written called 'Instead' which is about someone who is finding it difficult to get over an ex-partner. Emma notes that her ex is 'kissing her' and she feels that he should be 'kissing me instead'. It's a really beautiful but sad song and really shows off Emma's vocals really well.
I think that the song that Emma will always be remembered for is 'The Promise' which was the song she performed after 'Instead'. Emma wrote this song for anyone who has struggled with depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and/or negative feelings toward themselves. This is her best song because it's so honest and heartfelt and will help a lot of people going through a dark time right now. A lot of people in the audience, including me, began crying as it's a song many people will be able to relate to. If you haven't listened to 'The Promise' yet, I highly recommend that you do especially if you're struggling. 
Not all relationships are perfect. Unfortunately, many partners cheat on their other half which leads to the relationship ending. Emma's next song 'Lies' is about her being in a new relationship but her ex-boyfriend is trying to get her back by saying he won't cheat but he continues to do so: "You said you wouldn't cheat anymore, you lied". 

When Emma first began dating Luke, the pair kept their relationship private and, it wasn't until October in 2014, that the two announced in a video that they'd been dating. When I found out, I was a bit surprised as I thought they were just friends. However, I couldn't have been more happier for them. The next song that Emma performed was 'Undercover Lover' which is about how she didn't want to be an 'undercover lover' and 'dirty little secret'. This is my favourite song from her 'Perfect' EP.
The final song from Emma's 'Sucks To Be You' EP, 'Let Me Be', was her next song. This song takes place after a break-up and her ex-boyfriend prefers the girls that 'live in limousines' and that he can 'go and party but that shit ain't me'. Emma also can't get her ex-boyfriend's new song out of her head and just wants him to 'let me be'. This song is very similar to the sounds of her other two songs on the 'Sucks To Be You' EP.

Emma then went off stage and, after the audience chanted 'One More Song', she came back on stage and jokingly said that she considered leaving her band on stage for ten minutes for a prank as they wouldn't have known what to do which made the audience laugh. The penultimate song Emma performed was 'Don't Come Home' which is a slow and sad song about the end of a relationship. During the slow songs, the audience used their phones' lights and waved them which she found beautiful and made her tear up a bit. Her final song was 'Fear The Future' which is a song from her 'The Promise' ep. This was a slow ballad about not fearing the future when you're in a relationship with someone. It was a great song to end the gig with and, after thanking the audience for coming and her band, she went off stage. 
Overall, this was, by far, one of the best nights of my life and best gigs I've ever been to. Despite Emma's worries that she might be suffering from a cold last week, she managed to perform every song perfectly and was full of energy throughout. At various points in the gig, she jumped down to the barrier and sung to fans in the audience which I loved as it showed how much she loves her fans.
If you ever get the chance to see Emma Blackery perform live, I'd highly recommend that you go as you won't regret it. I promise (pun not intended).

Thank you, Emma Blackery, for an incredible night.

And thank you for reading this blogpost, 

I hope you enjoyed reading it.

❤