North East in May

After a long 6 months I flew back to what feels like my second home, Newcastle Upon Tyne. I can't express how much I love this city, it was the best decision of my life to make the move and study there. There's always so much to do in Newcastle and because a lot of my friends live in the North East there are always people to see. So much fell on this weekend I went (Thurs 21st - Mon 25th).

Originally I was only flying over for a Hozier concert, which was sublime by the way but my friend who currently lives in New York was home that weekend so we had the best catch up over food and cocktails.

I also got to see my chummy Matty before he travels Asia for the summer and we spent the Saturday with our other chummy Ryan who came down from Glasgow to pardy it up with more cocktails. Cocktails are my favourite.

I'm sure it won't be long until I'm back in the North of England again, I just can't keep away!!

  

Charlie's List | The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

This idea came to me when I was reading The Perks Of Being A Wallflower for the second time recently. When I first came across the book I thought it was so cool that I knew and loved a lot of the references so I thought there was a high possibility that I would like the rest. Therefore this year I will attempt to read/watch/listen to Charlie's List. Feel free to join in with the list below!

READ

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

WATCH

Rocky Horror Picture Show
It's a Wonderful Life
The Producers
Reds
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Graduate
Harold and Maude
My Life as a Dog
Dead Poets Society
The Unbelievable Truth
Night of the Living Dead

LISTEN 

"Heroes" by David Bowie
"Where Eagles Dare" by The Misfits
"Asleep" by The Smiths
"Vapour Trail" by Ride
"Scarborough Fair" by Simon and Garfunkel
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum
"Time of No Reply" by Nick Drake
"Dear Prudence" by The Beatles
"Gypsy" by Suzanne Vega
"Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues
"Daydream" by The Smashing Pumpkins
"Dusk" by Genesis
"MLK" by U2
"Blackbird" by The Beatles
"Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
"Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" by Pink Floyd
"Something" by The Beatles
"School's Out" by Alice Cooper
"Autumn Leaves" by Nat King Cole
"Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister
"I'm Going Home" sung by Tim Curry as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
"Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac

It makes things easier to keep tabs on by scoring out in this post, I'll be sure to come back to it a lot.
Happy reading, watching and listening!

Thanks Charlie, love always Franny.

Inspiring Videos

Inspiration comes in many forms and I welcome each and every one of them. I'm inspired everyday to evolve lost ideas, enhance my well-being and kindly participant in the universe. If it gives me motivation to positively improve any aspect of my life, I'll take it. Some of my inspiration comes from YouTube videos that I stumble across and immediately send to everyone I know so I though I would share some of my favourites with the blogger world as they might inspire you too!

I'll start with familiar faces on YouTube, Troye Sivan and Louis Cole.
Troye Sivan - Becoming You | I love Troye's videos and this is by far my favourite. I've watched it at least 20 times. It's creatively shot and edited with a great message. Be you by creating yourself. It's hard sometimes to not get caught up in what your friends or other people are doing and imitating them to be safe. Find your style and your flair and own it!

Louis Cole - Living The Adventure | Now if this video doesn't give you the travel bug I don't know what will. I've always loved the thought of travelling the globe but at the minute my funds are making it impossible. This video however gives me momentum to hatch a plan to make all my travelling dreams come true.

Next is my main man Alan Watts. All my friends are familiar with his videos now whether they wanted to be or not. I just pester them with his videos all the time. I previously wrote an appreciation post about him here: Inspiring People | Alan Watts. So I will just leave a link to what I think is one of his best words, Alan Watts - What If Money Was No Object?

The Jelly Bean video. The Time You Have (In Jellybeans). This video came out about 2 years ago and knocked me for six. It really makes you think about your day to day life and how precious those hours in your day are. I try to be in the moment as much as I can but I'm defiantly a head in the future girl, making plans and lists and talking about those plans and lists. Videos like these many me stop and really appreciate what I have in the now.

Jim Carrey Speech . I think this is great advice for people stuck in their career or thinking about with career path to go down. Sometimes the older we get the more we think we are out of time and can't change now. Which is completely not true, you are never to old to life your life the way you want too.

I've saved to best until last. The Greatest Speech Ever. If this doesn't get your pulses racing and make you feel like your ready to take on the world then I can't help you much more. I feel so empowered after I watch this video and makes you think world peace is that little bit closer.

"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."

- Ronald Reagan

My Thoughts On Tattoos & My 1st Tattoo

First and only tattoo sadly because I want them ALL. Jokes but I did write a tattoo wishlist post that you can check out here. I got this tattoo on my 18th birthday and I'm 22 now. I will say it's not the best work, the place was slightly dodgy now that I think back to it but I love it now just as much as I did when I got it done! I get that that's a fear for most people when it comes to tattoos, regret. Honestly, I wouldn't mind not liking a tattoo years down the line because at one point in my life it meant so much to me to make it permanent and that part of your life is just as valid as any other. That for me is reason enough and wipes away any fear. We change all the time but every stage in life is important and tattoos are great reminders of that. 

My thoughts on the great tattoo debate, meaning or no meaning. A lot of people disagree with getting tattoos with no reason behind them. Some people seem to think that they need this great story or a chilling tale. I think that they can just be an appreciation of art as well. I don't have a bad opinion on people getting a tattoo simply because they like the look of it. Each to their own and all that. I don't think you can only get a certain tattoo because of any reason. How can I when I have a tattoo of a language that I don't speak haha.

Tattoos can be a reflection of your personality and they can be a great way of self expression. 

In the words of my Queen RuPaul 'you're born naked and the rest is drag'. From the clothes you choose to wear to extreme body modification, it's all apart of who you are. Why other people are so negatively interested in other people being who they want to be, is beyond me! I could go on forever about equality and all that but I doubt anyone has the time to read all that so onto my own tattoo.

Here's a better placement photo firstly, positioned on the back of my neck. Originally I wanted it twice as big but the tattooist thought this was a better size and I trusted his opinion. I thought of the idea a year previously and told myself that if I still wanted it in a years time then I would get it on my 18th birthday and here we are four years later, still loving it. Now for the answer to the question everyone asks, 'what's it mean?' and that answer is 'Little Brother' or younger brother to be precise in Chinese. He's alive and well by the way, most peoples first reactions are that it is a remembrance tattoo so I like to get that fact out of the way first. 

The idea spawned from my favourite lyric from a Kanye West song, 'if you admire someone you should go ahead and tell them, people never get the flowers while they can still smell them'. Despite telling my little brother I love him everyday I decided to show him in tattoo form while we're both still here to appreciate it. 

I can't wait for my next tattoo and the one after that and the one after that...

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick Review

First, confession time, there was originally three of these little fellas but I lost one on a very messy Paddy's Day. It was in the shade 'Fancy' which was a slightly sparkly nude pink colour. I had quite the dramatic eye look going on what with the whole green theme so I went for a more subtle lip which 'Fancy' was perfect for. The two lipsticks in the photo above are in the shades 'Amethyst Shimmer' (left) and 'As You Want Victoria' (right). They price at £6.49 and claim to "moisturise lips without compromising on colour" and I can vouch for that! If you like a shiny lasting lip product then try this range. There are 20 shades available, my favourite name being 'Saved By The Bell'. They have almost like a creamy texture and wear really well. I think they will look great with Spring and Summer makeup. I will defiantly be purchasing more shades!

April in Frames

I'm so thankful that I keep a one line diary to jot down anything that happened that day, it makes these monthly update posts sooo much easier! I couldn't even tell you what I had for breakfast let along what happened all last month. Anywho I checked it today and April starts with a trip to the cinema to see Cinderella with my besties Lorna, Tash and Sam. 

The first weekend of April is a big one, Easter Sunday, a day the whole town celebrates with a drink. This year it was my friend Sorcha's brothers 30th spent up in Belfast. All day Belfast sessions are the best, everyone made an effort, we all we're rockin it. 

I think it was only the weekend after that, that we we're back in PK's our local for another Sunday sesh. It was a great night's criac with Sorcha and Gareth ending with a cheesy chip, result. I started Slimming World this month finally! Needed to be done, and lost 7 1/2 pounds in my first week, well chuffed, perfect motivation to keep going! Along with that me and Gareth have started going on runs twice a week, God help my soul.

My chummy Matty came home for a few days from uni with his friend Tom so the three of us took off on an adventure and explored a bit more of our motherland. We went to the Giant's Causeway and some other untouched parts of Ireland that were stunning to see. Me and my mummy went for a Sunday stroll in Murlough beach, was such a lovely day, it's one of the best walks in Down. 

Forgot to say we put Matty in drag on our sleepover, what a sport, he killed it naturally. See photo above, also next to it is my recent tattoo obsession, morse code. The reason I put a photo in of 'Once Upon A Time' other than me being obsessed with it is because I watched so many episodes in one day after a horrible job experience. I'll explain a bit more quickly, 3 day interview process, one day was 10 hours long, got the job, had to call back and decline. It was horrible, on both parties I'm sure. It just left me physically and emotionally exhausted. Other than that I had an amazing month, here's to the next!