The Maine "Lovely, Little, Lonely" Album Review

Hello, lovelies!

On the 7th of April, The Maine released their new album. If you're not familiar with The Maine, they are an American alternative rock band from Tempe, Arizona, formed in 2007. They've released 6 full length albums, a Christmas release, and a handful of EPs. They've completed 11 headline tours, co-headlined on several, and have been the opening act for bands such as All Time Low. They have also featured on Warped Tour  in the US.

Composed of five members, John O'Callaghan (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Jared Monaco (guitar),  Kennedy Brock (guitar & backing vocals), Garret Nickelson (bass guitar), and Pat Kirch (drums), The Maine are at the top of their game currently, and this latest release shows that.

Lovely, Little, Lonely is composed of 12 songs, 3 of which are interludes named after the album title, "Lovely", "Little", and "Lonely". They have stayed true to themselves with their signature chilled out guitar, drums that make you want to drive with your windows down, songs that flow into each other seamlessly, and lyrics that could only have come from the genius mind of John O'Callaghan. Spacey and chilled, this is one of those albums you can listen to with your eyes closed and feel like you're floating.

Tracklist:

1. Don't Come Down
2. Bad Behaviour
3. Lovely
4. Black Butterflies & Deja Vu
5. Taxi
6. Do You Remember? (The Other Half of 23)
7. Little
8. The Sound of Reverie
9. Lost In Nostalgia
10. I Only Wanna Talk To You
11. Lonely
12. How Do You Feel?

I was going to try and do a breakdown of each song, but it would honestly just be a mess of me sobbing, dancing, and "THIS IS MY FAVOURITE ONE!" But instead, I will tell you if you don't have enough time to listen to the whole album, definitely listen to Bad Behaviour, Black Butterflies & Deja Vu, Taxi, and Lost In Nostalgia.

The Maine are the only band that I have consistently bought all of their albums. Sorry, McFly & 5SOS, but even you guys have released some questionable songs. However, The Maine get it so spot on every single time, and I'm more than happy to continue giving these guys all of the love, recognition, support, and money they deserve. 

If you're looking for your summer album, this is it. I know it's only April, but I believe this release has set the standard for 2017, it truly is one of the best albums I have ever heard.

Thank you for reading, and as always,

I'll see you next time, then.

Ree xo

My Top 5 Binge Worthy Netflix Shows

Hello, lovelies!

As I write this, I am curled in the corner of my sofa, wearing fluffy pyjamas in 17 degree sunshine, nursing a banger of a hangover. So, of course, all I've been doing today is watching Netflix and eating my weight in Pringles. Sometimes you just gotta ditch the meal plan and have your comfort foods, y'know?

Like a grand majority of people lately, I'm freaking obsessed with Netflix. I spend 3/4 of my day watching it, and that's not an exaggeration. I've gotten to season 4 of Pretty Little Liars in a week. 25 episodes a season, in 7 days.

So, let's get on with it!

1. Pretty Little Liars

The first time I tried to watch this show, I got 20 minutes into the pilot and thought "nah, not for me." But after a few weeks, and endless amount of time flicking through shows, I decided to give it another try. Now I've watched it the whole way through at least 3 times, and am currently on the 4th because my mum wanted to see it from the start. It's addicting. The first time I watched it I had a notebook and everything because I was so obsessed with figuring it all out. It's trashy, dramatic, and slightly cringe-worthy at points, but I love it. Adore it. Treat it like it's my baby.

In case my rambling, weird obsession with the show isn't enough to make you want to watch it; here is the synopsis from their Wikipedia page

"Set in the small suburban town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania (not too far from Philadephia), the series follows the lives of four girls; Spencer Hastings, Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin, and Emily Fields, whose clique falls apart after the alleged murder of their leader, Alison DiLaurentis. One year later the estranged friends are reunited as they begin receiving messages from a mysterious villain named "A" who threatens and tortures them for the mistakes they have made before and after Alison was alive. At first, they think it is Alison herself, but after her "body" is found, the girls realise that someone else is planning on ruining their lives."

I could go on and on about this show until I am blue in the face, I've gotten several friends turned onto it (and they all have the same love for it as I do), but all I can say is please, please, if you haven't seen it, watch it. It will ruin your life, and you will love it. 

2. Sons of Anarchy

Let's completely 180 from Pretty Little Liars, and talk about Sons of Anarchy. If I had enough words for how much I absolutely adore this show, this post would be a hell of a lot longer than it's going to be. This show has made me scream laughing, but also sob like a baby. Motorcycles, rock music, drugs, guns, kidnapping, murder, hot boys, and even hotter girls, this show has absolutely everything that makes a crime drama absolutely wonderful. There are 7 seasons all together, stretching between 2008 to late 2014. 

I know this show isn't for everyone, I've had a few friends watch a couple of episodes and them be like "What is the ass is this" and then several other friends absolutely lose their minds over how good it is, it's really all about your personal opinion. Wikipedia's synopsis; 

"Sons of Anarchy is an American crime drama television series created by Kurt Sutter. It follows the lives of a close knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in California's Central Valley. The show stars Charley Hunnam as Jackson "Jax" Teller, initially the vice president of the club, who begins questioning the club and himself. Brotherhood, loyalty, and redemption are constant themes... Topics such as vigilantism, government corruption and racism are explored as well how an outlaw motorcycle club can be an analogy for human transformation."

If you're looking for a show to mess up your emotions, this is it. Seriously. This. Is. It.

3. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

This is a story all about how the life of a boy gets flip turned upside down. So he'd like to take a minute, just sit right there, let him tell you how he became the prince of a town called Bel-Air. Much lighter and fast paced than the two shows I listed above, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a comedy series staring the one and only Will Smith. It first aired in 1990, and sadly finished in 1996, but it is so wonderful that it's now dubbed as a classic, timeless and hilarious.  

Will's character is a witty, street-smart kid from Philadelphia, who after getting into a fight gets sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in Bel-Air, Los Angeles. Hilarity, the trials and tribulations of teenage life, and a few serious issues follows, creating the best feel good series TV has ever seen. 

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American Sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10th, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalised version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel-Air mansion after getting into a fight at his local basketball court. In the series, his lifestyle often clashes with the lifestyle of his relatives in Bel-Air."

If that isn't enough - please look at this gif. 

4. Britain's Darkest Taboos 

I completely blame my mother for my obsession with this show. I've been watching it since it first aired on the crime and investigation channel in 2011, and now the whole thing is on Netflix for me to binge whenever I please. Each episode is based around a real life murder or crime that has been committed in the UK. The show is made up of reenactments, interviews with victims family members and friends, or in a few cases, the victims who managed to escape. 

It is very, very dark, and potentially very triggering, so I understand it isn't to everyone's taste, but for some sick reason - I am obsessed. 

"Each episode reveals the timeline of events with accurate reconstructions, home footage, family photos, archive news, and exclusive access to previously unseen police footage. With expert analysis from Forensic Psychologist Dr. Keri Nixon, and Psychologist Emma Kenny, Britain's Darkest Taboos shows how the acts of one individual can send shockwaves through the lives of those closest to them."

5. American Horror Story

I remember the first time I watched American Horror Story. I was sat on the sofa in my old flat, in the dark, and I was absolutely scared beyond my wits. It became a true love story, this show and I. It has been one of my favourite shows for years, and I get so excited every time a new season comes out. There is three more seasons coming out over the next two years, and I. Am. Pumped. 

If you're like me and you're into spooky things, ghosts, make believe, and things based off true events, American Horror Story is the one for you. 

"American Horror Story is an American anthology horror television series created and produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Described as an anthology series, each season is conceived as a self-contained mini series, following a disparate set of characters and settings, and a story with its own "beginning, middle and end." Some plot elements of each season are loosely inspired by true events." 

Phew! That's my list! There are honestly a bunch of other shows I could have added to this, but these are my top five, and the ones I suggest to everyone when they ask for new shows to watch. 

I hope you guys are liking this new upload schedule! From now on I'll be uploading posts on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays! Yay!

Thank you for reading, and as always,

I'll see you next time, then. 

Ree xo 

Serious Sunday - How Working Out Helped My Mental Health

Hello, lovelies!

I figured I would start a new series on this blog - Serious Sunday. Above all things I want to keep this blog true to what it started as... An honest, open insight into my life.

If you've been reading for a while you'll know I suffer from a wide variety of issues. Both mental and physical. From anxiety, to depression, to BPD, to OCD, there isn't a place in my head that feels like a "safe" place some days. That is where the gym has come in. In the last six months I have seen improvements in my mental health, as well as physically, just from going to the gym three to four times a week.

When I'm stressed - gym. When I'm angry - gym. When I'm happy - you bet I'm at the freaking gym. Spending that hour, two hours, three hours, on my body and focusing my mind on nothing else is incredibly therapeutic. I sleep better, I pay more attention to what goes into my body, I feel like I can breathe better. It doesn't matter if all I do is run on the treadmill for 45 minutes, and then picture who ever has pissed me off's face on the matt while I medicine ball slam out all my anger.

Working out, for me, is a way of clearing my mind. The thoughts that spend so long every day trying to pull me apart are the last thing on my mind, because I'm too busy focusing my mind on the muscles I'm working. On the same note - clearing my mind helps distract me from my physical aches and pains brought on by my Fibromyalgia. Of course there are still days when I physically can't go to the gym because my body needs to rest, but they are a lot fewer and far between than they were before, which is strange considering I've been working my body more, right?

My muscles are getting more used to being worked in such a way that Fibro pains, whilst still constant and always present, aren't as debilitating as they were before.

Basically, the point of this post, working out has changed that way I look at life, the way I look at my body, and the way I look at myself. I have a much healthier relationship with my body, and a much more positive outlook on life. It's true what Elle Woods says: "Exercise gives you endorphin's, endorphin's make you happy, happy people don't just shoot their husbands."

I hope you guys don't mind the addition of these more serious posts!

I'll see you next time, then.

Ree xo

Coconut-Lane Wishlist

Hello, lovelies!

Recently I've come across a website that I have absolutely fallen in love and sold my soul to. Coconut-lane!

Pink, sassy, and A LOT of rose gold is the way to my heart, and this website has absolutely every single one of them. I could spend a whole freaking lot of money on here without even blinking.

Hey, guess what? Because you're reading this blog you get a 20% off code! HECK YEAH! If you enter the code "earthtoree20" at checkout you get 20% off your whole order! You're welcome ;)

Now, onto the wishlist!

1. Blogger Sweatshirt - £28

LINK

Okay, I know, it's April, it's getting warmer (supposedly) but I freaking love sweatshirts. I'm currently wearing a bright pink one that says "Internet Princess". Really. This sweater is so cute I can't quite handle it, and it lists my 3 favourite things in the world. My blog, Instagram, and Coffee. Do you really need anything else? I don't think so.

2. #GIRLBOSS Phone Case - £15

LINK

As a self proclaimed #GIRLBOSS, I. Need. This. My phone is currently naked, and as pretty as it is in all it's rose gold glory, it makes me nervous. However, I am super picky with my phone cases, so to find one that I instantly love is rare, and the second I saw this one I knew I needed it. Marble and hashtags? Give me it. 

3. Marble Bangle - £13.50

LINK

AHH. AHHHH. This is so beautiful I'm almost sweating. As someone who doesn't own a lot of bangles, I only really wear my Pandora one, I was surprised when this one caught my eye. I just want it on my body 24/7. 

4. Classy Cushion Cover - £18

LINK

I am a sucker for cushions. Honestly, ask anyone. So the fact that coconut-lane do hilariously sassy ones is my favourite thing in the world. I sent this one to my friend and she screamed, because it's the most us thing she has ever seen. I'm currently in the process of finding my own apartment as well, and this is exactly the type of thing I want front and centre on my sofa. 

5. Coffee Wall Art - £6

LINK

My life in a wall print. Coffee, Contour, Confidence! Again, something perfect for the decor scheme I want for my apartment, but until then it would look SUPER cute beside my dressing table. 

There are at least 300 other things on here that I could put on this list, but I will leave it at 5. I am absolutely, completely obsessed with this company and all of their products and ethics, and the team of girls that I have spoken to and worked with so far have been so amazingly lovely. 

Definitely check the site out, and don't forget - 20% off!

I'll see you next time, then.

Ree xo

Jeffree Star "DREAMHOUSE" Velour Liquid Lipstick Swatch & Review

Hello, lovelies!

Now, I know you've probably seen 300 reviews on Jeffree Star's liquid lipsticks, but I recently got my hands on one, and oh. My. God. I love it. This post is probably just going to be me saying "I LOVE IT" a million times, so strap yourselves in, this is going to be a wild one.

After eyeing it up for what felt like forever, I finally took the leap and bought it from beautybay.com alongside a whole bunch of other beauty bits I've been lusting after. The mini haul included some Makeup Geek shadows, a Z Palette, an Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow definer, and this absolute beauty of a lipstick.

Packaged in the standard Jeffree Star pink and star-clad design, the sparkle from the lipstick is obvious even before you open it. It's a lot lighter than I had originally anticipated considering it has so much product in it, which is a bonus, as it's a solid addition to your makeup bag but definitely won't weigh you down.

On to the swatches!

SO. SPARKLY. 

I used my DSLR camera to take these photos, and honestly, I could die happy with how the formula came out. I was worried it wouldn't come across in pictures, but it definitely does. Buttery and thick, the glitter does make the formula a little bit gloopy, but if you can deal with that it really is a dream. Dries super quickly, doesn't smudge (however it never got the kiss test from me - so be careful if you're gonna be smooching your sweetness.) and, luckily, it doesn't have a strong scent like a lot of liquid lipsticks I've tried.

Always being one for bold lips, I usually stick to dark reds and purples, so snatching up this fluorescent pink was very out of character for me. However, I am so super crazy glad that I did, because I freaking love it.

And just so you can see how beautiful it comes across in selfies -

Thank you so much for reading, and as always... 

I'll see you next time, then.

Ree xo

Why Photo Editing Is Important

Hello, lovelies!

Now, I've always been a sucker for photo editing apps. The most I've spent on one was £7.99. Yikes. However recently I've been focusing on a few specific ones. All to improve my Instagram, blog, Twitter, and even my Facebook aesthetic. I'm one of those people who have a separate folder for everything on my phone. I mean, everything. Editors, Social Media, Games, white noise makers, the whole lot have their own folder.

What can I say? I'm an organised person.

The difference in engagement my photos get when they've been edited is crazy. I've seen an edited photo get 100+ likes on Instagram, and an unedited one just barely reach 20. Plus - editing is slightly addicting.

So before I start to ramble, let's get into it.

I'm mainly going to focus on Facetune, PicFX, Instasize and VSCO, but if you would like to know about the others let me know!

Facetune: 

I know you've probably seen 300,000,000 bloggers go on about this app, but seriously, if you haven't tried it, please do. It comes with features to whiten your teeth, sharpen objects, blur out backgrounds, everything. I mainly use the whiten feature for the backgrounds of photos - believe it or not, the photo above was seriously dark before I edited it. For selfies I use the smoothing tool to just soften things up a little, and the detail tool for bringing out my eyes!

PicFX/VSCO:

I'm grouping these two together because they are very, very similar. I use both for putting slight filters on photos I feel need a little something. In PicFX I use the PFX Film folder, and always go for PFX 5. Using the slider to edit the intensity of the filter, I usually apply it twice and adjust it both times. Weird, I know, but it's habit, and I feel like it makes them look best. In VSCO I alternate between F2 and G3. Again using the slider to edit the intensity, I'll usually only use this for blog pictures! It makes them look sharpest, I think.

Instasize:

I. Love. This. App. It was my saving grace when I had an all white border theme on my Instagram (two years ago, wow?!) and now I use it on my Facebook photos. It makes them look so much more appealing, and they get so much more engagement when they look better. When you open the app and pick your photo you're taken to the editing screen, where you can chose how you want to go about editing. I go to the end option to select the border, and usually just stick with white, but if I feel like being fancy (or I want a whole outfit & face picture on my Instagram because I look great) I'll use the blur option, it uploads the same picture to the background and blurs it, simple!

For an example of just how much of an improvement photo editing can be, I'm going to put in a before and after of a photo I took & uploaded to Instagram today.

See how much difference just whitening the background and sharpening the case can make? A simple picture of a DVD case made so much nicer just by 5 minutes on these apps!

On a side note; how good is Moana?! I LOVE IT. 

Thank you so much for reading, and I'll see you next time, then. 

Ree xo 

Update: IT'S APRIL?!

Hello, lovelies!

Um, can someone tell me where the first three months of this year have gone? Seriously, I'm not convinced they even happened.

I have no idea where to even begin with this post. My birthday passed without a hitch, February was a month of interviews and a few doctors appointments, and in March I got quite possibly the best news I've ever gotten -

I'm going to college.

Now, that might not seem like a big deal to a lot of people, everyone goes to college, right? Well, for me, it's the first step I've taken into getting back into education for almost 5 years. I dropped out of high school at 16 for several reasons, mainly illness related, and since then I hadn't once thought about going back into education. I always thought I'd be better learning as I go than being stuck in a classroom, y'know?

Anyway, I found a college near by that did an entry level Beauty & Makeup course that leads down the makeup route, which continues on to Fashion & SFX Makeup, which is everything I want to do with my life. So, I plucked up the courage one morning in January at 5am when my insomnia was being it's usual, annoying self, and I applied.

I interviewed for the course in February, and five days later I got an email telling me I had a definite place. I'm not going to lie, I absolutely cried. I sobbed like a baby and phoned every member of my family and friends I could think of at the time.

So now it's April, and I'm a step closer to knowing what I'm doing with my life! Yay!

I'm hoping to start bringing more makeup posts to this blog, tutorials, reviews etc.!

I hope you're not all too mad at me for disappearing again, I truly don't mean to! I just get very caught up in life, and my own head at times, that a lot of important things like blogging, eating, showering, all take a bit of a backseat.

But I'm here now! Let's do this!

I leave this post with a question; have you tried Eldora lashes? What was your opinion? Personally I love them, the M106s are my favourite and I wore them today, because obviously lazy Sunday's at home are for big, glamorous eye looks! Shameless selfie? Shameless selfie!

I'll see you next time, then.

Ree xo