ImagineKathryn

Wednesday 9 March 2016

The Music Tag

Hello Everyone!

I wrote this post a while ago, sort of like back in September, and forgot to upload it. Please don't hate me 🙈

It seems I've been tagged by my friend Meg (http://megangoodier.blogspot.co.uk/) to do the 'Music Tag'. I was immediately interested in doing this because I really do enjoy my music but have quite a strange and varied taste. Just like Meg did, I'm going to (try) to link all of the songs I talk about so that you can at least give them a go before you judge me...

1) The Last Song You Listened To

The last song I listened too was 'All Again' by Ella Henderson. I've been spending way too much time on trains this week listening to music and wanted a change so stuck her album on. And I think, after Hard Work, this is my favourite on her album.

2) Last Song You Purchased

My last purchase was on iTunes but it was actually an album. My main motivation for getting the album was the song 'Fire and Gasoline' by Sia.

3) Song You Discovered on YouTube

So you're not going to believe this one but you know the song 'Fight Song'? I first discovered that on YouTube before Taylor Swift got her hands on it. Not that I'm complaining. I think I was linked there from one of Emma Blackery's videos. Other songs discovered on YouTube include 'The Way That We Were' by Carrie Fletcher and 'Everything Is Ending' by Chameleon Circuit.

4) Favourite Song from a Musical

So many musicals and so many songs. Choosing one is gonning to kill me. It changes frequently but at the moment either 'There's a fine, fine line' from AvenueQ or 'Quiet' from Matilda

5) Favourite Band

So this often surprises people but I do have quite a few favourite bands. The 1975 are one of them but my favourite has to be The Fray.

6) Favourite Solo Artist

Janet Devlin. All I need to say on the topic

7) Favourite Album

There are so many albums I really like and this varies from time to time but an all time favourite would probably be English Rain by Gabrielle Aplin.

8) Best Live Gig

You're gonna kill me. I know you're gonna kill me. But I haven't actually been to a live gig! It's a long story. So who's gonna take me to my first one?

9) Guilty Pleasure Song

'Naive' by the Kooks because it always improves my mood and 'Vienna' by Billy Joel. Is that kind of embarassing? There's a problem with the CD shuffler at work and it just plays this album on repeat and this is my favourite on it

10) Song You Used To Hate But Now Like

I honestly can't think of any, sorry

11) Song You Used To Love But Now Can't Stand

You probably know by now that I work in the leisure industry. As much as it has it's perks, it has the odd disadvantage too; the music that they use for Zumba, fitness classes and aqua aerobics classes, I hear it most days. And my god, they never seem to change their playlists. The music they use tends to be 'pop' music that I enjoy to hear maybe once every so often on the radio. Then it gets overplayed. So add Dear Future Husband, Crazy Stupid Love, Cheerleader, Love Me Like You Do, Black Magic and Don't Be So Hard On Yourself to the bottom of a very long list. I think I'd miss them if I didn't hear them though. Call it a love/hate relationship. And you're not getting links to any of those, just switch your radio on

12) A Group You Wish Had Never Split

Ahahaha, easy one. S Club 7. I think I cried for a week when they split up. Obviously a 6-year-olds worst nightmare. It'd be quite nice for things like that to be my biggest worry now!

13) Favourite Cover of a Song

Dodie Clark and Tessa Violet covered All Star a while ago and it's still my favourite

14) Favourite Song from a Film

I could answer this one in one word. Disney. But to be a little bit more descriptive and helpful...I really like Steady As A Beating Drum from Pocahontas, and Suspicious Minds which was used in Lilo and Stitch. I've changed my mind since the last time I wrote this and it's 'Feels Like Home' used in My Sister's Keeper

15) Favourite Song From an Advert

I think Tom Odell's song 'Another Love' was used in an advert at some point. If I'm right, that's my favourite

16) A Song you Grew Up With

'Thank you for the Music' by ABBA is the first piece I can remember playing in a concert, probably when I was about six and since then it's found its way back in to my life many times in dance shows etc. But it also started my crazy little obsession over ABBA and that's not something I'll ever regret

17) First Song/Album Bought

I'm not sure if this was the first one I bought or if it was bought for me but it was Taller In More Ways by the Sugarbabes. At the time I was a little bit obsessed with the song 'Ugly'

18) Song You Found Accidently and Love

This wasn't quite accidental but a friend introduced me to First Aid Kit a couple of years ago and I heard one of their songs in a coffee shop the other day and remembered just how much I like them. So my favourites are Master Pretender and Silver Lining

19) Favourite Foreign Language Song

Well this just has to be 'Lo Qué Soy', Demi Lovato's Spanish version of 'This is me' from Camp Rock. And yes, I know all of the words.

20) A Song from the Year you were Born

I had to Google this one too Meg! Okay, so Wannabe be Spice Girls or one version of Candle in the Wind. Big contrast

21) Song you will always get up and dance to

Lean On

22) Artist your Parents Introduced you too

Okay, from my mum...Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston and Queen. And my dad...Duffy, Oasis, Amy MacDonald, Jack Johnson and The Beatles

23) Song you would Recommend to Everyone

Angels on the Moon by Thriving Ivory which, coincidentally is another band that I'd recommend you checked out. I really do love them

24) Song that reminds you of a Specific Event

I'm afraid that this is going to be a bit of a sad one...

The song is 'Lady in Red' and it reminds me of my Grandma's funeral because it was played as the curtain went down. Okay, sob story over

25) Song that you can't help but sing along to

Lots for here...Teenage Dirtbag, 1973, Human, Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. Need I continue?

26) Happy Song

Okay, I'm going to call this a 'motivational' song more than a happy song. It's the song that I always put quite close to the end of my running playlist as it really keeps my going and it's 'Shut Up and Dance'

27) Favourite Slow Song

A long-time favourite of mine would probably be 'Hometown Glory' by Adele, but also 'Concrete Angel' by Martina McBride, 'I'll stand by you' or 'I hope you dance'

28) Song that will never get old

This is going to be a song that will never get old for me so a few of you may not know it well but it's 'Human' by Christina Perri. It's one of those songs that always reminds me it's okay to be affected by things.

29) Favourite Song At The Moment

Florence and the Machine's 'Ship to Wreck'. Go and listen! Now!!

30) All Time Favourite Song

Drops of Jupiter by Train or LIFEGOESON by Noah and the Whale. Both of these songs just have lots of good memories attached to them.

Hope you enjoyed that and maybe got to listen to a few songs that you've not heard before/for a while. I tag anyone who wants to take part and if you don't want to do a full post, type your answers in the comments below.

Also extremely sorry I've not been around for so long. Been a very busy bee but promise you'll be hearing more from me in the coming weeks.

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x

Tuesday 16 February 2016

The Disney Princess Tag

Oh she's got me again. And you know how I can never seem to resist a good little chat about Disney so before you read this, go and check out my little Nutmeg (megangoodier.blogspot.co.uk) and here goes...

1) Which Princess do you like the least?
You are kidding me, right? Why do we start on such a negative and why on Earth are you asking me to dislike a princess? I guess if I had to pick, it'd be Aurora just because I feel like she's the one that I can identify with least. But I really really really enjoy drawing her.

2) Which Princess do you adore most?
There's too many!! I'm just going to give the typical swimmer's answer and say Ariel

3) Which Princess do you relate too most?
Okay, there's definitely a few I have to comment on for this one, I guess I just see bits of me in a few different Princesses. I'll start with Ariel, for the obvious reason. Then I have a couple of friends who compare me to Belle because I love reading and learning and reading so much. And I'd like to say that there's some of the determination, commitment and courage in me that Merida, Mulan and Pocahontas all show.

4) Which sidekick do you wish you had?
Pascal. He'd definitely be a laugh and so much fun to be around

5) Which best friend would you like to hang out with?
The inner child in me is saying I'd really love to hang out with Flounder, somewhere under the sea...

6) Which Prince would love you?
Eric, because I suck with spoken words and he'd be able to see straight past that

7) Which parents would raise you?
Now this is an interesting one that I've thought about before. How many Disney Princesses actually have parents? And if they do, do they have a full set? So really, I don't have too much choice but if I had to choose I guess I'd say Mulan's parents have raised me because they've always been very proud of keeping up the 'family name'.

8) Which Castle do you want to live in?
Merida's castle. Probably the most down-to-earth, but have you seen the view from up there!!

9) Which dress do you wish to own?
Briar Rose wears cute dresses, does she count? I've never really been a big fan of ballgowns.

10) Which voice do you wish you had?
I mean I could definitely settle for any of the voices but I'd probably say Belle. After all, if I had that voice I'd get to sing Something There.

11) Which two Princesses would be best friends
Belle and Ariel would be good friends I think. They would both be so fascinated with one another and share a genuine interest in one another.

12) Which two Princesses do you think would hate one another?
I can't honestly imagine Cinderella getting on too well with Mulan because they don't have much in common, but at the same time, I can't see princesses hating each other either

13) Which two sidekicks would make a good duo?
Mushu and Pascal but I don't particularly have a justification for it

14) Which two Princes would be best buds?
I agree with Meg on this one Flynn and Eric I would say, because they're similar but not too similar

15) Which scene makes you cry?
When we see Rapunzel's parents

16) What scene makes you cheer?
When Beauty and the Beast dance together

17) Which scene makes you cringe the most?
Errrrrmmmmm......none

18) Which story do you wish was your life?
Ohhhh, I'm not sure I do. I'd like little bits of them all to be in my life. Does that make me really greedy?

19) Which movie do you love the most?
It's Disney we're talking about silly, I love them all!

And because we've been on the subject of Disney sidekicks, have a drawing of one of my faves...

I tag anyone and everyone who reads my blog to do this and would love you to leave links way down there so I can see your views.

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x

Sunday 10 January 2016

Highlights of 2015

Promise I haven't stolen this idea from a friend at all but it seems like such a fantastic idea to look at all of the fantastic things I've done over the past twelve months...

In February of 2015 I had my 18th birthday, this was important because it marked the beginning of a huge adventure...adulthood. Though I still don't behave adulty enough for it. I was so lucky to spend the time with my family and closest friends and, although my birthday was during mock week, it was lovely to have a surprise evening out with my work friends too. Love you guys x

And obviously, 2015 was an important year with regards to education and exams. I sat my a levels in May and this was such a huge challenge for me, there were times when I didn't think I was capable of getting though it and there were days and days of crying, stressing and panicking. I'm just so proud that I got through those months and can look back and see how well I did.

Okay, possibly one of my favourite bits was completing my Gold D of E award. I completed most sections in the previous year but in July I visited Finland, canoeing on some of the most picturesque lakes I will probably ever see. It was a lovely opportunity to colour another country on my travel map and such a fantastic scheme to be a part of. Roll on visiting the palace for my award presentation in 2016.

Shortly after returning from Finland (like two days) I went on a family holiday to Egypt...

And returned home to a five hour wait for my exam results. It was a stressful morning but I was thrilled when I checked UCAS to find out that I'd been given a place at my first choice university and that all of my hard work had paid off.

In September I started on my way to becoming a qualified fitness instructor completing a course that I enjoyed so much, just before I headed off to the other side of the country...

In October I moved to the North East to start my degree at my dream university and so far have enjoyed (almost) every minute of it.

Most importantly, I think, 2015 was a year where I had the opportunity for lots of 'firsts'. Lots of chances for me to do things for the first time. I've had the opportunity to start rowing, which has been so much fun and I've had my first time living away from home. I've learnt so much more about what I enjoy and the freedom is exciting. It's been an adventure so here's a few more pictures of the highlights.

With my maths buddy at my birthday

Leavers do

Elise's birthday

My Nutmeg

Willowbrook Hospice's Moonlight walk

Playing around with new hobbies

Thursday 31 December 2015

New Year's resolutions

December the 31st has found its way back around far too quickly. And what does New Year mean? Resolutions.

As a general rule, I don't particularly agree with New Years resolutions. Wait, not like that! It's a great idea to try to better yourself and set goals to achieve. It keeps you moving forward and striving for a better version of you. However, I believe that this is something that you can do all of the time - definitely not just on January 1st!

Nevertheless, I am going to share with you some of my goals and aims for the following twelve months and I'm sure you'll hear of new ones from me through the year too...

Spend more time outdoors

I love being outdoors, I love the sense of freedom, the beauty of nature. But rarely do I make time to enjoy it

Send more messages

I'm the first person to admit that I suck at replying to texts, to messages on Facebook and whatsapp, but I've learnt that's rubbish and it's good to stay in regular contact with people when you're living away

Do more of what I enjoy

Life's too short; and those small things, they're not really all that small

Stress less

There are things you can't control, so where's the sense in worrying about them?

Smile more

Because whatever it is that's making me not want to smile is definitely not going to last forever

Hope you all have a happy new year! And I'd love to hear your views in the comments...What are your views on New Year's Resolutions? Have you stuck to any from last year? Have you set any this year? And are any similar to mine?

Keep smiling,

Kathryn X

Thursday 24 December 2015

It doesn't even feel like Christmas

Said everyone over the age of 15, every Christmas. Well, pretty much. And I guess I wanted to know why most of us feel like that. Because most of the time we still enjoy Christmas Day itself and all of the festivities that it brings.

So after a little bit of thinking and googling (made up term?), I came to the conclusion that as you get older you just have more things on. More things that are more important. As a small child, you rarely have to worry about assignments or bills, so as you get older and these responsibilities grow, you just don't have the brain capacity to think about all of these things at the same time.

So my conclusion...we definitely don't have to value Christmas any less as we get older, quite the contrary. Each year we may spend a little bit less time in the run up thinking about it so that it brings extra joy when it arrives. Have a lovely Christmas!!

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x

Tuesday 8 December 2015

When in doubt, get it out

Trapped in a world where everyone is thinking three months ahead of where they are today, never fully appreciating the moment that they're living in right now, I'm sat here. And I know exactly where I am. But at the same time, I'm lost. And from time to time, that gets a little bit overwhelming.

What I've realised just this past week is that you can't keep all of your feelings trapped inside your head because it will just get on top of you. And then you'll explode.

It really can be hard to find the correct balance of doing things for other peopl and doing things for yourself. But it's really important to be aware of yourself and what you need. Sometimes you just an afternoon away from it all, doing something you enjoy or doing nothing at all, to bring you back. And then you're 100% refreshed and ready to help everyone else again! So find your escape and learn when you need it.

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x

Monday 30 November 2015

Where've you been Kathryn?

So the short answer to the question above is...busy. But lots of very different sorts of busy. Over the next couple of weeks I'll catch you up and let you know what I've been up to as I'm starting to manage my time better and make time for the small, enjoyable things, like writing. In the meantime, I hope you're all well and don't mind sticking around with me for a little while longer.

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x