Ingrid Michaelson - Lights Out

Exams brought my blogging to a halt, including the blogger challenges. That means I'm going to have to catch up with them and fast! 

Topic 9 was the first that I missed and it was about music. I've decided to do an album review for Ingrid Michaelson's Lights Out which came out just before this post was originally due! 

I've loved Ingrid's music for a long time and this album is no exception. It's a bit different from her older stuff as she had other writers helping her this time but I love it all the same! 

1. Home

I love this song, it has such a great tune.

2. Girls Chase Boys

Probably in my top 3 of the album - the video is also brilliant! It has such a great message and a catchy tune!

3. Wonderful Unknown (ft. Greg Laswell)

A slower song, but I love it! 

4. You Got Me (ft. Storyman)

This is such a different and more upbeat, poppy song for Ingrid but her and Storyman's voices work really well together to make a really great song.

5. Warpath

Easily in my top 3. Another upbeat song that I'm in love with - so easy to dance to and sing along to!

6. Handsome Hands

It's quite a slow song and I don't think it's as good as the others on the album. It picks up towards the end but I find it a little boring if I'm honest.

7. Time Machine

This one is a mix of pop and rock and is in my top 3, it's so catchy and memorable, I absolutely love this song and I'm constantly singing and humming it!

8. One Night Town (ft. Mat Kearney)

Another poppy and upbeat song. Too much 'ooh-ing' for my liking but it's still a good song!

9. Open Hands (ft. Trent Dabbs)

Not as good as the others in my opinion but it isn't bad - I just have others I would listen to over it.

10. Ready to Lose (ft. Trent Dabbs)

Another slow song but it's still pretty good! 

11. Stick

Okay...maybe I have a top 4. It's such a great song; less poppy than some of the others and it gives a nice mix!

12. Afterlife

A less dancy tune but equally memorable, I love it!

13. Over You (ft. A Great Big World)

Another great slow song - it's sweet and their voices are really nice together!

14. Everyone is Gonna Love Me Now

A lovely song to finish the album on, another slow one!

Overall I love the album and like with most others, it has stronger songs but its generally really good! If you haven't heard of Ingrid, I would definitely recumbent listening to her - the album is on Spotify and probably on YouTube too! 

Jess xx

The Liebster Award #3!

In the last two weeks I've been set about 5 essays and a million years worth of reading to do so I haven't had any time to blog - I'm sorry for my absence! I have a few posts lined up for the next couple of weeks or so, hopefully having one written every few days to give me little breaks from revision over the Easter holidays!

I've been nominated for the Liebster Award by the lovely Kate again which is awesome and very kind of her! 

The Rules

You need to link back to the nominator 

State 11 Facts about yourself

Answer the 11 questions given to you 

Nominate 11 new bloggers with less than 200 followers 

And give those nominated 11 new questions

11 facts about me

1. I have a serious love for Pink Marc de Champagne truffles from Charbonnel and Walker currently, they're the nicest things and they aren't too expensive!

2. I spent most of last week in the library when I wasn't in lessons and it actually wasn't bad! I used to hate it in there but I've learnt to love it this year.

3. I lost a couple of followers this week and it makes me sad that people have stopped liking my blog because I can't post frequently.

4. I have my exams in a month and a half and I don't feel as stressed as I know I should be - this blog will definitely be part of my exam breaks!

5. I'm actually looking forward to spending two solid weeks revising...I love my subjects so much so it will be good!

6. I'm deathly afraid of spiders. I was in the library three days ago and I almost cried because a big one was on the wall next to me.

7. I have a strip of clear floor going round my room but that's it...I need to tidy up.

8. I haven't read any books for fun since The Rosie Project and that makes me sad - I hate not having time to even pick up a book!

9. I'm determined to organise myself properly with these upcoming exams and I plan to make lots of resources, lists and timetables to sort myself a schedule!

10. I've managed to find a make up look I like and only takes 5 minutes at the most for when I'm running late! It also all fits in my tiny make up bag so I can do it at college if needed!

11. My favourite piece of clothing at the moment is my pair of lounge trousers! They're the comfiest thing to wear around the house when I'm not going anywhere!

Kate's questions

1) What's your favourite song at the moment?

Umm....I have So Long by Ingrid Michaelson stuck in my head currently so I'll go for that!

2) How happy are you on a scale of 1 - 10 right now?

I'm pretty happy but I'm also relatively stressed which always brings my mood down a bit so maybe a 7?

3) What's the saddest thing you've heard in the past week?

There hasn't been anything that I can think of which is actually really good! 

4) Write about the person you think of the most.

Oh gosh. I will probably say a group and they're honestly some of the best friends I have. I don't see them often at all now I'm at a different college but when I do get together with them (like my birthday film day), it's as if I was never away from them and I think that's when you know they're true friends and you belong in the group with them. They're the only group I truly feel like I belong in and don't have doubts about ever which doesn't mean I don't like my other groups of friends, but I fit with this lot like clockwork. 

5) Do you overuse any words or phrases?

 

I can't think of any! I'm quite sarcastic though...

6) Where do you want to be in ten years' time?

 

Either travelling and doing Archaeology or working in a museum - as long as I'm near history I don't mind what I'm doing at all!

7) What's your favourite time of the day and why?

Probably when the sun is going down - the sky is so pretty and it changes colour daily, sometimes it's orange like the sky is on fire and other times it's bright pink and purple!

8) Do you have any disgusting habits? Please divulge.

I click my fingers and toes quite a lot which is bad...

9) Talk about your earliest memory.

When I was in playgroup, we had a day where we got to dress up in saris and my friend took the one I liked - I still remember that it was red with gold stars but I can't remember the one I had in the end!

10) Is anything hurting you right now?

I haven't seen my boyfriend much this week even though we're at the same college which is a bit of a bummer...

11) How does blogging impact on your daily life?

I randomly think of good blog posts and have to write them down, I'm on the look out for good pictures and absolutely anything can inspire me to write a post. I've actually written several posts on my notes on my phone when I have 10 minutes of inspiration!

My nominees

Amy (Blending Beauty)

Caitlin (Fox tales)

Caitlin (Thistle and tea)

My questions

1. Do you believe in fate?

2. Favourite smell?

3. If you could, what would you change your name to?

4. Current favourite song?

5. What was that last book you read?

6. Favourite sweet?

7. If you could have two superpowers, what would they be?

8. What is one thing you wish you were better at?

9. Favourite piece of clothing?

10. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why?

11. Top three favourite blogs?

Thanks for reading and hopefully you'll be seeing more of me over the next couple of weeks!
Jess xx

My favourite things - comforts.

I love writing lists of things, whether it's about books or songs I want to remember, or a list of things I want to buy. 

There are loads of little things in life that I love!

 1. Movie days
 2. Spending all day in my pjs
3. Good books that make me feel anything
4. Long train journeys
5. Big jumpers/cardigans
6. Spending time with my older (secondary school) friends
7. People saying they still read my blog after telling them about it ages ago
8. Watching Disney films wrapped up in my duvet
9. Reading magazines before going to bed
10. Getting into my lounge trousers after a day at college
11. Writing blog posts that I'm completely happy with
12. Listening to Ingrid Michaelson and Lisa Hannigan
13. Chocolate chip cookies
14. Shopping without looking for something specific
15. Watching my favourite TV shows
16. Scarves
17. Getting my nails painted
18. New stationery
19. Learning new things
20. Finding a new singer/songwriter who is really talented
21. Mint choc chip and cookie dough ice cream

Hope you guys enjoy! I might have to do some more lists because I liked writing this!
Jess xx