Writing is therapeutic - an analogy on creative outlets.

Life has been moving pretty fast, and I'm not sure where it's all going.  I think back to when I was in my late teens and how I managed my emotions.

Despite considering myself a pretty creative person I never really stayed loyal to any creative pursuits.  When I was say 17, I did 'em all.  Writing? Check. Songwriting? Check? Playing guitar/singing? Check. I was a compulsive reader and got lost pretty easily in the escapism of coming of age novels and anything involving somebody elses life.  I even filmed and edited you tube videos which were mostly snip its of my life edited to some songs I really related to.

At 26 I am wondering what happened to any of those, why none of them stuck.  Now I don't read - my attention span is shot and I have tried since age graduation to get 'back into' reading but I can't and it does give me the release it once did.  When it comes to all the other stuff - I actually feel embarrassed with the idea that I did any of them, and the thought of doing them now fills me with anxiety and dread.

Is this what happens when real life takes over? When you work 40 hours a week do you just want to mindlessly play Spelunky 2 hours a day or watch TV shows until you fall asleep and do it all over again?  I have been preoccupied with not embarrassing myself because I am scared what certain people think of me and that makes me hate myself a little bit.

2015 revisited and 2016 Goals.

2015 Goals and comments;

1. Establish a gym/fitness routine.
I found the gym in 2014, and I want to establish a firm routine that I an realistically stick to.
I started the year pretty good and it fell away so quickly I am not sure this is something I can really stick to until I find something convienient that I don't hate.
2. Be kind to yourself!This is a development of ‘Be more positive (even when things are hard)’ last year.  I know this is ongoing, but make more time for myself and start putting myself first more.
Ongoing - but done.  I feel like I have a general more positive attitude about myself and I have spent more time looking after myself and trying to minimise future damage.
3. Travel out of Ireland at least twice - ONCE TO FRANCE.Now I will be going on a Hen do in April, and I need to visit France.  Need to do this.
DONE! I went to Japan, France, Liverpool and London this year.  I was absolutely delighted to visit France and speak French to the natives. :)
4. Read 12 books - 1 per month.I have fallen seriously out of love with reading, and I want to change that.  I have set an easy to reach goal to make sure I don’t give up.
...FAILED. Yup, I am sorry I didn't do this.  I maybe got to 5?
5. Learn French starting with Duolingo.I have started this and is it difficult but it is great!
I learnt and I gave up, without an end goal I found this too difficult to find the motivation for.
6. Move out!You are 25, get yo ass out of the house, live with your friends and live the dream.

Still no, major life changes meant this sadly wasn't possible.
7. Blog once a week - if you’re home.Try and write and keep your mind active!
No but I kept it active in other ways which interested me more.
8. Stop eating SO many sweets.I mean, seriously you are addicted and an adult. Stahhhp ittt.
I definitely cut down, and the 4 fillings I got as a result of eating so many in years gone by served as a painful reminder on this one!
9. Drink more water - and cut down fizzy drink to weekends only.Take care of your teef, hydrate yo body.
DONE.  I definitely cut fizzy drinks down (with the exception of Christmas).  I mostly drink sugar free dilute now, or water.
10. Don’t be ashamed to spend money on yourself.You are a serial saver and there is more to life.  Travel, do night classes, go to a play, go on spa breaks.  Say YES and enjoy your money.
YES.  Although I did save still a considerable amount I bought myself whatever I wanted.  Including tickets to many plays, a Ps4, and travelling trips.

Now onto the difficult part to write.  The dreaded goals for this year.

1.  Move out.
If you don't do any of the rest of the list do this one.  Get a house share, move in with friends or if you get really lucky get your own place.  I will be so proud of you!
2. Learn to make something new.
In 2015 I started making bath bombs and other basic cosmetics.  Learn how to do more, maybe candles?  Be creative!
3. READ. 12 books a year.
I am recycling this goal from last year but it's achievable and we can definitely do it.
4.  Take care of your mental health.
You know what I mean for this one.  Take care of yourself and put it as a priority.  Even over moving out!
5. Look after dogs.
You can't have one but keep looking after them whether it be through borrowmydoggy or visiting Lauren and bringing her and her dogs out for a good walk.
6. Eat less meat.
In the month of January I have tried to limit meat to one meal a day.  I'd like to continue this to strive to be healthier and try more vegetable based meals.
7. Don't hoard your LUSH stuff - use it!
8.  Go and see as many plays as you can and want to!
9. Dye your hair back to it's natural colour - and back if you hate it! 
10. Look into Invisalign, have a consultation and see if it is affordable. 

August Review

Gay Pride 2015 (August 1st)

Weekend in rural Beleek

Also travelled to;

• Ballyshannon - Top 10 best ice creams in Ireland!
• Bundoran
• Sligo
• Rossnowlagh - Smugglers Creek (Amazing chowder, seafood and glorious view!)

Van Morrison @ Cyprus Avenue (Van's 70 Birthday Concert)

Movies;

Man from U.N.C.L.E - (7/10)



Mission Impossible; Rogue Nation (6/10)



TV;

Peep Show (9/10)



Undeniably one of the greatest comedy shows ever.  I have been really sick this month and this made me belly laugh so many times.

Bake Off



Lemon Bath Bombs;

LUSH August 2015 - New Bath Bombs

Released in August to all UK stores, we have 4 new Oxford Street Bath Bombs!

Frozen - £3.95

Named from the hit Disney movie this bomb has a light floral and citrus scent.  It contains many different shades of blue which swirl around the tub. 

Intergalactic - £3.95

Designed to resemble the sky with a view over the Milky way this bath bomb really puts on a show with a blasting fragrance of refreshing mint.  My boyfriend tried this out and although he loved it he said he was so covered in glitter he had to shower afterwards and glitter was on his tub for days... Despite this I am super excited to try this one out!

Skydancer - £3.95

An exclusive charity bath bomb! 

"Profits from each and every one of these soft floral and liquorice-scented bath bombs will help fund equipment to satellite tag many endangered hen harrier chicks born in the coming years."

This bath bomb is huuuuuuuuuuge and really beautiful on the water.  The yellow base is thick and floats without the bird part being touched for several minutes.  It is a very slow fizzer which I personally love and I could smell the bergamot and lemon much stronger than the liquorice which for me was a relief.

Yoga Bomb - £3.95

Perhaps the least exciting to look at is this orange Yoga Bomb.  However inside we have an array of colours to transform your bath into a paint pallet.  As the name suggests this bomb is a relaxing bath bomb with a woody scent from sandalwood oil and ho wood oils.  I am really excited to try this beauty out.

The Experimenter - £3.95

 
An explosion of colours! This one is four distinct different colours with clear divisions.  The scent is not sweet as I originally though but rather a woody, burnt campfire sort of scent.  I actually like the scent but admittedly it isn't for everyone.

LUSH Haul 8/08/2015

A Haul after 50 new products have magically appeared in store is a scary prospect.  I wanted everything, twice.  Here's what I got...


Bubble Bars

1. Sunnyside
2. Pop In The Bath
3. Granny Takes a Dip Bubble Bar

Bath Bombs

1. Intergalactic
2. Sky Dancer
3. Frozen

Shower Gel/Soap

1. Beautiful 100g
2. Respect Your Elders

Random

1. Rough With The Smooth (Body Scrub - Lord Of Misrule scented)
2. Cup O Coffee (Exfoliating Face Mask)

The Last Five Years - A Breakdown

1. Still Hurting

The first track opens on a heartbroken Cathy after reading a break up letter from her husband Jamie.  She sings of her thoughts now that her husband and partner has finished a incredible relationship.  This song is so emotional and can be played as very emotional, or cold and angry.  This acts as a spoiler as we now know how the play ends but she instead wants to focus on what went wrong in order to be able to move on.

2. Shiksa Goddess

In stark contrast to the tear-jerking opener we meet Jamie at the beginning of their relationship.  He is full of energy, and hope for the future.  We hear about his infatuation with Cathy and how different she is from the many Jewish women he has been forced to date in the past.  An uplifting song with some incredibly funny parts.

3. See I'm Smiling

Back to Cathy, she sings to Jamie on the last time she sees him before he breaks up with her via letter.  They haven't seen each other for a long time due to pursuing their different careers in cities hours apart.  Jamie comes to visit her and she sings about how despite their problems she wants to work through them and fight for their marriage to survive.  This song is heart breaking.

4. Moving Too Fast

Jamie is becoming successful, very successful.  As well as finding 'a woman he loves' he has also got a publishing deal with a publisher who are paying him very well.  This allows him to move to NY with Cathy and live his dream.  He feels like life is perfect and although it's overwhelming he is too happy to second guess his good fortune.

5. A Part Of That

Cathy tells us of Jamie's devotion to his work, and despite being a struggling actress she relishes in the fact that she's a part of his life and in turn a part of his career. The  majority of the song, we hear her excitement and pride over seeing him achieve his dream and sharing in his success.  We hear the juxtaposition of her pride and her being lost in his success.  She seems to make her frustration into a tongue in cheek joke because despite how she feels about her own failing career (and sometimes that she feels second best to his writing) she cannot deny that Jamie is becoming seriously successful and achieving status.  Towards the end of the song we hear her suddenly realise that she might not be a big a part as she thought before as reflects all her 'I'm A Part of that' and then ponders 'Aren't I?' as he slowly becomes less fixated on her and more so on his career.

6. The Shmuel Song

As a writer Jamie tells a long allegory of a man who wastes his life doing small jobs instead of working towards his ultimate goal.  At the end, he reveals that this is a metaphor for Cathy and tells her she shouldn't lose hope because she is brilliant and talented.  Cathy is constantly being rejected at her auditions and has lost all hope and motivation to accomplish her own dreams.  Jamie takes this opportunity to remind her that he believes in her.

7.  A Summer in Ohio

Cathy sings of her career struggle.  We see Cathy in Ohio singing about how awful it is, but how proud she is of seeing Jamie's book in her local store and despite having offers of romance she remains very loyal to Jamie.

8. The Next Ten Minutes

 

This is the only song of the production where the two characters interact in the same time frame.  Marking the centre point in the play and their relationship. This song takes us through the proposal, acceptance and marriage itself.

9. A Miracle Would Happen

Directly after the marriage Jamie talks of the struggles of being Cathy's husband.  He is obviously very in love with her, but there are many other women in his life that tempt him.  Warning signals start sounding in my head.

10. Climbing Uphill

This song is genius. We hear Cathy tell us of her struggles with her career, her relationship and her position as Jamie's supporter.  She is having no joy with work, and constantly facing rejection.  She hears less and less from Jamie but is constantly being forced to go to many events celebrating how fantastic Jamie is while he ignores her own struggles.  She starts coming to the realisation she is putting herself on the back shelf to celebrate her husband.  She fears her ambition and drive is gone and she is only destined to be a silent wife and mother - her own worst nightmare.

11. If I Didn't Believe in You

Finally picking up on Cathy's struggles Jamie attempts to reassure her that he does believe in her talent and motivation to be successful but feels she no longer supports him creatively.  We see a lack of understanding and communication leading to intense frustration and anger towards each other.  Jamie tries to show Cathy what she means to him, but this always ends up making her feel devalued and exhausted.

12. I Can Do Better Than That

This is Cathy's Shiksa Goddess style song.  Full of hope and excitement about her future with Jamie at the beginning of their relationship.  She tells us of an old friend's humdrum life, and an old lover and highlights how she can do better than that.  We see Cathy's infatuation with Jamie and how he is a breath of life into her stale life and gives her life new meaning.

13. Nobody Needs To Know

In this song we find out about Jamie's infidelity.  The song starts with soft piano chords as he wakes up beside another woman.  We see Jamie's desperation to be close to someone as he hasn't been feeling close to Cathy in a long time.  He realises his marriage is over due to what he has done but feels like he ultimately had no choice.  Jamie also decides that he will not tell Cathy about him cheating on her, and we hear him prepare to meet Cathy in Ohio (In "See I'm Smiling")

14. Goodbye Until Tomorrow / I Could Never Rescue You

We finally meet Cathy on the first meeting with Jamie.  Full of hope and infatuation she sings of their obvious connection whilst singing a upbeat song.  She sings that she has been waiting for Jamie and finally feels herself opening up him which for her is liberating. 


This is bittersweet for the audience as we know how it ends, and in contrast to this we see Jamie at the end of the relationship completely broken and exhausted.


Jamie's final song is him writing the break-up letter while Cathy is smiling not knowing what is to come.  He says he could never rescue Cathy, all he could do was love her which in the end wasn't enough for either of them.


The play ends with both songs being sung in harmony together.
Jamie says Goodbye forever,
Cathy says Goodbye Until Tomorrow.

LUSH Aug 2015 - Revamped Bubble Bars OLD VS NEW

Anyone crazy about LUSH knows about the opening of LUSH Oxford Street a few months ago and therefore the release of over 200 new products.  Some of these include old products which have been vamped with new designs and recipes.

Here are all the re-vamped products;

Rose Jam Bubbleroon - £3.75 (No price change)

The new Rose Jam bubbleroon is a more vibrant pink, with what has been described as a slightly sweeter scent.  It is also marginally more beautiful with the deeper pink moulded into a rose on the top.  I have seen reports that the new bubbleroon is actually bigger in size and weight too meaning more value for money!

Verdict; 100% yes, get in my bath!

Yuzu and Cocoa Bubbleroon - £3.75 (no price change)

Again this bubbleroon shows more vibrant colours.  The old bubbleroon was more of a dusty orange wheras the new one sports a more alluring yellow with an lemon-like design on top.  I guess this is up to personal taste as the new one turns your bath yellow rather than orange which some people don't like.  I however think it is miles better.

Verdict; More zest, is best. Thumbs up from me.

Green Bubbleroon - £3.75 (no price change)

The new design reminds me of two things; a turtle shell and watermelon.  Either way this colourful new edition is welcome in my stash.

Verdict; Turtley gorgeous.

 

NEW Karma Bubblebar - £4.25 (Old price £3.25)

I do think this design is much prettier however due to hating the smell I cannot comment on the new or old smell as both are revolting to me.  There is also a notable price difference of a pound but I cannot confirm if this bubblebar has increased in size at all just yet.

 

NEW Sunnyside Bubblebar - £4.65 (Old price £3.75)

The new tear drop shaped bubble bar is more expensive but it has been reported via (Jen's Blog) that this is in fact a lot bigger which more than makes up for it.  The new design is literally a drop of sunshine which will make your bath like bathing in solid gold.

NEW Pop In The Bath - £3.25 (Old price £2.95)

I am unsure if the reformulation of this product includes an increase in size but the 30p price difference could also be a result of inflation.  Previously the PITB bubble bar could be 1 of 4 designs all centered around green, white, pink and blue.  The new as far as I am aware is the standard dark blue background, pink flower and yellow circle inside the flower.  As there is not too much a change to this design I cannot comment on the changes until I try the new product myself.

 

NEW Creamy Candy - £2.75 (No price change)

No price change for this one so it remains the cheapest bubble bar that LUSH offer.  I love the re-vamp despite it not being a huge difference to the original.  I look forward to re-trying this one despite hating the Snow Fairy scent.

NEW French Kiss Bubble Bar - £4.25 (No price change)

I only recently tried the first version of this lavender bubble bar and I wasn't too impressed.  The scent is subtle but relaxing.  The new version has a darker purple ripple through it and also appears to be more of an iceberg shape that the previous design.

NEW Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds - £4.75 (No price change)

Having never used this bubble bar due to the unappealing scent I can only comment on the design change.  I think it is far more attractive and I am happy to see it hasn't decreased in size but has managed to stay the same size.