25/09/2018

Fave Songs RN #1

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hey future anna, i thought it would be cool to start a new thing where i share my favourite tunesss of the minute every now and then! I already share awesome artists you should know about, so why not share some of the songs you should know about too? Also think it'll be cool to see what's popular and how my music taste changes, as well as share some songs with people! So without further ado, here are a collection of my favourite songs right now...

Taylor Swift - Don't Blame Me and I Did Something Bad

SUCH BOPS!!!!! Oh my life I love these songs with all I have. They are literally the best tunes to sing and dance along to. I Did Something Bad makes me feel so cool and edgy and Don't Blame Me... well, what an experience!! I so so wished I had seen Taylor live this tour but next time!!! These songs are from her latest album Reputation, where Taylor really does show us who she is and that she's ready to embrace who the world says she is, it's a nice mix of "this is me, you can take it or leave it, but you ain't gonna change it" which is epic! To be completely honest, I don't like every song on the album, but these 2 are ones I play on REPEAT because I love the power they hold. Really recommend giving them a listen and learning the lyrics so you can put on your own concert in your bedroom!

Mallrat - Groceries

This song has had a hold on me for a while. It's sweet yet gritty. It's pretty but so so real. I can't remember how I stumbled upon it, but I'm so glad I did. The catchy tune and lyrics are cute but something everyone can relate to and use to put perspective on their own life. After listening to a few other songs from Mallrat, I have deducted that this is my favourite, and if I ever need a song to just put a smile on my face, this is the one! Mallrat has a few EPs out, so give them a shuffle!

Marshmello ft Bastille - Happier

Lately I've been I've been thinking... Ah gosh I really like this song! It's weird, if it didn't have Bastille in it, I probably wouldn't give it the time of day (no offense to Marshmello, it's just this style of song isn't normally what I listen to) but because I'm a fan, I have it a chance, and I'm so glad I did. Whenever this song comes on the radio I just have to smile, the beat is great to dance along to and we all know I always have my dancing shoes on!! The lyrics really contradict with the upbeat tempo, really telling a sad story but putting a positive spin on it. I just really like it, and will definitely go and check out some more stuff from Marshmello!

Childcare - Film Club

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS SONG! It's been on repeat the last few days, it's just wicked! After going to the cinema a few days ago, I wanted to post something on my Instagram story, but felt I needed an appropriate song to go with it. I search the word 'film' and this came up. I've seen Childcare live twice, and even though they're super cool, I just don't really listen to their music, and I don't really know why. But this came up so I clicked play to hear a snippet and THIS WEEK ITS ALADDIN and I was sold! Hahahaha!! It makes me feel so happy and I just wanna dance and sing and wow, if you've never heard this song, stick it in your ears RIGHT NOW!!!

Mumford & Sons - Guiding Light

I've been waiting for this for so long! I love Mumford & Sons so much, their music, their passion, it's just incredible, and everyone need to see the live at least once! They create such an atmosphere, I just can't explain how happy live music makes me. Anyway, this new track is the lead single from their new album Delta which will be released in a few months, and it's more Wilder Mind than the first 2 albums, but still goes back to their roots and uses banjos and wow, you just know a mumford song when you hear one. It's powerful, deep, and a perfect song to welcome them back. Dancing around the kitchen listening to it is one of my new favourite past times!

The Mamma Mia 2 Soundtrack

And finally, the Mamma Mia 2 soundtrack has been a major part of my life for the past few weeks. It's fun, alive, full of feeling, and AHH I JUST LOVE IT! I've seen the film twice now, and it just makes me so happy! If you haven't seen the film, watch it, it makes you feel so good! My favourites film the film are: When I Kissed The Teacher (WHAT A BOP! Literally love dancing to this!), One Of Us (Really really love how this song was shot in the film, so cool, and I just love how perfectly it fits the film at this point!), Waterloo (A classic!!! oh gosh i love Hugh Skinner as Prince William in The Windsors so i was LIVING when i realised it was him in the film!!!), Why Did It Have To Be Me (Aw this one's just really sweet yet flirty and ahh i just love it and i definitely know all the words and love a good singalong when the house is empty haha!!), Angel Eyes (OH MY LIFE CHRISTINE BARANSKI AND JULIE WALTERS HAVE SPECIAL PLACES IN MY HEART, what a song!! iconic), and finally (even though i've basically written the whole soundtrack as my fave) My Love, My Life (oh my TISSUES PLEASEEEEE!!! oh gosh i was tearing up with my mum and sister in the cinema, such a beautiful song and oh gosh meryl you have my heart).

Truly recommend the film, and please please PLEASE watch Colin Firth during the Dancing Queen scene because he is a MOOD! I grew up listening to Abba, and I think everyone is born knowing all the lyrics to every Abba song, so it's lovely to see them being shown to a new audience and with a twist on a few! Also I love Lily James so xoxo

So these are the main songs that have been stuck on repeat for me recently! Give them a spin and let me know what you think! Also, if you have any song recs, please send them over as I'd love to hear them, and future anna will be back soon to drop some more fire tracks for you to get in your ears! Peace x

18/09/2018

LONDON BABYYY!! mobile mind #6

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yo yo yo future anna, i AM ACTUALLY LIVING IN LONDON IS THIS A JOKE LMAO?!?!?
ok calm yourself please. yep, i have been living in London for just over a month and i am still shook.

this was the thing i mentioned a while ago, saying i had something big happening but didn't wanna say in case it didn't all go to plan. anyway, it did, and now i am sat where i live, writing on this stupid blog haha! team by lorde has just started playing WOW WHAT A TUNE!

if you don't watch my youtube videos or follow me on twitter, you won't know that i moved and took over my friend rachel's job because she was leaving to go to uni. i did a youtube series called FIZZY which was so much fun to create and share, and that's full of all the details if you wanna watch that and see more, or future anna, go watch them if you wanna see all the cute memories!!

anyway, i thought i would catchup with my mental health, and do a mobile mind post! instead of the normal: looking at the bad and then the good, i'm gonna do a mix of it all, starting with the move.

so i moved to london on friday 10th august, and the weeks leading up to it went so fast. they literally disappeared. so fast that the day i moved didn't feel real, i was at home then suddenly i was in my new room. because of that, i wasn't really nervous about the move. i have been to london so many times, i know people here, i know my way around and where i'm moving to, there was nothing to panic me. the only time i felt a little homesick was about 2 weeks in...

at the end of august, i was lucky enough to get the last ticket on a sold out run of a show called Home, I'm Darling. It was incredible!! I had wanted to see it so bad, and managed to get a ticket for £7.50 during the friday rush (if you are under 25, sign up to get entry pass at the national theatre to get cheap tickets and deals!!!) so on the day of the show, i got on the train to the theatre. the train was moderately full and i sat in a seat behind a guy. he kept looking round at me through the gap in the chairs and looking me up and down. i didn't know whether to stare him out or just look away. i was so scared. my anxiety loves to let me think that everyone who looks at me is going to murder me! it's so much fun!!!!! anyway, luckily he got off at the stop before me but as he stood up, and walked towards the door, he just kept staring at me. he stepped onto the platform, looked at his watch, then looked at me again. i just hoped he wouldn't jump back on the train before it left. i was so confused and scared. i just wanted to burst into tears. i just wanted to hug my mum. i walked down southbank, nearly in tears, just wanting to be home. i looked through the crowd to see if there was someone, anyone, who looked safe for me to just go up to and hug. there wasn't anyone. i sat on a bench looking over the river to calm myself before i went to see the show. above the grey buildings was a rainbow. i sat eating some mini donuts and knew that it was all gonna be ok. i breathed in and out, and knew i was gonna be fine. the show was incredible, i loved every second!!!! and even though my time before hand was slightly... scary, i'm really glad i went.

leading on from the previous point and needing a hug... i have started attending 2 churches. one on sunday mornings with my cousin, and another near me, a methodist church as i am a member of the methodist church, on sunday evenings. anyway, at the morning service, they ended with a big prayer time, where you could either stay in your seat and just listen to the music, or move to the front and have people pray with you. after the whole homesick/scary moment at the theatre, i felt i needed to be prayed for, just so i knew it would all be ok. i stepped up and a lady came over to me, and i suddenly burst into tears and hugged her. it felt like such a relief. we left the room to talk somewhere more quietly, and it was really nice to tell someone how i was feeling and what had happened. i let all my sadness out, and we prayed together. it was really lovely. after the service my cousin dropped me back to my place and i felt so much better.

The final thing i want to look at links to both the previous points. the dark has always scared me, especially if i'm on my own. one thing i knew i would have to tackle when moving and going to gigs/shows at night was coming back on my own in the dark. so far, all has been successful, whether getting the tube, bus, or walking. i've looked confident, and when i reach my road, i just can't stop smiling for how proud i am of myself for going out of my comfort zone. i could stay at home so i don't have to walk in the dark, but that means i don't do anything, and that's boring, and not the reason i moved to london. obviously if it's far, i will get an uber, and i always let people know where i am and when i'm back safe, but the fact i have gotten home from the theatre, and been fine waiting for the bus after the evening church service really makes me proud of myself. last year i wouldn't have been able to do any of this, now... well... i have suddenly found confidence and ways to cope with what gives me anxiety.

so that's my updated mobile mind! i really enjoy this kinda series update thing on my blog. i sometimes look at my first mobile mind post and see how much i have grown as a person. i am really proud with my anxiety and depression levels. it's my life, and i'm the only person who can do something with it, so why should i live in fear when i can go and be happy. it's taken time, and i still don't wanna do a lot, but one day i will get there. one day future anna x

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11/09/2018

who am i by heart - this or that!

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well well well, where have you been for the last 2 and a bit months? OH GOSH I AM SO SORRY I CAN EXPLAIN!!

It's nothing major, well it might be to some, but after my last blog post, which went out at the end of june, i spent july visiting friends and family and working A LOT! Like a lot a lot! And then in august i went to a music festival and then moved to London. The last few months have just disappeared, and i haven't had time to really do anything! But i have been in London for a month now, i have settled in, so there are no more excuses! I plan on dedicating some of my tuesdays to writing blog posts, and maybe other days if i fancy it! i have a quite a few ideas, but if you have any specific posts that you would like me to do, just give me a call! or comment on here!

anyway, since moving, i have been doing a bit of "finding myself" wow i hate that phrase, but i guess i've just been learning who i am and what i want to do with my life. i thought it would be cool to ease myself back into blogging by doing a simple THIS OR THAT question thing, as i quite enjoy doing them! I found the following questions on an instagram profile, however i don't have the name of it, but i have done a few of these posts before and i think it might be from the same account as i have taken those questions from, so if you are interested, you are welcome to sift through my older voice messages to myself to find it!

so, who am i... by heart specifically?

an introvert or an extrovert

simply, an extrovert is someone who feels drained when they are alone and are filled with energy when surrounded by people. an introvert is someone who can feel drained by spending lots of time with people and then get their energy back by being alone. i used to think it was about wanting to spend time with people or not, so i was always conflicted with which i was. i loved spending time with people but i also adore my time alone. so with the truth cleared up, i discovered i was an introvert. i love hanging out with my friends and family, but it drains me so much. at least i know now haha!

a romantic or a realist

i am a realist through and through. i am 99% sure that everyone i meet or see on the street wants to hurt me in one way or another. i couldn't ever just let myself fall in love or romanticize over an idea. i am very real about all situations and like to think about every possibility, even the bad ones in the situation. it's quite bad, but at least no one has ever broken my heart unintentionally.

a cloud gazer or a star chaser

hmm... i like the idea of both of these. after moving from the country to the city, i see less stars. it doesn't bother me, where it would some people, but i am excited to see some when i visit home. i like looking at the bright sky and seeing what shapes the clouds are making, but i wouldn't say it wins. i will go with star chaser!

minimalist or extravagant

i would say neither yet both, i am a little unsure. i like keeping things simple, no big labels, i'm not bothered about having everything, i am happy with what i have. moving to london, i realise i don't use much, so why am i holding onto it? but i like having a bit of personality in my life, i don't like the walls to be all white, i just don't like a mess. i think i'm an extravagant, with minimalist values. does that make sense?? hahah!

a lover or a leaver

scrolling back a few questions, i said i wasn't a romantic, i was a realist. i think i know when things aren't working, i know when relationships are one sided. i like to think i would try and make it work, but i'm a leaver. i get all funny about the idea of commitment. i don't know how to really explain it, but i'm a leaver.

a mountain or an ocean

water worries me. it's constantly moving and changing and is filled with scary things. yeah, hahah! i can swim, i just don't enjoy it! i like the idea of being a mountain. a strong thing holding their ground. i also enjoy hiking and walking on mountains, so yeah, a mountain!!

a fighter or a peacemaker

my granny once told me i have courage in my convictions. i was slightly confused y the saying, but as every child does, i just smiled and nodded. throughout my life i have understood why she said it. i will never let anyone be hurt or tell me i'm wrong without a decent argument. i've probably explained that awfully, but i will always stand with the small, with what's right, with what's the good thing to do. whether i know someone or not, i will always assist if i can. even though i enjoy an argument, i am a peacemaker. i know what's right and wrong, and will do everything in my power to bring peace.

the artist or the muse

i'm the artist. i don't think i've ever been a muse. i don't think i ever will be. i don't know really. i just know that i have a voice and something to say, so i will use it, not inspire someone else to do it for me.

so that's who i am i guess. from this, we have learnt that i am a real mountain sat under the stars fighting for peace through artsy things?!?! hahaha!!

feel free to answer these questions in the comments so you can discover who you are! it's so interesting finding out secrets about ourselves, things we didn't know could possibly be true!

thanks for sticking around, i promise i will too future anna! have a lovely day!

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