Katy Perry

As we enter the intense exam period, I decided to do one last blog for a while. But don't worry, I will be back soon in June with plenty more to offer. My muse has been a bit fickle as I haven't been able to think of nothing else apart from exams and the relief I will get when its through.

But something else will happen to me during the busy May period: I will see Katy Perry live in concert with my best friend, Bianca Stanescu. We are both hyped about this concert as it will also be the first time we've met up in almost 2 years!

The tickets were given to me not too long ago on my 17th birthday from my loving family. I have wanted to see Katy in her California Dreams Tour after, Teenage Dream came out. One of my best friends got the opportunity and I was extremely jealous.

For me, Katy Perry has been one of the best singers I've seen in this generation of music. She is genuine, honest, smart and writes songs that are easy to relate to. She consistently breaks boundaries and pushes herself to do better. All of her videos, have been extremely creative, whether its her acting as Cleopatra or reinventing her nerdy alter ego Kathy Beth Terry. She pays tribute to a lot of artists, films and always has a story to tell. And in fact, lots of artists now pay tribute to her such as Glee, Selena Gomez, Cher Lloyd and other aspiring musicians that want to mirror her career. Everyone knows her, everyone wants to be her.

One of her alter egos, Katy Patra

Also, I went in the summer to see her debut biographical film to get a glimpse of what happens behind the stage, the make-up and how she copes with her new-found fame and the breakdown of her marriage to Russell Brand. She was dropped by 3 labels yet she never gave up on her dream which is an inspiring message for everyone that we can all become someone. She is now the most popular person on Twitter, has 2 number one albums and has sold a whopping 100 million singles in just 6 years. Approximately 10 of her singles are amongst the biggest selling singles of all time. 

http://www.officialcharts.com/features/katy-perrys-best-selling-singles-revealed-2444/

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/5657799/ask-billboard-whos-sold-more-katy-perry-or-lady-gaga

Her new album Prism has recently come out and I can't wait to see how she continues to promote it and what singles she will choose. Fingers crossed for Legendary Lovers and International Smile. This album has the full potential to blow people away just like Teenage Dream. It has a more vulnerable touch to it, yet equalising the fun and magic Katy has to offer.

DISCOGRAPHY: Teenage Dream is the only album to have 5 number one singles from an album in America by a female artist. In UK, it has 7 top 10 singles, amongst the most in history. Roar is the biggest selling single in 2013 in Australia and Prism itself the biggest selling album in 2013 by a female artist, closely beating Beyonce and Miley Cyrus.

In relation to the concert, I expect Katy Perry will continue to push herself and make the show extremely colourful. Since, now she will have more Number 1 songs to perform than she did on her previous tour. There will be more content, more action, more dazzle. In addition to this, I will get the full 'Katy Perry Experience'. The stage has a triangular segment in the middle called the Reflection Section which I will be standing in. It will be the perfect place to see her perform and interact with her fans. As well as this, the cheeky duo, Icona Pop will be supporting her. So, clearly, it will be an unforgettable night. Better prepare the memory on my camera and iPhone! Take a look at the picture below to see where the Reflection Section is.

What is my favourite song? - E.T. - A mesh up of All the Things She Said by T.A.T.U and We Will Rock You by Queen. Its hip hop, club, dance genre. The video is very visual and cosmic as well as the lyrics.

What is my favourite album? - Obviously Teenage Dream. There is not one song I don't like off the album. I love Prism and One of the Boys but there is a slight detection of filler tracks.

What is my favourite video? - Last Friday Night or The One That Got Away. Both completely different sides of the spectrum. One is a party video which tributes the 1970s, 80s and 90s along with mega features like Rebecca Black. The One That Got Away is bitter-sweet and touches your heart.

Being a Vegeterian?

I've constantly debated whether I should take the leap and give up meat forever. I tried giving it up as part of my New Year's Resolution in 2010 but having brought up in a household that serves up meat for almost every course, it was hard to drop cold turkey. Also, I read this online article about a recent study about how healthy are vegetarians?

Facts discovered:

• Vegetarians visit their doctors more often and are more prone to allergies
• They also have 'a 50% increased risk of both heart attacks and cancer'
• They are also more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders
• But vegetarians tend to be more active and less likely to drink and smoke
• The research also revealed that people of high socioeconomic status are more likely to be vegetarian.

In my opinion, it would make sense why this research shows this. Think about it! Meat is an excellent source of protein as well as a bit of fat which is needed for essential insulation, internal organ shielding and also good for developing muscles and repairing bones. Most of our body functions with proteins e.g. enzymes. In addition to this, people often worry that red meat increases the risk of cancer. The simple fact is that it is high in saturated fats and that it is not recommended to eat high levels of it. A little bit of anything can't hurt. People have eaten red meats for millions of years, why suddenly drop that? Cheeses, tofu and other substitutes for meat cannot compensate to the lack of intake your body requires. Being a pescaterian can have some benefits as Omega 3 which is good for the brain and muscles however, fish is very expensive and its simply a luxury in most of society's cases. As for the slaughtering of animals, this has been going on for a very long time, and it is being thoroughly managed in agricultural businesses. It is not as if we will be running out of cows. Farmers and livestock owners have breeding programmes and make up for the stock they kill for produce. It  Also, animals are used for a lot more things such as products that we use day to day. Does that mean you are suddenly going to stop using glue, soaps and bags for the rest of your life? Another interesting fact is that we don’t have the teeth of vegetarian animals - our incisors and canines are the teeth of meat eaters. Without these teeth our ancestors would not have survived. So honestly, it is inevitable to not be using or consuming the product of an animal in your day to day to lives... 

Ready, Set Cook: Make your own home-made Oreos

OREO COOKIES

Greetings aspiring little chefs! This blog is short and quick. I was reading up on some interesting articles when this fantastic recipe popped up. Give it a go if you dare! It's a small blog but I have been so busy with exams, the summer has a lot more creative blogs coming your way. Be prepared...

So... Let's begin our cooking!

INGREDIENTS: (Makes around 40) 

For the biscuits: 

• 285g butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 250g icing sugar
• 120g cocoa powder 
• pinch of salt
• 200g plain flour 

For the filling: 

• 115g butter
• 500g icing sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons water 

Instructions: First, you make a chocolate pastry using the cocoa, flour, butter and sugar. You then chill it, roll it out and cut out small rounds, using a cutter.Afterwards, bake, then cool, and fill with vanilla butter cream. In a nutshell, a lot of mixing...

HOW IT TURNED OUT: 

Review of the person who first made it: Originally American, the branded version of these biscuits is available in every British supermarket and is one of my children’s favourites. The homemade ones were biscuit perfection. The cocoa stopped the pastry being too sweet, the butter icing had just the right amount of vanilla, and the crunch/squidge texture was spot on. Better than the real thing. However, a packet of Oreos costs 72p, — mine worked out at double that. But they were more than twice as good!

My Disney Collection Part 1 #Disney

Toy Story 3: I wasn't entirely impressed by the first two films as I was with this one. It's probably because this film dealt with more teenage issues that I will be facing soon such as no longer playing with toys and that I will one day leave for university. This film is a reminder of every person's childhood innocence and how each toy is like a best friend. I love that this film is so adventurous and also portrays real emotions. My favourite character is Buzz Lightyear. I love the scene where he transforms into a Latin dancer trying to impress Jessie. 

Finding Nemo: Fish are friends not food! This has been one of my life quotes since the film was released. I am a serious Finding Nemo fan, I travelled to Sydney in 2006, been to millions of aquariums and have scuba dived and snorkelled. I practically accomplished most activities that have occurred in that film. The DVD was released on my 7th birthday and I also predicted the same year that a new Finding Nemo will be released. And it will! What I love most about Finding Nemo is the fact that Disney Pixar have designed a story based on the mysterious creatures of the underwater world and has educated me about different types of fish. It is an emotional story about a kid's father who wanders from afar to find him. Finding Nemo has a very heroic theme behind it and gives the sense that sea life act as a community, as a team.

The Lion King: Probably my favourite film of all time. I love the theatrical nature of this film which features heartbreak, triumph over evil and a singing meerkat and warthog! I even went to see the West End production of Lion King for my mum's birthday and it was phenomenal. The colours, the animals, the tribal dances, it was a dream come true. Also, in the Summer of 2013 I took up the opportunity to go to Kenya for a month and saw the majority of all the animals on safari. My favourite character is Simba because he got up the courage to take matters into his own hands and prove to people the extent of his power.

Aladdin: If I had 3 wishes on an Arabian night, that would be a very difficult situation. This exotic cartoon portrays a poor boy that falls in love with a princess.  When I went to Morocco, I could see the exact resemblance of the fictional town Agraba. My favourite character is Genie because he is fast, snappy, funny and caring. The most memorable scene for me is where Jasmine and Aladdin sit on the roof and watch the fireworks burst in the sky. So romantic!

Ratatouille: One adorable mouse that changes the face of French cuisine. This film beautifully captures one of the most jaw dropping cities in the world with an adorable mouse that is willing to push the boundaries of being one of the most detested species on earth into a chef/artist. My favourite character of course is Remy because he never gives up on his dream and his feisty attitude allows him to triumph all the challenges in his life. Like Chef Gusteau says 'Only the fearless cooks can be the greatest'.

Frozen: After seeing the magic of Tangled, I knew straight away that Frozen wouldn't disappoint. I first watched it during the end of the Christmas period at a family friend's house. The film is a dazzling work of art. I love the winter theme behind it and the fact that it draws inspiration from the fictional character, The White Witch. The plot is adorable and displays the power of love in so many different ways and that inner conflict can be eradicated. My favourite character is Olaf the Snowman, he is adorable and so very confused about the season of summer. I also downloaded the motion picture soundtrack for this film as I found myself humming 'Let It Go' one week later. This film has the potential to become a huge West End or Broadway theatrical phenomenon that I would watch over and over.

Miniature Dachshund, The #Dog TAG

Part of my life consists of looking after one of the cutest breeds of dog known to mankind, the Dachshund. Famously known as 'weiner' or 'hotdogs' because of their long spine. What's even better is that I have a miniature one, one big enough to cradle like a baby. Her name is Pippa and she is two years old. But don't let age deceive you, she still looks and acts like a little baby. Whilst having a nervous personality towards other dogs, she is not afraid to bark at strangers in our home like a Rottweiler. She was successful in scaring two German shepherd dogs away. Keep trying, buddy! 

She was born in Wales to a boy called Hugo and a girl called Trudy. Her pedigree name is Eskims Gaslight Girl! I should think so too! When she farts, its like a dynamite fuse has been burnt!

She loves to chew on bottles, toys (particularly a hamburger toy or a furry monkey), go on walks and likes to strut around whenever we dress her up in her Christmas dress or furry necked coat. On her birthday, we made her an amazing cake out of bread, liver patte, bone treats and smarties (purely for decoration).

My godparents have an old regular dachshund and I fell in love with it instantly. I always wanted another dog ever since we sold my cat's kittens and the time we had to sell my cocker spaniel, Nala. A connection between a man and dog is so intriguing. I love Pippa unconditionally and she always cheers me up whenever I am down. Those big, glossy and empty eyes just put a grin on my face.



 Here are a few facts about Dachshunds:

• They originate from Germany and are a cross breed between Toy Terriers and Pinschers

• Their name originates from dachs (badger) and hund (dog)

• They can suffer from spinal disc problems as they get older due to their long spines and short rib cages

• They live on an average of 13 years.

Cutest moments: 

1. When I played the piano, she would always come by and sing along to it like a werewolf howling at the moon.
2. When we adopted her, she quickly went to the toilet in a cage before she left. A pit stop before hitting the road!
3. I was rocking out to a tune when I accidentally kicked her in the face. She cried a little yelp and her eye kept shimmering as if I punched her like a gangster.
4. In the garden, a bumblebee stung her in the nose which caused her to look like a hippo. Her nose is long but it became wider. It was shockingly funny.
5. Whenever we give her slices of ham it looks like she vacuums it up in her mouth. Whenever we give her carrots, she lies on her belly and holds the carrot like a stick or a bar of chocolate
6. When she has her ears folded inside out, it looks as if she has become a bat or E.T.

The amount of memories I have had with this little furball has been so fulfilling in my teenage years. Since I am an only child, she is the one thing I can look after, call my own and play with.

International Women's Day: Madonna

Happy International Women's Day, Ladies! May this day be the one where you shine and show the world what you are made of! And who else is more perfect to write a blog about than the legend of music that is Madonna? She was one of the first musicians I ever listened to along with Britney Spears, ABBA, Michael Jackson and Bee Gees. However, she dominates over all of them. I've seen her live once on her record smashing Sticky and Sweet Tour at the O2 Arena, I have all her albums and I have watched many of her videos and motion pictures.

What I love most about her is that throughout 4 decades, she has been able to reinvent herself from the girl next door to a global megastar. How many people can master all genres of music and create a new a image and persona every year. She has been the face of controversy ever since she landed with her debut album, often criticised for being considered 'minnie mouse on helium' and 'a whore'. However, she has fought through the hatred of critics and jealous people alike to prove that she is hear to stay now and forever. She has branched out not only into films such as Evita and Swept Away but has been the icon of fashion. She was involved in several campaigns inlcluding Dolce and Gabbana, H and M and Versace. Now, at the age of 55 she has taken her career into her own hands and has produced a chain of gyms, skincare products and a clothing line whose name pays tribute to her hit single 'Material Girl'. What also makes her an outstanding woman is the fact that she has selflessly pumped millions of dollars into her charity 'Raising Malawi' in building schools for children who struggle to receive an education and have any sort of future. Moreover, in the 2006 and 2009, she adopted two children and gave them a home. 

Madonna's road to success has not been easy and has often admitted to have been the victim of abuse, rape and the difficulty of not having a motherly figure throughout her childhood. Having been through two unsuccessful marriages and a chain of highly publicised relationships, she has come back stronger than ever. She is able to be vulnerable as well as a powerful role model to women. Her music has the ability to relate to different situations such as Papa Don't Preach pays tribute to teenage pregnancies and the Like A Prayer video promotes the message of equality and putting a halt to racism once and for all.

Whilst her films have not been a major success on the box office, this does not necessarily mean they were not good. My favourite films by Madonna are: Evita where she plays the iconic Argentinian politician Eva Peron, Swept Away where she plays a snobby millionaire who gets stranded on a Greek Island and falls in love with a fisherman. W.E. is also a cinematic masterpiece that details the love between Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII and adapting it to a woman's life in modern times. Having the ability to not only sing and act, but to also direct is definitely something to be taking seriously.

Madonna has written books targeted at young children which have peaked on the New York's best-seller and also the controversial SEX book that contains explicit pictures of her photoshoot during the promotion of her album Erotica. Whilst deemed as a tool of getting attention, it was in fact a book cleverly designed to promote the power and passion of women and how they should not be afraid to hide their perfections and to express themselves just like men do.

She has been an icon to so many modern artists such as Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Beyonce and of course Lady Gaga. Everyone remembers 2011 where a heated row occurred between the two ladies in relation to their songs 'Express Yourself' and 'Born This Way'. In addition to this, Madonna is also inspired by the many modern artists that walk this planet. This has been clear as she has collaborated with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell, Timbaland, LMFAO, Avicii, Nicki Minaj, MIA. The Glee Cast on TV have paid tribute to her by singing many of her classic tunes and releasing a tribute album that peaked number 1 in America and Canada.

Madonna has not been shy to liberate herself on stage and once again show the true power of her feminity. In 2003, she famously French kissed Britney and Christina Aguilera. In addition to this, on her MDNA tour she has given speeches about the freedom to be oneself, one clear example was her speech on releasing Pussy Riot, a Russian punk duo that caused a musical protest in a Moscow church.

What is my favourite song of Madonna? - Hung Up - a disco fused dance jam containing the sample of Gimme Gimme A Man After Midnight

What is my favourite Madonna album? - Confessions of the Dancefloor - jam packed disco album that could set a club ablaze.

What is my favourite Madonna video? - Vogue- a beautiful black and white video with a slice of elegance that pays tribute to many fashion icons and promotes the idea of liberation

What is my favourite Madonna costume? - the burlesque cone bras or the the Like A Virgin boy toy dress

She is the biggest selling female artist of all time and fourth best selling artist behind The Beatles, Elvis and Michael Jackson. 4 of her albums are in the category of the best selling albums of all time and her album You Can Dance is the second highest selling remix album. Her Sticky and Sweet Tour is the biggest tour by a female solo artist, and 3 of her other tours still remain to be one of the highest. She has more dance number ones, gold records than any other artist. In the UK she has got the most amount of number ones for a solo artist and second most albums for a woman in USA. Most Top 10's in both the UK and US. Is there stopping this woman? I think not...

A New Direction...

Having been nurtured in a Catholic School for so long it has been hard to get a better view of different cultures and religious ideas. It feels as if I have been fixated to follow a set of rules created from one of the branches of Christianity. Having moved out of my secondary school, its meant I have taken a new step and now I have the freedom in believing in what I feel will guide me through the rest of my life. After studying religion and philosophy, both practically and analytically, I have discovered that I disagree with many of the ideas and fundamental doctrines of the Church. We live in a new generation where science has taken the lead into discovering how we ended up here in the first place. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that science has the answer to everything. In my opinion, the key to finding the answer is combining the two and also having an open mind about everything. After the rush of these new feelings, I decided to look up to see if there is in existence a religion or group of people that feel the same way. The end result, I have found that Buddhism could be the answer to my views. Buddhism is a practice, not a religion and focuses on eradicating human suffering and promoting love in a passive way.