Making Resolutions Is So Uncool

...But that's never stopped me before!

Anyway. I've never seriously made resolutions before. Last year I had the Apostrophe Rules, but two days after making them I got rid of them because they were too... well, ruley. Year before that I had that dreamboard that was just an excuse for some cutting and pasting fun. But this year is going to be different!

• Get a bank account. But this is so grown-up! And yet, I really should do this.
• Read one book every month. Yes, I know twelve books in one year is extremely pathetic, but I've just joined a book club, so I have to read a book every month anyway. And that isn't the max.
• Write a letter/email to someone I admire every month. I'm terrified of this one. But I'm going to do it anyway. You never know, I might get a reply. Now, for some internet stalking.
• Go to the cinema any time I want. Yes, I know this is pathetic. But it is something I genuinely find quite hard to do. But not anymore!
• Finish my super-secret play. You know you have to stick something out when you've bought it a necklace that you happened to spot in Claire's one day and is somehow related to a play you're writing.
• Start researching the Art Movements of the 19th and 20th Century that are on the poster I have in my room. Because I really want to know what Bauhaus is. It's so fun to say.
• Write at least one blog post a week. Look! I'm doing it! This is my second of the week!
• Read more plays. Because, as great as books are, plays are just that easier to get into. Somehow, you can imagine things better. Or maybe this is just me. Also, I like plays.
• Go swimming. This is one of my mother's resolutions, and I thought I might join her in completing it. No harm sure.

Have you made resolutions this year, or are you into that sort of thing?

Eleanor Roscuro

Welcome To Apostrophe

Hello? Is anyone there?

Oh, thank God. I was beginning to get worried.

Everything looks different, doesn't it? All white, and a bit less red (although you're reading red at the moment. It's my favourite colour) and blue and look! A new name! You see, I warned you this would be coming.

Apostrophe.

Less of a mouthful than Musings of an Undiscovered Genius, isn't it? Cuts to the chase, which is what an apostrophe does.

Shit! What am I going to call Music at Musings now?! SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS PLEASE

Of course, this blog has a new URL, http://www.apostrophe-rules.blogspot.com. Apostrophe.blogspot.com was taken by some blog with one post from 2000 entirely consisting of the words 'testing....mic check'. That was extremely annoying. But remember now, it's APOSTROPHE-RULES.blogspot.com. Or dft.ba/-apostrophe.

And now, onto matters at hand.

I am typing this at 05:42 on 30th December 2010, early Thursday morning. New Year's Eve tomorrow. Some of you might remember this time last year, when I said...

'I don't believe in New Year Resolutions. But I do have a List Of Things I Am Going To Try To Do And That I Won't Beat Up Myself About If I Don't Happen To Do Them. I haven't thought of a catchy name for it yet as you can see.'

A few days later, I rejected that in favour of a 'dreamboard' with some catchy slogans, nice shots of cities like Paris and New York actresses and singers who inspired me, and still do (eg. Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Welch) and some random models that I thought looked cool. This is how it looked the last time I updated it, a few months ago.

Two hours ago, I decided to take it down, without a replacement.

You see, when I made it, I made it with the intention that it would inspire me. For the past twelve months it's been on my wall beside my bed, and it hasn't been inspiring me at all. Not that I haven't had a year without inspiration, I've had plenty of that! I'm just disappointed with the dreamboard, because for me, it didn't serve it's purpose. Besides, now I have room to put up my copy of the Irish proclamation of independence! It was fun making it and everything, but that was it. If you want to make one for yourself, don't let me put you off! Show me when you're done! But anyway.

I haven't really made New Year's Resolutions before. (Aha! 06:00!) I just didn't think there was anything I needed to drastically change. Of course, there's nothing wrong with me that I need to drastically change either. However, I have decided that I need rules, otherwise I will explode, and bring everyone else down with me. This must not happen.

The Apostrophe Rules

Rule #1 - I will make myself lots of rules, which I will stick to. These rules will be inscribed onto one of the walls of my bedroom in chalk.

Rule #2 - I will try not to worry too much about exams. I will allow myself a brief, sensible period of worry the week before the exams, but that will be all.

Rule #3 - I will find something to do during lunchtimes at school.

Rule #4 - I will try to eat less sweets and more apples. The fact that they hurt my braces shouldn't count.

Rule #5 - I will try to read books more. 

Rule #6 - I will stop watching reality TV shows, to leave more time for relaxation.

Rule #7 - I will finish what I start.

Rule #8 - I will keep my promises.

Rule #9 - I will not be an annoying and/or irritating friend.

Rule #10 - I will try to go to the cinema more often, especially now that I can watch 15 films (although there is the matter of whether I look 15 enough to be let in...)

Rule #11 - I will try to get enough sleep.

Rule #12 - I will learn first aid, because it is about time.

Rule #13 - I will take more photos.

Rule #14 - I will cycle more, at least twice a week to start with. Weather permitting.

Rule #15 - I will get rid of the books that I don't read anymore, and read the books I've been meaning to read.

Rule #16 - I will not say things I don't mean and things I know will be bad to say.

Rule #17 - I will not start drinking or smoking, because I've gone this far already, and I can't afford it, and I would be disowned, and alcohol doesn't taste nice (I've tried it enough times to know that) and I know better.

Rule #18 - I will stop whining on my blog.

Rule #19 - I will learn new skills, and be the best version of myself I can be (without being perfect of course, that's impossible) in 2011.

Ta da!

I'm not sure if this is my last post of 2010 or not. Wow. I'm never any good at writing thank yous or anything, because it just sounds fake to me. But I hope you all know and appreciate how highly I value you. Thank you so, so much for all your kind words, and for reading, and for making me a better person, and for allowing me to see things differently. You rock.

Take care.

This has been Eleanor Roscuro...

WTF - Taylor Momsen And Me 2.0

I can't believe I'm doing this.

I think Taylor Momsen is a fantastic musician. Yes, I know that she wears very small dresses, and that she might have forgotten on an occasion to remove a tampon. But I don't want to give very precious space on Musings to talk about that when everyone else is. The thought that someone is actually searching the Internet for pictures of Taylor + tampon, then zooming in on them and broadcasting them over the Internet is truly terrible to comprehend. She's still a minor! This must be illegal somewhere!

She's a brilliant actress. Jenny Humphrey is a fantastic character. I know that she isn't the nicest, most confident person on the Upper East Side. She has lots of flaws, but that's why I would love to play her. I will probably not get to, unless Gossip Girl is adapted into some sort of play, but shinawil.

Like I said before, Light Me Up is a fantastic debut from The Pretty Reckless. If you're a fan of Paramore, give it a listen.

This is the post I originally intended to write.

Eleanor Roscuro

WTF - Taylor Momsen And Me

I promised I would write this post, and I'm always promising I'll write about something or other, and then I don't, so I want to retain some level of consistency and write this. Here we go.

First of all, why do I have to state my opinion on Taylor Momsen? I do my best to imagine her complexly, unlike a lot of people. I mean, imagine if two people were talking about me:

Person A: I hate Eleanor.
Person B: Why? She seems nice.
A: What about that time she locked her little brother into the shed?
B: She was seven, and that only happened once. I think she's funny.
A: She's a snob too. She hardly ever talks to anyone.
B: She talks to me.
A: Yeah, but you're only one person.
B: You don't talk to everyone.
A: I talk to the people that matter.
B: I see.
A: Plus she's always going around in a t-shirt and jeans. She never puts any effort in.
B: I like her style. She has a cool coat.
A: Yeah, but I still hate her.
B: Oh.


Hey, Person B seems nice... But I digress. I mean, I think Taylor Momsen's awersome. Light Me Up is a fantastic album and I really enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy, listening to it. But I have to say something about her clothes now, don't I? I need to appease you all. You all want to see what I think about her.

But seriously! Who said I need to write this post? Who said I had to give a fuck about the girl with the red lipstick up there, at the top of this post? She doesn't care what I think about her. Why should she? She'll never know that I exist.

This is the end of the post.

Eleanor Roscuro

New Bloggers On The Block (I Need A Life)

If you've been following Musings for a while, you'll notice that I talk about my favourite blogs sometimes, usually Miss Vintage Vixen, Messy Carla, Thunder + Threads... But I've found some fantastic new blogs that I'd like to show you. Because I can!

A Happiness Project 


A nineteen year old girl embarks on a project to find true happiness, while documenting her adventures in a blog. I find this really inspiring. And I love reading about her trials and triumphs with her happiness project!

A Wallflower's Words

Macky from A Wallflower's Words is a fantastic writer, so creative, and poetic, and recently turned sixteen so happy birthday! And I like your new template.

fiction isn't fair

Fiction Isn't Fair has been one of my favourite blogs for a long time now. I love the way 'Unwritten' lays out her posts, and her honesty is refreshing. Her playlist and lists are cool too!

Ace-Of-Aoife

Ah, the Irish female teenage blogger. Up until recently they have been few and far between, but suddenly I found an onslaught of some awesome ones - or did they find me? Either way, this is one of the best. God, she's so damn nice, and funny, and I am incredibly jealous of her header.

Daydream Believer

Jamie is an English teacher who writes the funniest blog I've seen in a long time. She was even a Blog of Note a few weeks ago! Plus, she gave Grace from Not Another Love Song a huge shoutout. That was awesome.


Derek Landy Blogs Under Duress

This is the blog of Derek Landy, author of the Skulduggery Pleasant series. Oh, you want another reason? Well, if you're a Skulduggery fan, follow this blog. That was an order!

Hello, I've missed you quite terribly.

Ailish is one of the aforementioned rare Irish female teenage bloggers, witty, clever and opinionated. And also, I love saying I was her second follower. And she knows it!

Lauri Angel

Laura is a person I actually know, in my actual life (Yes, I have one of those, but I spend most of it on the Internet) but that isn't the reason I follow her blog. I follow her blog because of her amazing insights into the smallest things, which make you see things differently. I find it amazing, to be honest.

the big gay adventures of silly old daniel

This blog is so much fun to read! It allows me to secretly indulge in the shallow world of celebrity, while your guide Silly Old Daniel commentates, being hilarious and sometimes serious at the same time. Lovely.

Bangs and a Bun

Muireann from Bangs and a Bun is sassy, very opinionated, very dry, and has beautiful fashion sense. Bangs and a Bun has just been nominated for the Cosmo Blog Awards, in the Sex and Relationships category, and I suggest you vote for her.

If I've left you out, it's because I've been following you for a long time now, so you're not that new to me. I'll hopefully have a video up tomorrow, fingers crossed!

Eleanor Roscuro

The F Word (No, Not That F Word! Not THAT F Word Either! I'm Talking About The F WORD... Yes, That One.)

There are basically three F words that people complain about. The first one that comes to mind is basically harmless compared to the others. The second F word, Fat, is only dangerous because of the third F word, which is FEMINISM.

ARRRGH!!! FEMINISM!!! RUN!!!

People think that if you are a feminist, you are either a lesbian, an nagging woman, boring, stupid, someone who can't take a joke! These views of feminists are ignorant, stupid, and downright insulting. A feminist is someone who believes in equality for women. That's it. There's no need to burn your bras, or chain yourselves to railings to be a feminist. Good thing too, because a lot of men are feminists now, and the burning your bras thing would just be really awkward.

I was at a feminist seminar last night for the Kilkenny Arts Festival with four speakers, one of which was Nell McCafferty (famous in Ireland for starting the Contraceptive Train to Belfast to get contraceptives from the UK when they were illegal in Ireland thirty years ago), and another was a University College Dublin student, Bridget Fitzsimons, who is studying the media's perceptions of the female body next year for her Masters. She was the one I most identified with, because she only turned twenty-one that night and had grown up with the same media I have. She dissed Twilight and said that the main character has to change her entire body - no, species - for the man she loves, and in one of the other couples in the series the man is a werewolf and mauls his human girlfriend, but it's alright! He loves her! And Bridget pointed out that that is not really a nice message in that, and even if you're a bona fide Twi-hard, you have to agree that she does have a point.

When the discussion was thrown to the floor, I got the mic and told a story, which I will repeat to you now...

Before the summer, during a Religion class, the teacher left us for a while, but instead of talking about boys, (which is what most of us usually talk about...) we started talking about what we were going to be when we left school. A lot of the girls said they wanted to be teachers, nurses, make-up artists, but no less than seven girls said they wanted to get a footballer, marry him, and then spend the rest of their lives being rich and doing rich things. I was disgusted. Women in the Fifties, for example, like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, were famous because they had a talent, like singing or dancing or acting, and that was celebrated. We are constantly being told that being famous is the same as being happy, but it isn't! It really isn't!

That is why I will proudly say that I am a feminist, because I want to change things for women and girls. And I don't see why any other woman would not want that. Do you want it?

Eleanor Roscuro

Inspiro-Girls - Leanne Woodfull

Like many others, I first heard of Leanne's blog Thunder + Threads in KISS magazine a few months ago. Since then, it's remained one of my most favourite blogs. Leanne is honest, witty, glamorous, fun, and really nice, really likable. And she knows what she's talking about when it comes to fashion, which is more than I can say for myself! Seriously, her passion is infectious, so come say hi!

*Describe yourself in five words.

creative, daydreamer, emotional, honest and diplomatic.

*Thunder + Threads is fantastic! What's it about and what inspired you to set it up?

Thank you! I started the blog last October, I wanted to have a space where I could share my thoughts and opinions with everyone - and I wanted to write about fashion.
The blog started off as solely a fashion blog, but over the months it has developed into quite a broad blog, I write about anything and everything!

*If you could return to a specific era in history, which would it be?

Certain era's appeal to me. I adore the Tudor, The Victorian and Georgian era's... but ideally, I would of loved to have been born in the 1930s. I would of experienced the best music, film, fashion and superstars there has ever been! Superstars back then were the real deal - they were famous for a talent. I think in the past few decades, we have lost that. Anyone and everyone can become famous these days. I would of also have liked to experienced the fashion - of course! My favourite fashion eras so to speak are the 40s, 50s and late 70s.

*What five songs would be essential to a Leanne Woodfull soundtrack?

Great question! These are a mix of my favourite songs and songs that have a lot of relevance to me. 1. Nobody's Home - Avril Lavigne. 2. Your Guardian Angel - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. 3. Fences - Paramore. 4. Thunder - Boys Like Girls. 5. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman

*What is your motto for life?

''No Regrets.''

*Who or what makes you jump-in-the-air happy?

Simple things really. My sisters, a genuine, compliment, seeing my family, food, school holidays, passing and doing well in exams, money, achievement and surprises.

*Quick-fire round! Your favourite... Book/Food/Movie/Shop/Website/City/Activity?

Book - The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton or The Outsiders by S.E Hinton
Food - Sushi or Italian
Movie - This took me a while to narrow it down to one but I have to say, Mean Girls!
Website - Twitter probably, all websites seem to piss me off lately though haha!
City - London or Prague, they are both such dreams to be in.
Activity - I love daydreaming and laughing.

*The colour pink, discuss.

Not a favourite of mine - never has been. I wear it frequently, not on purpose though. I much prefer blue, turquoise and gold. I think pink can be tacky but some shades are quite lovely, like rose or reddy-pink.

*What advice would you give to anyone who wants to be a fashion blogger?

To write for yourself, not anyone else. Don't just write something because you think someone else will be interested in it, you have to be too.

Inspiro-Girls - Emma Watson

This, ladies and gentlemen, is Emma Watson, one of the greatest actresses of our generation.

I think I'll elaborate a little.

Emma Watson was cast as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise when she was just nine years old, and since then has won over audiences with her charm, poise, elegance, and pure talent. I mean, can you imagine anyone else playing Hermione? NO YOU CAN NOT. She epitomised the role.

And in 2007, she played Pauline Fossil in Ballet Shoes, which is one of my favourite books and movies of all time. The film's director said 'She has a piercing, delicate aura that makes you want to gaze and gaze at her.' Can I say it any better than that? (Answer: No.)

Oh, and if you're still in doubt as to how awesome she is: She models for Burberry. I rest my case.

I'm off now, to make a Beauty Spotlight featuring only this fabulous young woman, and then I will search the Internet to see if Ballet Shoes has been released on DVD.

Oh look, it has!

High-Fives,

EleanorLight

Music at Musings - Marina and the Diamonds, Wallis Bird, The Fratellis, One Night Only, B.o.B

Good afternoon everyone! Is anyone watching the Leinster Hurling Final today? COME ON KILKENNY! Oh, sorry about that. It comes out sometimes.

Anyway, welcome to Music at Musings, the part of the show where I show you some new songs that I am quite fond of. Because I'm nice like that. Let us begin!

Marina and the Diamonds - Oh No!

Oh No! has always been one of my favourite songs from The Family Jewels, and I'm so glad it has a music video now! I love Marina, and how sometimes she can be sexy, and quite vulnerable at the same time. And she looks great with red lipstick. This video is so much fun to watch, with the comic graphics, and the bubblegum moves, and the pretty dresses Marina wears, especially the dollar note one, and the dress with a map of the Mediterranean. The lyrics are so fun to sing!

Marina and the Diamonds - Starstrukk feat. Katy Perry (Live Lounge)

While searching for the video for Oh No!, I found this. I have always been a huge fan of the Live Lounge (I think I'll do a post on it soon...) but I've always hated this song, as performed by 3Oh!3. But Marina and the Diamonds + Live Lounge + violins = happy me.

Marina and the Diamonds - Obsessions

(Don't worry, this is the last Marina video... today.) I've always loved this song. The lyrics are so honest, and I have them by heart, even though you can't help but sympathize with Marina, and her IKEA diamond! Although it looks gorgeous at the end... And her feline jumper is beautiful!

Wallis Bird - La La Land

I know the first song to come to mind with that title might be the Demi Lovato version, but I think this is much better. Wallis Bird won a Meteor last year for Best Female, and God did she deserve it. Plus, she uses a kazoo. A KAZOO. I'm going to let that sink in.

The Fratellis - Creeping Up The Backstairs

One of the things that's great about The Fratellis is that they don't take themselves too seriously. Their songs are always so much fun! No wonder Flathead was used for that iPod ad. Creeping Up The Backstairs reminds me a little bit of the '50s... And it also reminds me of adventure, the unknown of a starry night. No, seriously, it does.

One Night Only - Say You Don't Want It

One starry night, a little girl curled up on her couch, all alone, and surfed the music channels, looking for guidance, inspiration, and cute indie boys. Then, on MTV Rocks, she found a video that seemed to match her tastes, and liked it very much. And then, all of sudden, she espied Emma Watson in the music video, Emma Watson being one of the little girl's Inspiro-Girls. And then her brother came home and stole the remote, changing the channel from MTV Rocks to Disney Channel, so she watched the rest on Youtube.

B.o.B - Airplanes feat. Hayley Williams

I've waited months for this video to come out, and it didn't disappoint. I'll be the first to admit that I don't like rap or hip hop, but I really like this. Maybe I should broaden my tastes a bit...

And that is it for Music at Musings today! Just one word of advice: Werther's Original Butter Toffees taste lovely with a glass of milk. At least, it does to me. That's what's kept me going all day!

High-Fives,

EleanorLight

Dreamboard Status: Updated!

Hello, and welcome!

Remember the dreamboard I made back at the start of January? So I wouldn't have to make new Year's Resolutions? This is what it looked like then.

Nice, isn't it? Well, I've customised it again! Here it is, new and improved...

See? There's girls who inspire me, places I want to see, cool slogans, and some random models I thought looked cool. I know there isn't a lot of difference at first glance, but if you look a little closer...

High-Fives,

EleanorLight

Do I Deserve These? (Shush Eleanor, Or You'll Have To Return Them!) Ah. Thanks Eleanor. (I Shouldn't Have To Think For You!) You're My Brain. (Oh.)

OK, supermegabumper post coming up! You're welcome. I've been spending days writing this post, so sorry for any delays!

I have won two awards from Ace-Of-Aoife and Ailish, and I have been tagged by Ailish again! Hooray! Thank you very much girls! Now, on to business!

Right, this is the first award...

Nice, isn't it? Anyway, here's some requirements to fulfill... Dum de dum...

Get really excited that you got the coolest award ever!

*cough*Look up!*cough*

Choose one of the following options of accepting the Oh My Blog! award:
(a) Get really drunk and blog for 15 minutes straight, or for as long as you can focus.
(b) Write about your most embarrassing moment.
(c) Write a “soundtrack of your childhood” post.
(d) Make your next blog a ‘vlog’/video blog where you’re basically talking to the camera about whatever.
(e) Take a picture of yourself first thing in the morning, before you do anything else (hair, make up, etc) and post it.

Hmm... I think I'll choose (e), although you'll have to wait for tomorrow for a photo!

Pass the award onto at least three, but preferably more, awesome bloggers and let them know.

Okey-dokey then. Award number two is the Honest Blog Award. Thanks Ailish! Seems I have to answer these questions and then award six other honest bloggers. Alrighty.

Share one thing no one knows about you.

Hmm... I know! I don't tell anybody anything. I keep my cards very, very close to my chest. So there are lots of things no one knows about me, and that thing I just said is one thing. But now you know it. So it isn't valid. Why am I dissecting this question so much?

What is your biggest regret in life? (Hello, everyone has regrets!)

My biggest regret... is not stepping up to the plate when I should have, and putting away my pride, in order to help someone. It still haunts me.

Have you ever been jealous of someone else's blog page and why?

Oh, plenty of times! Most of the time it's just because they have such good relationships with their readers. I hope I get some of those relationships someday...

What would you do for $1000?

Take it.

What secretly makes you happy? (Money? Kids? Porn? Sunshine?)

What secretly makes me happy... If I told you that, then I would be openly enjoying it, and that wouldn't be fair, would it? (I know I'm not being quite frank answering these questions, I just don't want to be so truthful on the Internet, when it can upset a lot of people. Plus, a girl needs secrets.)

If you could go back in time, would you still pick the person you are with right now? And why?

Well, I'm not with anyone right now, except in my dreams... But I never planned to pick them, ever. And even if I could go back in time, I wouldn't pick them, but I would still fall in love with them, because I'd still be me, and I can't change that. Space-time continuum and stuff.

What do you like or dislike most about my blog page?

...I dislike how much I like your blog, Ailish, because I want to answer this question properly. Oh well. Let's try the next one!

If you could take a trip anywhere, who would you take with you?

I'd go to New York, and I'd take EVERYONE in Kilkenny Youth Theatre .(Inside joke time!) Including Anna, Keith and Ronan. (End of inside joke time.)

And now, the tag! This will be fun! OK, here are the rules...

1. Set your iPod or MP3 on shuffle.
2. Hit the next song button, and whatever it "lands" on is the answer to the question you were asked.
3. Laugh out loud at the answers.
4. Tag six people.

Are you male or female?

Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy - Glen Hansard (:D)

What do people feel when they're around you?

Careful - Paramore (They should be! I'm very clumsy. I slipped three times yesterdayday!)

Describe your current relationship.

I'm Not Calling You A Liar - Florence & The Machine (So, in denial? Or in defense?)

Where would you like to be right now?

Kiss And Tell - Alexander Rybak

How do you feel about love?

I Gave You All - Mumford & Sons (Hmm... Feeling resentful today?)

What's your life like?

Viva la Vida - Coldplay

What would you wish for if you only had one wish?

Tremble For My Beloved - Mutemath (So, a beloved to tremble for?)

Say something wise.

If You Want Me - Marketa Irglova

How would you describe yourself?

Hot and Cold - Katy Perry

What is your life's purpose?

Alone - Glee cast feat. Kristen Chenoweth (Celine Dion cover. And how depressing is that prediction!)

What is your motto?

Brendan & The Secret Of Kells - Bruno Coulais and Kila (OK...)

What do your friends think of you?

Cops and Robbers - The Hoosiers (I never knew I was such a bad influence!)

What do you think of your parents?

Seven Nation Army - Vyvienne Long (Red Hot Chilli Peppers cover)

What do you think of very often?

Mad About The Boy - Ava

What is 2 + 2?

The Monks - Bruno Coulais and Kila

What do you think of your best friend?

MK Ultra - Muse (...Right then.)

What is your life story?

Heavy Cross - The Gossip (It's a cruel, cruel world...)

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Howl - Florence & The Machine

What will you dance to at your wedding?

Hurricane Drunk - Florence & The Machine

What will they play at your funeral?

Gold Digger - Glee cast (Kanye West cover)

What is your hobby/interest?

Girl With One Eye - Florence & The Machine (Wow, there's a lot of Flo here, isn't it?)

What is your biggest fear?

Let The Flames Begin - Paramore (Yeah, arson isn't really on my Happy List...)

What is your biggest secret?

Just Dance - Maximo Park (Lady Gaga cover)

What do you think of your friends?

Hello, Brooklyn - All Time Low

What will you repost this as?

Candy - Paolo Nutini

Wow. How random. And now I have to award/tag six people!

.{Miss Vintage Vixen.}

The Soap Opera Experiment

A Wallflower's Words

Not Another Love Song

Dirty Kisses + Filthy Lies

Daydream Believer

Ladies, you can accept either award, and the tag if you wish. I love sowing seeds of confusion!

High-Fives,

EleanorLight

I'm Wasting Coins Trying To Come Up With A Witty Title For This Post, So Think Of One Yourselves.

After reading a quite frank and honest post by Leanne Woodfull about slagging off people in general, I was forced to reevaluate what I think about people. For example, I say that the starlets on Disney Channel have no talent, but they're thousands more successful at what they do then I am, even though I will reach that level someday. And I read a lot of stuff about Taylor Momsen, and how she's gone all emo and it doesn't look good on her, and I don't agree with that. I mean, who wants to spend their whole time caring about other people's lives, when they've got a whole life of their own to look after? And in KISS magazine, they slag off Tavi Gevinson's hair, just because she's dyed it grey and she's only thirteen and everything. She should be free to do what she likes. I think it looks cool, although if it were me, I would go for a lighter shade, perhaps white, in a pixie cut... My point is, I'm going to stop caring about what I think about people, and be more open-minded. And I'm going to stop going on Gossip Girl. I hate Speidi. Plus, I've got a whole life of my own to sort out. And with the way things are going, it's kind of urgent.

Oh, and I'm in Dublin Airport now. My flight to Faro has been delayed, and I'm running out of money at the Internet kiosk, as you will note from this post's title. Damn!

High-Fives,

EleanorLight

Three Blogs You Really Must Follow - Apart From Mine, Of Course.

Like the new look? The people behind Blogger have done an excellent job with the new Template Designer. You can even get three columns! I used to spend hours looking for the PERFECT TEMPLATE, and messing around with HTML, and then it wouldn't work and I'd be sad. So I'm glad they've introduced this.

Oh yeah! The point of this post! Well, here they are, after long and careful consideration from my Dashboard... (Please note that this is in NO PARTICULAR ORDER. OK? Good.)

*.{Miss Vintage Vixen}.

This was one of the first blogs I ever read, and my first one to love. Miss Vintage Vixen is spunky, witty, and completely fabulous! Twas also from her that I found my love for photography. I even interviewed her back in March as an Inspiro-Girl!

*Messy Carla: A Fashion Blog In A Size Sixteen

I found Messy Carla from her interview with Lisa Clark, and she seemed so happy and bubbly that I logged on to her blog immediately, and it didn't disappoint. Her blog is just so much fun to read, and the looks she puts together rock!

*Thunder + Threads

I found Leanne's blog, Thunder + Threads from a feature in Kiss magazine. It's just so... cosmopolitan? And she's just seventeen! Well, it's older than I am anyway... But this is one of the best fashion blogs I have ever come across!

Now, I want your recommendations! If you think there's any blog I'd enjoy reading, put it in the comments!

High-Fives,

EleanorLight

Music at Musings - Lenka

Remember my post about the Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging soundtrack? And the link I put up for The Show by Lenka? Well, encouraged by that song, I listened to Lenka's self-titled debut album, and this is about that, I suppose.

The breathy voice of Lenka Krilpac is angelic with attitude, I can't sum it up any other way. The Show is a toe-tapping tune which actually summed up my life the week of A Vampire Story (remember that? I was quite confused then), and then there's Trouble Is A Friend, Don't Bring Me Down, Skipalong, Anything I'm Not, Knock Knock, We Will Not Grow Up... at this rate I'm going to name every song on the album now. They're all so good! Gah!

P.S. My Geography teacher has brought our class into the computer room at school for our last Geography class of the year! I never thought I would ever blog at school, but it has happened. I can't actually see my blog though - it's classified as a personal website. Which it is, I suppose.

Tag! You're It!

I've been tagged by Indigo and Amii-Louise! For Indigo, I have to say seven things about myself, and tag seven people, and for Amii-Louise, I have to say one hundred things I love and tag three people! ...OK, here goes!

About Me:

• When I was ten, my brother married our neighbour. I was the priest.
  
• A year later, I was the divorce lawyer for my brother's wife.
  
• When I read The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne when I was ten, I couldn't work out if Bruno and Shumuel had died or not until my older and wiser cousin told me.
  
• My lifelong ambition is to climb a tree, like in The Secret Garden or Tom Sawyer.
  
• I have attended two special schools.
  
• I MET DEREK LANDY!!!!
  
• AND DARREN SHAN!!!!
  

And now, things I love:

1. Derek Landy.


2. Darren Shan.


3. The Book Centre.


4. My iPod.


5. My Bershka headphones.


6. Dairy Milk chocolate.


7. Tea, with milk and sugar.


8. Harry Potter.


9. Stationary.


10. Blogging.


11. Reading other people's blogs.


12. Being tagged. (!)


13. Paramore.


14. Severus Snape.


15. Gossip Girl.


16. Killinaskully.


17. Books.


18. Audrey Hepburn.


19. Acting.


20. Hammocks.


21. Sunny days.


22. Gel pens.


23. Jeans.


24. Converse.


25. Facebook.


26. Paolo Nutini.


27. Being a kid.


28. Funny shaped clouds.


29. Blackadder The Third.


30. Father Ted.


31. Originality.


32. Musings of an Undiscovered Genius. (!)


33. Blogger.


34. Lindt Easter Bunnies.


35. Hockey.


36. Magic...


37. Broomsticks.


38. Ireland.


39. London.


40. Paris.


41. New York.


42. Brown Thomas.


43. HMV.


44. My laptop.


45. Hugs!


46. Teen Vogue.


47. Kiss Magazine.


48. Paperchase


49. JASPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Inside joke...)


50. Miss Vintage Vixen.


51. Saturdays.


52. Twitter.


53. Lady Gaga.


54. Florence & The Machine.


55. iTunes.


56. Guitar Hero: World Tour.


57. Prom dresses.


58. Dying my hair.


59. Being in love. (!)


60. Ice-skating.


61. The Simpsons.


62. Singing.


63. Singing tunelessly.


64. Coca-Cola.


65. The Internet.


66. GossipGirl.net.


67. All Time Low.


68. Zumo's.


69. Kilkenny.


70. Youtube.


71. Wikipedia.


72. Blowing bubbles.


73. Pink Lady apples.


74. Haribo's.


75. Red.


76. Friends.


77. Music.


78. Black.


79. Blue.


80. Potter Puppet Pals.


81. Movies.


82. Milk.


83. America.


84. Love.


85. Life.


86. My phone.


87. Flowers.


88. Saoirse Ronan.


89. Alice Cullen.


90. Guitars.


91. Popcorn.


92. Funfairs.


93. Candyfloss.


94. The sea.


95. Swimming.


96. Sand between your toes!


97. My hair.


98. Glass.


99. Hats.


100. Me!
     

Phew! And now I hereby tag:

Aoife from Ace-Of-Aoife

LadyBug from fascination of all things random

SGuitar from Music and Life

Effy from Razzler Dazzler

Cherry Diva from Cherry Diva Hideout

Roxie Sweetheart from Roxie Sweetheart Girls Love

Annalee McGarry from Annalee McGarry

KittyPinkStars from KiTTYPiNKSTaRS

Ariella from My Life Between The Lockers

Natasha-Rose from Je Ne Sais Quoi

High-Fives,

EleanorLight

Inspiro-Girls - Britney Spears

I'm hoping you all know Britney Spears. (If you don't, please crawl back under your rock and eat your stash of beetles.) I'm not a big fan really, I think she's too promiscuous for my liking. But recently she did a photoshoot with Candie's, a fashion line in America for pre-teen and teenage girls, and she agreed to release the before photos along with the photoshopped photos for comparison to highlight the pressure to look perfect in the industry.

I got the photos from MessyCarla:

Quite a difference, isn't there? Look, her hair is shinier and blonder, her arms are thinner, her body is tanned, her breasts are bigger and her tummy and hips are smaller, and her legs... well, they're completely unnatural! Look at them!

Another photo... Here, her tummy and back have been sucked in, her bum is smaller, her legs are smooth, her breasts have been lifted, cellulite zapped, and if you look closely at her lower back, her tattoo has mysteriously disappeared...

And now I think Britney's not that bad really. And for doing that heroic act, she is now one of my Inspiro-Girls!

I've just checked, and this makes my 100th post! Huzzah! Thanks for sticking with me everyone!

High-Fives,

EleanorLight

Inspiro-Girls - Miss Vintage Vixen

Miss Vintage Vixen is my favourite blogger ever. Fact.

Miss Vintage Vixen is witty, glamorous, kooky, fun, and gosh-darn fabulous! Plus, she calls everyone cupcakes. That officially seals the deal for me.

Come say hi, you'll fall in love, I promise!

*Describe yourself in five words.

Comeback-clever, SHORT, nerdy, naive and spunky. {Here, watch me cheat, I'll add another one: I'm famous for being emotional.}

*Your blog is fabulous! What's it about and what inspired you to set it up?

Well, the truth sets you free {apparently}, so I'll be truthful: I was so incredibly mad when I was on vacation with my family. It was two in the morning, and everyone in the cramped hotel room was asleep, but I was awake, my laptop was on, and I was watching old reruns of The Nanny on TV. I was mad at my family because I felt they didn't understand me, or didn't respect what I wanted to do with my life, so I decided to write about it in a blog post of a blog I already had. But I knew that many people I knew already read that blog, so I made up a new one. I talked about how I was a great debater, how I never dropped a subject, and I was mad at the world, and my parents. Slowly, it became a place where I ranted and discovered new addictions, like my love for vintage, photography, and apparently now, music.

{Not that I'm a musician or anything. Just listen to me sing - I sound like a dying orca whale.}

*If you could return to a specific era, what would it be and why?

If I could return to 6th grade, the era when I was first in love, I would, but this time, I would most definitely change up my attitude. Ever hear the phrase 'Play hard to get'? I took that advice to the extreme... almost to the point where I denied to even speak to the guy. Only when he spoke to me was I nice. I felt like if I laughed louder, danced in the halls, and was not afraid to do what I felt like doing, I could have maybe, just maybe, impressed everyone else. I wanted everyone to know that there WAS a person in the planet who was intelligent, and crazy, and klutzy, and studious, and rhythmic, and that was me.

*What do you love most about being a girl in the world?

The thing that I love most about being a girl... well, I love a lot of things about being a girl over a boy, but the thing that I love most about being a girl over a boy is that I can cry whenever I want without being called 'gay' or sissy. I like to cry... a lot. I like to watch movies to cry, I cry because of a depressing song I heard on the radio, I cry because I hear people yelling at each other, I cry because someone who was probably a huge idiot on the Hollywood scene died, I cry because I won an award, I cry because the world is going to end someday, I cry, and nobody seems to mind. Girls understand.

*What five songs would be essential to a Miss VV soundtrack?

Yes, what an excellent question? Okay, if there were a soundtrack to my life, I want it to be upbeat... even though there are many other songs that I love that are slow and depressing, like Coldplay. But the top five songs that I would most definitely pick for a soundtrack of me, they would be:

• Crazy In Love - Beyonce {Why? Oh, that song has been my song since it first came out in 2003!}
• The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson {Why? Sweetest song ever written, and it's so true, as well!}
• Flashing Lights - Kanye West {The one song in Miss Vintage Vixen history that was SO GOOD, that I replayed it 30 times on my iPod, and danced to it while driving in the car, on my way up to Big Bear}
• Nothing On You - B.O.B.
• Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson {The one song on the planet that I will never ever ever ever ever ever ever get tired of.}

*What's your motto for life?

You know, it's kind of creepy how coincidental this is... I was *just* talking with my best friend over Facebook, and she asked me what my motto in life was, and I told her I didn't have one. And right after that I got a post-it note and wrote on it: "Find a motto for life". And it's hanging right on my computer screen, as I write this.

*Quick-fire round! Your favourite... Book/Food/Movie/Shop/Website/City/Activity?

• BOOK! Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban {or Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}
• FOOD! Lasagna {I figured chocolate didn't count as a solid food}
• MOVIE! The Perfect Man
• SHOP! Charlotte Russe
• WEBSITE! Tumblr.com
• CITY! Chula Vista, baberz. Haven't been to New York City yet, so I can't differ!
• ACTIVITY! Reading... most definitely. And I'm not even being cliche.

*The colour pink, discuss.

Oh, the colour pink. What a controversial colour. Well, the colour pink for me is not something I count as symbolic {you know, for girls}, but mostly, just a style preference. My cousin {hmm, you just gave me the idea to write a post about her} is six years-old, and pink is her life. I think it's just because she's a girl, and she thinks she needs pink to prove the point she's a girl, and girls have to be girly. Pink for me is not what I need... only when the outfit calls for it!

*Who or what makes you jump-in-the-air happy?

WHO: Rupert Grint! {And David Tennant... *blushes*}

WHAT: People telling me they like something about me. Yeah, really...

You can find Miss Vintage Vixen here: http://www.missvintagevixen.blogspot.com/

I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty...

This is a historic day! I've gotten my very first award from Stari!

These are the rules that come with the award:

Put the award on your blog or in your post
Pass the award to 12 bloggers
Link the nominees within your post
Let the nominees know by commenting on their blog
Share the love and link to the person who gave it to you

And the Blogongs go to...

*Miss Vintage Vixen at http://www.missvintagevixen.blogspot.com/ - For such great posts, and for your fabulous Daily Inspirations! I love your writing style.

*Leanne at http://www.thunderandthreads.blogspot.com/ - For your awesome fashion tips, and for your great interview in KISS!

*Paul Young at http://paulliewaggles.blogspot.com/ For your hilarious cartoons, and the fact that you're from Kilkenny, and you go to Barnstorm too! Your set for Burying Your Brother in The Pavement was great, by the way. Thanks!

*Carla at http://www.messycarla.blogspot.com/ For your fabulous outfit posts, darlink! And for your interview with Lisa Clark.

*Lisa at http://www.pink-world.co.uk/ For making the world a better place for girls everywhere! Now all we need is someone called Louis Casey to write a book for the boys. Peruse Blue anyone?

*This may be cheating, but what the hell! Lisa and Aimee at http://www.thesassyminx.com/ For just being awesome. And for being sassy minxes, but imagine if you weren't, with that for a website name!

*Lizzy Lou at http://www.razzlerdazzler.blogspot.com/ For posting lots of pictures of very pretty things...

*Stari at http://thisgirl-talks.blogspot.com/ For commenting compulsively, and for writing such good poems. And you gave me my first award. And I like your new template.

*Anna at http://annamcgarry.blogspot.com/ For introducing me to Rachel Furner and Mini Viva, and being so gosh darn NICE!

*Indigo at http://indigoheartbeats.blogspot.com/ For blogging so insightfully and beautifully, while still being a normal teenage girl and still doing all that stuff.

*Penny at http://silk-style.blogspot.com/ For being really imaginative and for your beautiful outfit posts!

*The Lost Princess at http://www.thelostprincess.com/ For writing so beautifully, and being so inspirational...

I'm going to go off now and do my happy dance again, I'm so happy!

High-Fives,

EleanorLight

Quote Of The Week #1

This is a new segment of the show which I decided to do, you know, because I want to make the world a better place.... or something.

I love any music that makes me feel like I want to jump in the air, fall down, scream and throw myself out of a window.

Florence Welch. Yes, the Flo-Love is still strong over here at Musings...

Dreamboard

Yup. This is my humble dreamboard. I know the picture isn't great, and there are loads of brown spots on the cardboard, but this was the best picture I could get. And I took loads.

So, I have girls on it like Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine (three of their songs, 'Rabbit Heart', 'Cosmic Love' and 'Kiss With A Fist' are on the playlist), Hayley Williams, lead singer for Paramore ('Ignorance', 'Crushcrushcrush', 'Brick By Boring Brick' and 'Misery Business' on playlist), Taylor Swift, Kirsten Stewart, Saoirse Ronan (on the KISS cover, Ireland's only teen magazine. Thank God it's a good one!) and Audrey Hepburn. I have a shot of the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and the logo for the O2 in Dublin. That's where we go for our huge concerts, when they are not on at festivals. The other girls are just random models I thought looked cool.

Now I'll gush for a little bit.

I love Saoirse Ronan! She's fifteen and a huge name in Hollywood! Plus, she's from Co. Carlow, which is 25 miles from here! I don't know where her village is though. I don't want to seem like a stalker. But she is really talented. All the film critics are saying that in her latest film, The Lovely Bones, everyone isn't really good except for her, which is a great thing for Ireland, and for her. There is a star on the horizon here...