Music of 2012

I love music, who doesnt? I love it so much that if it was taken away from me I dont think I would be able to function and I would definitely get sectioned and probably go very very mental! (none of your jokes about how im already mental please!)

I cant possibly say that I only like a certain genre because thats just too restrictive and specific!

At the beginning of the year I was given an ipod and the person who gave it to me had uploaded some music that he thought I would like. Some of that came off (mainly Glee stuff) but most of it stayed on and provides me with a lovely soundtrack on my way to and from work on most days (when im not cycling)

The first album I became obsessed with in 2012 was Doo wops and Hooligans - Bruno Mars. I am aware that this came out in 2011 but I didnt get it until 2012 so we shall just go with it!!
I mustve listened to the song Runaway Baby more times that ive eaten caramlised onion chutney this year and thats alot. I love the pace of the song and the layers, the riff, the drum and the police siren at the beginning really gets me moving, its hard not to start wiggling down the street. Its a really good, jump out of bed and shake it kinda song!! I urge you to try it, you'll be smiling from ear to ear! Its the kind of song that you dont really care what its about its just a brilliant catchy tune.

The song Count on Me is also a beaut, the lyrics make me think of a friend of mine. "if you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea, i'll sail the world to find you, if you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you cant see, i'll be the light to guide you" awwww such lovely lyrics. I think its one of those songs we can all relate to and it will make you think of your bestfriend and how much you love them! Its also got a beautiful melody, theres also a few harmonies in the bridge which are really soft but give these bits a bit of depth.

If you havent listened to the album, get hold of a copy and enjoy it!

Other albums ive been listening to this year include:
The Overtones - Higher, this is a mover and shaker too, my favourite tracks are Love Song, Keep me hanging on and Higher.

 


Emeli Sande - Our version of events, this one came out when I was going through a bit of a downer so I didnt like to listen to it too much as it made me feel worse but I really enjoy the songs Lifetime and Where I sleep. Read all about it Pt 3 is absolutely beautiful, im sure if you have heard it, you will agree.

Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials. I dont mind admitting that I used to really dislike her music but this album has been played so many times this year. My favourites are, only for a night, no light no light (oh emm geee I could listen to that 10 times in a row! and so loud I would probably lose some of my hearing) I think theres a running theme with alot of these songs, they are built up, layer upon layer and they just make me feel full of something, I dont know how to describe it! its as if I could burst! I dance around my room when no ones looking and just throw my arms around as if im playing the drums!
Moving swiftly on...

Foster the people - Torches, brilliant album from start to finish, I love every song. I used to listen to this if I had to walk to work last winter, it really annoys me when the songs are used on TOWIE haha! Pumped up kicks is probably their most famous song, but, there are so many gems on this little, beauty of an, album.

So thats the albums that I have been listening to this year.

Other songs that made my year (in no particular order):
Kelly Clarkson - Stronger
Laura Marling - Sophia
The Lovely Somethings - Lazy Daisy
Little Mix - Wings
Train - Drive By
Glee Cast - Shake it Out
Kyla La Grange - Been Better
Daley ft Jessie J - Remember me
Nicki Minaj - Starships

Im sure there were more!

Whats your song of the year?

A very mutters christmas to you

I hope you have all had a wonderful christmas day and you are all feeling happy, full of food and ready for bed.
Ive never been the biggest fan of christmas, i love getting everyone together and having a day spending time with family but i do often feel like a couped up chicken!
So the question is whats more important, presents or presence?
I guess christmas is a time where we remember people who arent here any more whether they have passed away or just moved on.
Alot of people I know tend to over spend and think that the bigger/better the present, the more they mean to the person who gave them the gift. I've never really been like that. As I have mentioned before, I like to get lovely gifts that my friends would appreciate, and I am generally appreciative of anything i am given big or small, expensive or cheap.
This year one of my favourite gifts is a heartshaped hanging decoration with the words "Do what makes your heart smile" written on it. Things like this help to remind me that I have choices, I can do all the things that make my heart smile with hardwork and determination.
Another gift i loved was a book called 365 days of happiness. Its full of ideas+quotes and just flicking through it seems to brighten my mood. I cant help thinking that my friends think im miserable but i really do love these little things!
I hope that santa was good to you and that you got to spend the day with your lovely friends and family, feel the love and be grateful, gratitude is a really good way of making you and someone else really happy xx




 

Extreme camping

Ever heard of Portaledge tents? I came across this crazy idea and I think it looks quite fun on paper, the reality of the situation, is that, I probably wouldn't sleep a wink in a tent that was hung from a tree!

 

It looks very magical though, a bit like the lost boys from neverland. Perhaps one night would be ok, just for the experience and to say "ive slept in a tree"

From high atop a Bavarian mountain summit in Pfronten, Germany  is Waldseilgarten. To stay here it will set you back $336 per person! For camping!!!
http://www.waldseilgarten-hoellschlucht.de/

The website is all in german but you can tell from the pics what its all about!!

 

 

 

 

 

Knit-ivity

Tis the season to wear jumpers faa la la la laaaa la la la laaaahhhh

I  actually dont own a christmas jumper because they just make me look like an absolute frump, however I very much appreciate the christmas jumper trend and thought i'd share some of my faves with you.

I Love the little robin!!

 

 

 

The Christmas jumper is a classive example of our generations love for "ironic" fashion.
Originating from the 1950's and appearing again in the early 1980s thanks to Bill Cosby and even more recently in 2001 by Colin Firth in Bridget Jones' Diary, it seems the christmas jumper is as much a part of the festive season as mulled wine and mince pies! 

 

Are there families that still dress up in christmas jumpers and I wonder if anyone has a nana that still makes them?

If you dont own one but you want one, the following websites are good places to start!!

www.amazon.co.uk/clothing www.loveclothing.com www.asos.com www.christmasjumpercompany.co.uk

 

You could also try charity shops or vintage shops, there are an array of garish festive jumpers in Purple Haze for men and women, if you are looking for one in york!

 

Lovely!

 

 

Accepted

Although I have no regrets It's not been a great year, I've spent alot of my time feeling pretty down and taking bach flower rescue remedy to help me get through the day sometimes. This is no way to live so luckily I have some super people in my life who really remind me of who I am.

I was talking to a friend about Vanity and it reminded me of when I was younger, I would spend quite alot of time pulling faces at myself in my parents mirrored wardrobe doors. My sister would always say I was vain and that I loved myself however I dont think this was necessarily true at that age.
I think what I was actually doing was getting to know who I was. I would sit there and stare at myself and I would repeat in my head things like "Hannah Ruth Mutters,this is who you are, you are always going to be you and you cant be anyone else" I used to want to look like a girl in my class, because she had straighter hair than me, but I wanted to keep my own personality because I enjoyed being me! haha this sounds so funny! When I started to get scared of my own reflection and the reality of "this is me" i'd go off and do something else! I told this story to my friend and her response was "thats cool you were searching for your identity so young, maybe thats why you feel you know yourself" and I think she is right.

I think this year I just got a little bit lost, and with the help of some wonderful individuals I remembered who I was and I accept it.

Acceptance is so important, Im sure lots of people feel like they arent accepted by other people but how many of us accept ourselves?
Ive recently come across this website called positively positive www.positivelypositive.com  I am known for having a winge so if I feel extra wingey or like I need a moan this website is great for making me feel more uplifted and positive.

Yesterday I read an article about Acceptance and it included the following tips so I thought i'd share them with you.

- Develop a connection to spirit
(I dont think they mean "spirits" I think they mean your own spirit and the spirit of people around you, or maybe even the christmas spirit? Just being silly!)

- Allow for quiet time (shhhh)
(I love doing this, a bit of time with your thoughts and a bit of relaxation, I have a few friends in my life who I can sit in a room with and not say anything to, and its so comfortable and I love it. People who talk all the time, take no time to listen to themselves or others, just be quiet and enjoy it)

- Forgive (Yourself and that Jerk)
(Im sure this is an american site!! I do think that forgiveness helps you stay more positive though, and is definitely a way of accepting that whatever has happened is now over and you shouldnt dwell on it, move on and forgive - AGREED)

- Welcome (and tend to) loving friendships or relationships
(This one is a good one, I wrongly judged someone and tarnished them with the same brush as someone else recently, only to realise that when I let a few barriers down and stopped worrying about things, I had miss-judged and decided to allow myself to just be happy, accept the compliments this person gives me and not sceptical)

- Release un-lovingfriendships or relationships (buh bye)
(This one doesnt necessarily apply to me as I dont have anyone in my life that I feel I need to cut off or get rid of at this very moment, theres a few on the edge though! Just kidding)

- Lay in the sun
(ahh I love this one, at around 2:30/3pm everyday the sun comes through my window at work and It cheers me up no end - get some vitamin D in your life!)

- Move your glorious body
(I think they mean dance, so give us a twirl! Dance around the kitchen with someone you live with, use the fish slice as a microphone and laugh!)

-Eat plants (chomp chomp, yum)

- Breathe deeply often
(This is interesting to me, I sigh, alot, anyone who has spent alot of time with me will know this, I dont do it conciously but I have recognised that I do it, Im assuming its a release of some sort)

- Smile
(I'm not a naturally smiley person, the corners of my mouth point downwards to people usually assume im just grumpy, which IS NOT TRUE! so sometimes I try to smile more, at random people, bus drivers, co-workers, my friends and family, its uplifting when you get one back!)

- REPEAT
(Yeh dont just do it once, do it over and over again!)
You may think this is a load of rubbish, but Im happy to give anything a go!
So, this year I have learned how to be more positive and accept myself, I think thats what Im trying to say!

I accept im an over thinker, I accept I need goals and I need to stick to them, I accept im a bit spoilt and can be really stroppy and irrational, I accept that I am really really silly to keep myself and others entertained, I accept that I have the most irritating and unruly head of hair, I accept that I am really horrible about the girl at work that I dont like because I dont like the fact she is so insecure she is fake and I accept that sometimes people wont like me either, I accept that I am not perfect and I accept that some people reading this will think i've gone a bit loopy!!

ACCEPT YOURSELF!