What I'm Listening To -- October 2015

"Hello, it's me."

Clearly I've had a lot of songs in my head lately and I desperately want to share them with you.  

*I know it's been a long time since I last blogged but I promise I'll explain soon!


One For The Road -- Dodie Clark
This is such an upbeat song that conveys so much emotion. I love Dodie's songwriting - her style is really unique and fresh (her harmonies are excellent).  I especially like the pre-chorus and the bridge in this song.

Wildest Dreams -- Taylor Swift
This song is definitely one Taylor's more sultry songs with the Lana Del Ray vibes.  One the things I love the most about Taylor Swift is the complexity of her lyrics - they are always so poetic.  The beat of "Wildest Dreams" is also incredible!

Out of the Woods -- Taylor Swift
Sadly this song hasn't been released as a single yet (I'm desperately hoping that it will be an upcoming single!).  The song conveys the exact emotions felt in the relationship that the song is about.  There are so many layers to this song - it's almost like a symphony.  Every time I listen to it, I find a new element to it.  Listen for the "ahh a ah" backing vocal in the last bit of the song.  There is also a great acoustic version of this song which you can listen to here.

Same Old Love -- Selena Gomez
I don't usually listen to Selena Gomez a lot but I've really liked her latest album.  It's great to see her release an album completely on her own terms and that really shines throughout the songs.  I often find this song stuck in my head.

Me & The Rhythm -- Selena Gomez
Whenever I hear this song I just want to dance!  Selena has really matured since her last album and that is reflected throughout the song.

Run Away With Me -- Carly Rae Jepsen
I've alway been a huge Carly Rae Jepsen fan ever since I first saw her on Canadian Idol.  Her latest album, Emotion, is heavily impacted by 80s pop (which is one of my favourite genres ever!). You can definitely hear the 80s influences in the rhythm of the drums. 

Sense -- Tom Odell
I love songs that feature piano.  This song is so simple but the raw emotion emitted in the vocals blows me away every time I listen to it. 

Love Me -- The 1975
I really love the digs at narcissism and pop culture in "Love Me".  The 1975's new music has a glam-rock feel to it (Matthew Healy is definitely channeling David Bowie in the music video).  I can't wait until The 1975's upcoming album!

Medicine -- The 1975
How have I not stumbled upon this song until now?  I think this may be my new favourite song from this band.  I'm really hoping that there are some songs with this kind of sound in the new album. 

Keep Up With My Love -- Carrie Hope Fletcher
Carrie has one of those voices that is so emotional and powerful.  Her lyrics are also incredible - they are never too forced or too simple.  

Guess We'll Never Know -- Carrie Hope Fletcher
Another one of Carrie's original songs (how this girl does not have a record deal, I have no idea).  

Roman Holiday -- covered by Sarah Close (originally by Halsey)
As much as I like the original song, Sarah's cover just adds that something extra.  Her tone is just gorgeous and pure  throughout this song.  Go check out her other covers (Hello, Only One, and I'm Not the Only One are a few of my favourites). 

Hello -- Adele
How could I not include this masterpiece in this post? Adele has such an incredible voice and her lyrics are so poetic.  When this song first came out, I had it on repeat.  I am counting down the days until 25 is released!

Wow, this was a long post!  Let me know your current music favourites in the comments!!
xoxo M

Current Music Favourites

Here are some songs I have been loving recently. Enjoy!

Cool Kids by Echosmith

Too Young to Remember by Florrie

Hold Back the River by James Bay

My Man covered by Lea Michele (original sung by Barbra Streisand)

Love Me Like You Do covered by Sarah Close (original by Ellie Goulding)

What music have you been loving lately? 
xoxo M

Clinique Moisture Surge Review

Winter always wrecks havoc on my skin and makes it drier than the Sahara Desert.  My regular moisturizer (Neutrogena Moisture Oil-Free for Sensitive Skin) just wasn't cutting it so I decided to splurge for a new moisturizer.  I had heard many good things about the Clinique Moisture Surge range and I decided to try the Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator for very dry to dry combination skin.  Although this isn't the cheapest moisturizer ($44 for 50 ml), it is worth every penny.  This moisturizer is a cream-gel that leaves your skin feeling completely refreshed and dewy (but more importantly, not oily).  I put this on after I get out of the shower to lock in moisture.  One of the things I love about the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense is that my foundation applies like a dream after I moisturize!!  

What is your favourite moisturizer?
xoxo M

Groot Gingerbread Cookies

My favourite cookies are gingerbread cookies and I always make them at Christmas.  Because I liked "Guardians of the Galaxy" so much, I decided to make the cookies look like dancing Baby Groots!!  

I used the gingerbread cookie recipe from my Betty Crocker Baking Basics cookbook and I found the stencil here.  

Merry Christmas everyone!!!
xoxo M

The Nutcracker

I have loved ballet ever since I was a little girl.  The first ballet I ever saw was The Nutcracker when I was 8 years old.  It is such a beautiful story with the most wonderful music.  Tchaikovsky is my favourite composer.  Last week, after exams, I decided to treat myself to a performance of The Nutcracker.  

I went to the box office of the Four Season Centre for the Performing Arts (where the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company perform) and bought a rush ticket.  I was lucky enough to get an orchestra seat for only one third of the price!!  

If you arrive 45 minutes before the show, there is a story time for the audience.  An adult Marie and her brother Misha (in the National Ballet of Canada's version, both Marie and Misha go on an adventure with the nutcracker) reminisce about their adventures and explain some of the ballet choreography.  I thought that this was really helpful for children (and adults) who were new to the story and/or the ballet.   

I can never decide what my favourite part is of The Nutcracker.  I love the dance of the snow maidens, the dance of the flowers, and the duet with the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker.  I also really like how The Nutcracker incorporates the little dancers from the ballet school - I especially love the little lambs!

The Nutcracker is great for children or those who are new to the ballet.  It is beautiful and has lots of little funny scenes.  Every ballet company has their own unique spin on the story.  The National Ballet of Canada choose to set their production in Imperial Russia.  This makes for incredible costumes and scenery - the Sugar Plum Fairy lives in a Fabergé egg!

The Nutcracker ballet is always so dear to my heart and I treasure both times I have seen the ballet.

Have you ever seen The Nutcracker Ballet?
xoxo M

Fifteen Festive Favourites

This tag was created by Tom Fletcher

What is your favourite..?

1. Festive food - Christmas pudding (my Aunt Nancy makes an amazing one!)

2. Reindeer - Olive (the other reindeer); of Santa's 8 reindeer, I like Dancer

3. Day of Christmas (as in "The Twelve Days of Christmas") - the thought of 10 Lords-a-leaping always makes me laugh

4. Christmas Song - there are so many I love so I'll tell you my top 5: "Last Christmas", "Christmas Lights", "Christmases When You Were Mine", "Baby It's Cold Outside", "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

5. Christmas Present - my dad made me a beautiful doll cradle when I was little 

6. Christmas Film - "It's a Wonderful Life"

7. Christmas Cracker Toy - I once got round dice in my cracker... 

8. Christmas Cracker Joke - "Why does Santa have 3 gardens?" "So he can 'ho, ho, ho'!"

9. Decoration - My acrylic ballerina ornament

10. Candle scent - any that smell like Christmas trees

11. Christmas advert - I like this one from Tim Hortons and this one from Sainsbury's (both make me cry)

12. Festive Tradition - Decorating the Christmas tree with my mom while we listen to our Christmas CDs (we always listen to the Celtic Christmas albums)

13. Place to Spend Christmas - wherever my family is

14. Festive Fact - there is a species of snail named Ba humbugi named after the line in A Christmas Carol
15. Snowman accessory - carrot nose

Let me know if you do this tag in the comments!
xoxo M

Toronto Christmas Market

Every year for a few weeks in December, the Toronto Christmas Market is held in the Distillery District.  The European inspired market is filled with unique booths selling everything from British candy to Matryoshka nesting dolls.  On stage, there are performances such as storytellings and sing-alongs.  The market is very festive and great for people of all ages.

I recommend that you should visit the Christmas Market at Night.  The crowds are a lot smaller and the hanging lights are lit.  

Have you ever been to a Christmas Market?
xoxo M