Christmas month... Couldn't be happier!

December has arrived and I couldn't be happier. 

It's the perfect time to be jolly, to grab hot wine, hot chocolate with Baileys, Christmas songs and movies, the Christmas shopping and the obvious Christmas market...

Edinburgh Christmas Market 2018

Since it's December and we all have to wait for Christmas Day to arrive, I went through the list of my favourite Christmas films. One for each day... I started with my all times favourite which I'm sure is a classic....

Day 1- Love Actually! 
A classic that will always take everyone into a loving, joyful mood, and how can we forget the famous dance of Hugh Grant. 

Day 2- The Nightmare Before Christmas!
Famous Tim Burton's got it right with this film. Perfect for a family film... After Halloween... It's just perfect!

Day 3- Elf!
This one is most likely to be a favourite with the humour and Will Ferrell's acting is brilliant, everyone falls for the cuteness.

Day 4- How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
If you want to fall in love with a cute movie with an adorable child who saves Christmas then this movie is for you!

Day 5- The Santa Claus!
Growing up with this film made me fall in love with Christmas and the hot chocolate! 

Day 6- The Santa Claus 2!
If you watch the first might as well continue!

Day 7- The Santa Claus 3!
After two movies, let's finish the trilogy!

Day 8- Home Alone!
Full of laughs and cute moments, it's one of the classics...

Day 9- Miracle on 34th Street!
One more classic, many versions, and all of them are just amazingly cute! A family film for sure!

Day 10- Scrooged!
The story is beautiful, the lessons are powerful!

Day 11- Angela's Christmas!
A 2018 Irish Christmas film which is beyond adorable! How can I not put an Irish film on the list? It's adorable and everyone is falling hard for it. How can you not?

Day 12- The Polar Express!
I remember watching it with my brothers when I was younger and each year we had to watch the film and read the book!

Day 13- A Charlie Brown Christmas!
An American classic, one I will surely watch for the first time... I needed to add it to the list because I found it pointless not to put it. 

Day 14- White Christmas!
Classics are always best especially during this season! 

Day 15- Home Alone 2!
Another great movie, one you cannot skip!

Day 16- The Grinch!
A 2018 movie, Dr.Seuss always had wonderful books, and the film will be just as delightful to watch. 

Day 17- A Christmas Carol!
Same as Scrooged, but more a family style film. 

Day 18- Bad Santa!
If you are looking for more adult fun, go for it!

Day 19- It's a Wonderful Life!
One classic at a time, this one deserves more credit!

Day 20- Frozen!
I mean it's not specifically Christmas but it has snow and long lasting songs. We all know how 'Let It Go' get stuck in your head for days.

Day 21- Rudolph, the Red-Nose Reindeer!
Used to watch it when I was a kid, cute cartoon that made me think about my red nose when I was sick. 

Day 22- One Magic Christmas!
It's been a while since this movie, but a Disney film nonetheless!

Day 23- Gremlins!
If you want a spooky Christmas film, this one will be perfect! 

Day 24- 
Anything you want... I know I'll probably end up watching 'Love Actually', 'Angela's Christmas', ' Angela's Ashes' or 'The Snapper', an Irish classic which if it comes on the tele, you will end up watching it again no matter.

This year, Netflix is taking down Love Actually so if you are a fan, watch it sooner than later!  But it does reserve us amazing new films, and I cannot wait to get through the list of films and songs myself... After all, even if you are an adult, you will watch cartoons and family films because Christmas has the power to let everyone become a child all over again!

~Bella

Oh, what are those? ..... JOKES!

Jokes! Stand-up comedies.... 

I can't explain the joy I have when I watch a stand-up comedy. It makes your day a lot better, you smile, you laugh, cry of laughter, and at the end, all you can think about are the jokes or stories the comedian has said throughout the show. 

Each one of us has some type of comedy and mine happens to be slightly odd... My very first comedian, one that got me to laugh from the beginning till the end has to be Peter Kay! A British comedian who's sense of humor is beyond hilarious. He knows how to keep the audience on a high level of laughter, and the best part of his shows are the fact that he seems like he is completely serious. 

So I thought I'd share a few videos which make me laugh all the time. 

When you are having a bad day, listening to someone making fun of themselves or society itself, your day brightens up. The small things can brighten up someone's day in a flash, for example, a good cup of coffee, a warm shower after a long day at work... To me, the small things are made up of stand-up comedy, usually from this British comedian, Peter Kay.

Stand-up comedy  
When you think about stand-up comedy and the comedians on stage, you don't think about a headache they have to go through, the stress of not making anyone laugh. I mean, let's be honest, it's not just one person listening to their jokes, it's thousands. Not only they have to make sure they can remember every line, but they have to make sure the people will laugh at your jokes. Everyone will laugh at different things, different moments or not laugh at all while you will be cracking up. So when a comedian is standing on a stage, see many people, it's a stressful, difficult situation.

So when I watch a stand-up comedy, I try my best to look positively, have the respect they deserve for the work they provide. Not everyone can stand on stage, talk and keep everyone entertained.  I know I couldn't! 
Don't get me wrong, I don't laugh at every comedian. I will laugh at some jokes they will throw at us, but the comedians themselves, no. It takes a whole lot to keep me laughing from beginning to end. Can't laugh all the time, but at least if a comedian catches my eyes, I will continue laughing.  

Don't over underestimate a comedian's work, they try their best to make everyone laugh. 

"Doing stand-up comedy is in the middle of a traffic jam getting everybody moving again."- Jon Stewart

~Bella

Netflix addict...

As many of you know, I watch plenty of series, TV shows... Mostly American ones, but also British ones. Recently I came across BROADCHURCH which is a British series about a murder scene of a young boy and a detective who comes to the small town to get the killer. 
I first heard about this show via a YouTuber who was watching the new season, she mentioned how amazing the show was, and as you may already guessed, my curiosity ran up. 

Two seasons down in only a day, it couldn't be faster than this. I didn't expect to continue watching episode after episode, but it's exactly what I did without interruption. Spent my entire day on a murder case, a show where the killer would eventually get caught. 
Let's start by saying that it was not your typical show, crime drama. This is beyond anything I ever watched. 
First, the way they planned everything out, laid the entire plot out was near perfection. You never expected what was coming next, always a shocking event, always a surprise which would be unrevealed throughout each episode. The element of surprise was well kept until the right moment. 
Second, each actor made sure they went into the character's personality, their skins. Every single one of them seemed genuine which made the show even better. 
Finally, you don't get bored out of watching it. Can't at all! It makes you want to keep watching it, want you to know more about the events, situation. IT doesn't just make your curiosity come out, but also tears. I don't remember crying this much on a show. I was a baby, emotional, I could put myself in the parent's shoes as well as the detectives who were trying, desperately to find the killer of the eleven years old. 

Boradchurch got my British back on track, quickly. The show reminded me of where I grew up, the scenery looked familiar... The way each little town folks say about each other, how their mentality can affect difficult situations. So when I started watching Broadchurch, the way they all made it seem like it was going to be solved fast, but then as you go on, you realize that there is always something new, something unexpected. 

Growing up in a small town, I can tell you how talkative people are when there's gossip to be made, but when something dramatic, shocking happens, no one comes forward if they got any information. The first season reminded me of where I used to live back in Europe, and it also reminded me of what I wanted to be later on in life. No, not the lawyer but a detective, most likely. The show made me think a lot, analyze each character, made me cry like a baby, and above all, made me realize that sometimes the people closest to you, aren't always the best people.

In order to understand what I'm trying to explain to you, you just have to comprehend by watching the show yourself. I know there is two season on Netflix, the third is coming back as we speak on British televisions, I don't know about the American ones. 

"I do marathons (on Netflix)" 

~Bella

Circa Waves...

Everyone who wants to know me wants to know what I listen to, which one is my favorite song...

Please stop asking! I don't know my favorite song, all I know is I'm addicted to a few singers and bands. One of them happens to be indie and British... It happens to also be one of my favorite bands, one I can listen whenever I want to dance around in my undies and want to listen when I'm sad...

Circa Waves is a British Indie Rock band formed in Liverpool back in 2013.  The band consists of frontman Kieran Shudall who is the singer as well as a guitarist, Sam Rourke, bassist, Colin Jones, drummer and Joe Falconer, who is also a guitarist. 
I heard about the band when I was looking through similar bands to the Artic Monkeys. I've always loved British bands, British singers, their songs, lyrics are usually more profound than anyone else's. Their music is more appealing to me than anything else, and when I first listened to Circa Waves, I fell in love, completely in love. The way their songs move me, I couldn't just leave it be. Quite unbelievable if I may say, the first song that caught my ears was, "Young Chasers", amazing song! 

Then, I went through a lot more than the song and fell instantly in love with this song....

And then... This year, 2017, as I was looking through the last songs they recorded, both songs, "Fire That Burns" and " Wake Up"... 

The band made a successful appearance after the determination of the lead singer, who almost gave up on the career. The music business isn't an easy one, and the competition is beyond unimaginable. But they are quite the band with their new album, Different Creatures. 

The songs:

1. 'Wake Up'

2. 'Fire That Burns'

3. 'Goodbye'

4. 'Out On My Own'

5. 'Different Creatures'

6. 'Crying Shame'

7. ' Love's Run Out'

8. 'Stuck'

9. 'A Night Out On the Broken Tiles'

10. ' Without You'

11. 'Old Friends'

I'm beyond excited to listen to each one of these songs and love each one of them just like the others... 

"I'm a little too young with not enough time."- Circa Waves

~Bella

Middle of the Bed from Lucy Rose...

Middle of the Bed by Lucy Rose

I sleep in the middle of the bed

You don't know, is it fine to hold my hand?

I sleep in the middle of the bed

Sun slips through my cold hands

Do you really want me back?

Do you really want me back?

Cause I'm over it, over you

All over the town they say I love you

I'm over it, I'm over you

All over the town

They say I love you, yeah

They say I always will

They say I love you, yeah

These wounds, they won't heal

I talk to myself at night

Better still when the lights are turned out 

I talk inside my head

Better if nobody knows what I said

Do you really want me back?

Do you really want me back?

Cause I'm over it, over you

All over the town they say I love you

I'm over, I'm over you

All over the town

They say I love you, yeah

They say I always will

They say I love you, yeah

These wounds, they won't heal

It's all over the town

You're spreading the rumors

It's all over the town

You're spreading the rumors

If you knew me at all

You should all know my answers

(X4)

-Fin

~Bella

Red Face by Lucy Rose...

Red Face from Lucy Rose

I don't care

What the people may say

Cause it's just the sun

Rising again

So I'll take a trip

To the back of my mind

See what is there

What will I find

Cause you've got trouble searching for you

And you said: "Everything will be the same."

Look here, everything is gonna change

And you said: "It's what I needed."

I don't believe it 

I don't care

What the people may say

Cause it's just the sun

Rising again

So I'll take a trip 

To the back of my mind

See what is there

What will I find

Cause you've got trouble searching for you

And you said: "Everything will be the same."

Look here, everything is gonna change

And you said: "It's what I needed."

I don't believe it

Take what you wanted

Leave what you didn't need

-Fin

~Bella

Sidemen: British YouTubers...

Since October 18th, 2016, I have been reading the Sidemen Book! Yes, I got it as soon it was out! There's always something good happening on the 18th. This time, the book came in the mail! The excitement that consumed me entirely, the luck I felt was indescribable! I know that I ain't the only one that got it, but I still feel special! Don't crush my dream of being one special person! Pretty please with a cherry on top?!

If you don't know the Sidemen, well it's a group of YouTubers back in Great Britain! They are most likely to do FIFA videos, but I just adore watching them, they are rather hilarious. Each one of them is different: Simon (Miniminter) being my favorite, JJ (KSI) being the famous one who raps and get in movies, Tobi (TBJZL) being the "hat" type of person, Josh (Zerkaa) being the odd one, Ethan (Behzinga) being the hilarious one who has a contagious laugh, Vik (Vikkstar123) being the Minecraft player, and finally Harry (Wroetoshaw) who cannot keep his calm, broken chairs, and controllers! 

Each one of them has different stories, and the book collides all of them. We learn quite a lot about them, about their routines, about their favorite games, and honestly, it's rather surprising!

When we hear YouTube, we think about the funny videos, but we don't think how much time and energy they put in their videos. Obviously, I'm talking about the YouTubers that want to be serious about it. Don't think they aren't doing anything! That they can do as they wish... Most of them are asleep during the day, working at night time, editing, creating, making more videos. The Sidemen for example, even if some live with each other, they barely see each other! 

I enjoy reading about them, the book is rather nice and creatively well put! So I thought I would share a bit with you right now:

"THE SIDEMEN RANDOM TRIVIA PAGE
I bet you think you know all there is know about us/ Yeah we spend a lot of our time making videos, telling you guys all about our lives, but here's some stuff we've never revealed before, until now...

1. JJ can't straighten his little finger after his grandmother slammed a door on his hand as a child. 

2. Tobi has a silver tooth.

3. Simon has OCD. Everything always has to be at an even number but even though it's odd, he can handle the number 5. 

4. Vikk used to have a pet duck called Chocolate and a pet chicken called Speedy.

5. Josh is ambidextrous.

6. Ethan is claustrophobic. He freaks out whenever he is in an enclosed space.

7. Tobi owns over fifty hats.

8. Simon is a shareholder in Domino's Pizza! He gets a cheque for 11p every month.

9. Harry has at least four showers every day.

10. Josh used to have two pet rats, George and Stuart (after Stuart Little).

11. JJ has a scar on his right elbow after he ran into a tree.

12. Vikk has a star named after him (The Vikkstar).

13. Ethan had a skin graft on his arm after he accidentally tipped hot water from a kettle on himself as a child. 

14.  Tobi can play the drums and the piano.

15. Neither Josh nor Ethan has ever drunk tea in their life. 

16. Harry has had an enema, and he kinda enjoyed it...

17. Simon has the title of "Laird" after someone bought him a tiny plot of land in Scotland bu he doesn't like to talk about it...   "

After receiving the book, I got the chance to get one of their sweatshirts, the burgundy one. I know I'm starting a new addiction, to be fair, I would prefer being addicted to YouTubers than drugs like some!

As I was saying at the beginning, it's about a group of YouTubers, and honestly, they know how to make me smile, Simon (Miniminter), especially! 

It's great to know a bit more about the people I watch almost every day. Definitely an interesting book, for sure, you should check them out if you enjoy following YouTubers. The Sidemen mostly do FIFA but they also have other channels where they play random games. You might be surprised by how much they do!

I'll make sure to keep a few passages for later on. There are some moments in the book that I'll make sure to write down, some of their recipes... 

"Choke on rice! Slip in the shower!" - Ethan (Behzinga) in his "Mega Ramp Rage" GTA V video.

~Bella

Familiar faces...

Watching him across the street, sitting down in the same chair, same hat, with a book in his hand… Drinking his coffee bean drink makes me smile.

Each time I work, I wait until I get to see him from the shop. He is quite intrigued with his British accent and his little comfort food in his pocket. Can’t get enough!

A great reason to smile, that’s for sure! 

The way he looks at me and salutes me like a gentleman, waving his hat at me… While from the shop I smile back at him, wave and keep smiling big! Always alone with a book, a little notebook and his coffee bean drink. A pencil in his right hand, he observes people pass by, read a few lines from his book before looking back up at the people who keep passing by him! It’s becoming normal, almost a necessary for the shop, well for me at least! Having him around a familiar face, a familiar touch! A way to know has someone familiar around when you are working alone in the shop. Hilarious enough, missing a day without my British friend is just plain depressing! He might not do much, but his presence is around, making me want to get to know him more, know what’s his life, what’s his hobbies, his little addictions… What happened to him being in California with a British accent? He can only be British! 

Being interested in him just makes my working days ten times better! I imagine what his life might be like, imagine what he does outside of his little reading and note time. Between that morning coffee bean to his evening one? What does he do? Does he have a family, a wife, children?

I would assume he doesn’t have any wife, he doesn’t have a ring, but that again, might just be wrong, he might have been married… If he went to school around here? Who knows…

I let my imagination run free, wild, flow around while I believe whatever comes to mind because each time something new come up! No clue if I’m right or wrong, but my vivid thoughts keep running free. 

This man must be in his late 60’s, British (his accent gives that one away), not too much of a sweet tooth, love to read and take notes, got many buddies that one day will bring to the shop, but no wife around. He must really enjoy coffee bean because it’s the only thing I see him drink! His glasses on top of his nose makes him look even smarter than before… 

This man sends good vibes if I don’t see him at least once a day (whenever I’m working), my day isn’t accomplished. He gives me something, something familiar. His European side makes me think about Europe a lot more, maybe it’s just a feeling of being “home”, or it could just be a simple familiar face because he reminds me of my grandpa in some ways. 

There are people like that, that give some good vibes. Some are just a reminder of someone else, important or not. Some are just a familiar face who’s around to make you feel better because whenever they aren’t around, you feel lost! 

Across the street, there is Pickles and Swiss…. Best sandwiches ever! Can’t get enough of them! Don’t ask me why I prefer, each timeI try to get something new, and each time, I fall in love with the sandwich! At the end, I will end up loving everything on the menu cause I won’t be able to choose what I prefer. Since I’ve been working, Pickles and Swiss have been crowded with people, I even had to take my mum in at least once… That’s how addicted I am to the place, but it’s not only for the sandwiches or the soup that by the way are delicious! It’s about the people as well. When I say that British gentleman, old as he might be, he is a familiar face, my work day goes better when I see him… 

Well at Pickles and Swiss, there is also a person that intrigue my curiosity quite a bit! I go there often for the food obviously, but also to see that person. Each time, something makes me nervous, makes me want to know more about the guy. I don’t even know how to explain the feeling, but something pulls me to that person like a wanting to know more feeling! He is just a little too sweet and since I was starting to get over the fact that every guy I know is the same, this one came along once, helped me out with a sandwich choice and at that moment something hit me! Something big because I cannot stay away from that place whatsoever. All my tips are going to that place, and do not ask me why, it’s pulling me, making me want to come back each time. 

Whenever I don’t get to see his face, I’m lost as well. It is odd, but whenever I work, I have these faces that I need to see to get my work day be better! But this guy from Pickles and Swiss just intrigues me a lot more than anyone, something about him is interesting, different, and he honestly seems like the type of guy that get his heart broken many times cause he looks so sweet… Then again, appearances can be tricky! For all, I know he could be an ex-con who sold drugs and now on probation. Highly unlikely but we never know someone, and since I never really talked to him, I don’t know for sure! First steps are so difficult!

"You are a mystery to me, yet so familiar. Like a song I've never heard before, and a tune I've known my entire life." - Pavana

~Bella