serenity..

Hello Everyone!

serenity

sɪˈrɛnɪti/

noun

noun: serenity

1. 1.

   the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

   "an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city"

Recently I've been doing a lot of thinking.. What really is serenity? Although google provides one clear definition of serentity, I believe we all carry our own perceptions of the word.

Is it a feeling? Or is it a state of mind? Or is it just that one place that we love to be to relax? I know for me I feel the most serene in my room, at night, with the lights out, silence everywhere, with just the sound of my favourite acoustic tracks. Candles burning around me, with the only source of light from my fairy lights draped around my bed. And recently (judge me if you will) I made an impulsive purchase on two items, which funnily enough have tied it all together, a canopy which hangs above my bed and a dreamcatcher which I have placed right in the middle of it all. When I'm sat in my haven, with a cup of warm tea, I feel like all negativity just leaves. And it always without a shadow of doubt motivates me to lie down and write. And funnily enough here I am. So in a sense, to me, serenity is more of a place of comfort, but not just physically, I guess emotionally too. I feel like everyone should have a place like this, a place where however difficult or stressed things get they know they can seek comfort and a sense of freedom and fearlessness.

For a while, I was having trouble sleeping, and I was waking up constantly from crazy weird dreams, but ever since I've put up my canopy and dreamcatcher, I wake up feeling almost like nothing will touch me. Its like having a wall of serenity around my bed.

I guess the point I'm trying to make, is that serenity, however desired, and however far away it may seem, is maybe something that's missed if over thought too much, maybe you can find it in the simplest of places?

 

What does serenity mean to you? And where do you feel it? Maybe we all need to take a serene moment or two for ourselves every now and then and just appreciate the simple moments when practically nothing can make us feel so calm and untouchable.

 

Until next time guys,

Stay Magical

Nikki x

 Last minute side note: I'd like to apologise fot not posting anything in forever! I've been pretty busy with deadlines lately! I'll be sure to start posting on a regular basis again though.. because I know you all missed me tons! ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My everyday makeup!.. and MY FIRST VIDEO EEK

Hello everyone!

 

So as some of you will know, it has been a burning thought at the back of my mind for a while now to start up a YouTube channel.. So this morning I woke up and took it upon myself to make it happen! What better time than now right? And although I am feeling a little nervous about throwing my face out there, I also think it might bring a lot more confidence to my life, and who's to say anyone's even going to watch it anyway! So without further a do I shall leave a link to my first ever video down below, it basically just shows you how I do my everyday makeup routine and the types of staple products that I like to use.. I also wanted to take this opportunity to tell anyone out there with a burning ambition, what's stopping you? Why not just get out there and give it a go!

 

 

I've already started thinking about what I've got planned for my next video, I'm thinking a 25 facts about me? If anyone has any other suggestions or ideas of anything they want me to do/talk about please don't hesitate to let me know!? I'd also like to lastly apologise for my horrendous facial expressions! But hey,

Until next time guys,

Stay Magical

x



You're on my heart just like a tattoo..

Hello Everyone!

 

Sorry I haven't written a post in so long! But I'm back with a brand new post.

 

As some of you may, or may not know, I got my first tattoo just after my eighteenth birthday, just over a year ago now. And not a day goes by that I',m not glad I did it. You see, before I did, my family were quite sceptical about the whole idea, you see my mum has never really believed in the whole idea of drawing on your body for life thing. Since I was little I used to be that kid that came home with scribbles and doodles all over my hands and arm, and it used to drive my mum up the wall! But despite the negativity I decided to go ahead with it, it's something I've always wanted, and the tattoos I want are personal to me. And not just some random picture on my skin.

 

So my first tattoo, is inspired by one of my favourite movies (you guessed it, it's a Disney!) Peter Pan. It consists of three elements, an infinity symbol, the word 'young', and a feather. The word young is incorporated into the infinity symbol, and the feather is placed on the end, it represents the feather found in Peter Pan's hat. Basically the tattoo represents the fact that I will always be young on the inside, I want to forever embrace my inner child, even when my skin is old and wrinkly. So just like Peter Pan, I will forever be young on the inside. I don't ever want to reach a point in my life where I adopt the attitude that everyone needs to grow up completely and act as if their childhood is completely gone. The tattoo is actually on my ribcage, which I have heard is one of the most painful places to get a tattoo, but since it only lasted about 15 minutes, mine was pretty bearable.

 

 

This week, I have taken the decision to book my second tattoo! The excitement is already running high. My second tattoo idea, is very much close to my heart, as although they are the most critical about the idea, it is based on the representation of my family. The idea is based around a dream catcher. The dream catcher itself, is to represent my mum, as she has always been my biggest source of comfort, and I know I can always rely on her to chase any bad dreams and sources of negativity away. The next part to this idea, is two wolves right in the centre of the catcher, a fully grown wolf and a wolf cub. These are to represent mainly, my grandad and my dad. They are to represent the 'Mearns' family. I believe I come from a very strong, successful, protective family of men. This side of my family has always been very close, with a strong bond, just like a wolf pack in the wild, they always stick together, especially this past year, as have had to deal with my granddads battle against prostate cancer. I plan to get this tattoo on the top of my thigh, I'm dreading the thought of how painful this one will be though, since it will be a lot bigger and have a lot more shading!

The picture on the right shows the wolves for the top of the tattoo, while the picture on the left shows more of an idea of how I would like the bottom of the tattoo to look, more feminine.

 

 There are a few other ideas I've had in mind for a while now too, and I still plan to get in the future! One of which is just the simple Mickey Mouse head consisting of three circles (picture below), I have also considered filling the shape in with a flag from my home country, the union jack or even some tartan! So that no matter where in the world I end up (hopefully America!) I'll always have a little piece of home with me! And finally the last idea I have in mind is some lettering, the words "faith, trust and pixie dust", yes, another Peter Pan inspired tattoo! These are all the things you need to be able to fly! Therefore they would be the perfect recipe to help give me the confidence to fly in life!

Basically, all my tattoos are very personal to me, and are all things that I am passionate about, or very much believe in, and mean a lot to me. So if you're considering getting a tattoo in the future, please make sure you stop to have a think about it first, will you regret it in 30  years time? Make sure it's something you really want! Not just an impulse action! Because a tattoo is for life.

Until next time guys,
Stay Magical
Nikki x

"Fish are friends.. not food!"

Hello everyone!

 

So recently myself and a friend of mine, Sian ( http://sianrobertson.blogspot.co.uk/), were disheartened greatly after watching a documentary known as "Blackfish". For those of you who have seen it.. you will understand the hatred towards Sea World it will bring to your hear.. And for those of you who haven't.. I think you need to make a point of watching it as soon as you can! It will change your life.

Myself, I grew up having never visited any water parks such as Sea World, but dreaming of it ever since I could walk and talk. From the age of about 1 to 4, I lived in Inverness, and my parents used to take me to the Moray Firth river, to watch the dolphins leaping from the water. Ever since then I was always fascinated by dolphins and the like, therefore I took it in my head that when I grew up I wanted to be a dolphin trainer of some sort (this as well as a mermaid ofcourse!). I also went around telling everyone it was my dream to swim with dolphins, and ofcourse this is only really possible in places such as Sea World, so to me, they seemed like one of the most magical places on earth.

In 2012, I was looking for a documentary to watch online (those of you who know me will know that I love nothing more than a wonderfully odd documentary when I'm bored!), when I stumbled across "The Cove". Which was to pretty much change my dream of swimming with dolphins forever. The Cove, was released in 2009 and is set mainly in Japan, where dolphins are hunted both for captivity and believe it or not to be sold as meat. Those of you who aren't good with distressing scenes and a lot of gore, be warned. However, it genuinely will open your eyes and your hearts to the reality of the situation in Japan. The film highlights the fact that the number of dolphins killed in the dolphin hunt is several times greater than the number of whales killed in the Antarctic, and claims that 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in Japan every year by the country's whaling industry.

And just a couple of months ago, I stumbled upon "Blackfish". Released only last year, in 2013, once again, I was shocked to hear some of the realities of the way these beautiful animals live in captivity. This time, the documentary focuses around the captivity of orcas (or killer whales). And the story of one orca in particular, Tilikum, the largest male orca in captivity across the world. He holds a boastful title, however his backstory is ever so less boastful, having killed 3 people. But before you judge him, I beg that you take just a couple of hours to watch the documentary and open your eyes to his story, which is not to be overlooked. Having being captured from the wild at the age of only two, and separated from his entire family, he has lead a difficult life, being tossed from tank to tank and sold from one water park to another. The documentary shows the heartbreak as whale communities are torn apart and the young are stolen from their mothers, and even explains that whales have a part to the brain that even us humans don't have, resulting in them having an even stronger social, and emotional connection with each other than we can even imagine!
However, I think what shocked me the most about this documentary was the staff at Sea World, who on a daily basis spill out a splurge of lies to their guests. Now I wont be to quick to judge, they are reading from a script, and perhaps don't know any better than what they are reading, but telling people that the whales live longer in captivity, and that their fins are meant to be collapsed, when they clearly live twice as long, with a healthy erect dorsal fin surely is not right?
And to sum it all up, Tilikum is still there today, trapped inside glass walls of nothing. The park have barely any use for him, so why is he still there? There is no answer, so surely it is time they freed him no?.. I'll let you decide for yourself. But I know that I will never again look at these sickening parks in the same way again, and would no longer dream of paying money to swim with dolphins inside the repulsive walls of anywhere like Sea World ever again.

If after watching either of these documentaries, or even just reading this blog post (or Sian's), you would like to do something to try and help make a change, I have left the link to two petitions below. The first is to help the dolphins being hunted in Japan, the second to help send Tilikum to a seapen/rehab to eventually be re-released into the wild!

http://takeaction.takepart.com/actions/cove-help-save-japans-dolphins

http://www.change.org/petitions/seaworld-inc-humanely-release-the-orca-whale-known-as-tilikum-to-a-seapen-for-rehab

Sorry this blogpost hasn't been very cheery or magical, however maybe we can all make something magical happen if we all take part?

Until next time,
Stay Magical
Nikki x

All time favourite ads..

Hello everyone!

 

I've realised I've written a few blog posts about adverts.. but I've never written a post about my all time favourite adverts, and the kind of adverts I would love to help make some day. So here it goes.. my top six television ads of all time!

 

#6

So of course my countdown wouldn't be complete without a Disney advert! This one ran in 2011 and featured home videos sent in by real families revealing to their kids that they are going to Disneyland! I think what makes this advert so special is that the videos are so real and so relatable.. I can still recall the moment my mum told me I was going to Disneyland.. (and yes, I may have shed a tear or two). I also love the tagline at the end "the magic begins the moment you tell them.. when will you tell them?". I get shivers just thinking about it!

 

#5

Number 5 is this classic Sony Bravia TV ad, I think a lot of people remember this one, and I know whenever I hear the soundtrack it immediately triggers the ad in my head.

 

#4

Ah, a Christmas advert! TV wouldn't be the same without them! Number 4 is the John Lewis ad from 2011 featuring the young boy who can't wait for Christmas. But the heartwarming twist at the end of the ad is what makes it, just when we think he's waiting to get his presents.. we realise the only reason he couldn't wait was to give his gift! Not receive it. Check it out for yourself!

 

#3



 

Number three is my current favourite ad on the TV, British Airways holidays, because nothing makes me happier than holiday adverts on the TV! This ad follows a couple as they experience holidays all around the world, both action packed and relaxing. If you didn't want to book a holiday after watching this then you have no soul.

 

 

#2

Number two in the countdown is this adorable vodafone ad! It follows a couple from their very first kiss to their very last kiss, symbolising the reliable and long lasting service of Vodafone. Possibly one of the cutest adverts ever?

 

#1 DRUM ROLL PLEASE......



Again this advert ran in 2011 (this surely must have been the year of great ads!), and the music, the words, the idea behind it, this advert strangely enough brings a tear to my eye, and for years - and probably many more years to come - will be my all time favourite ad. I definitely recommend you give this one a watch. If I can make anything nearly as good as this one day.. I'll be pretty happy.

 

Until next time guys,

Stay Magical

Nikki x

New Year.. New perspectives?

Hello Everyone!

 

 

First of all.. Happy New Yeaaaaar!

Second of all.. lets all forget this "new year new me" rubbish.. because why would you want to change yourself anyway. Infact.. my new years resolution this year (along with a few others) is to be nothing but myself, and love myself for it.

 

Why, as a society are we constantly in a love hate battle with ourselves and our reflections? Why can't we live in a world where it is acceptable to be our self.

 

It's time we took a look in the mirror and paused for a second.. take a good hard look and pick out all the things you see that you like, and take a second to realise that nobody else has what you have. Because after all, every single one of us is unique in our own way. Which brings me to my next point, we need to stop being so negative and judgemental towards others around us too. Just because someone looks a little different to you, that doesn't make them ugly. Just because you see something that you've never seen before, doesn't give you the right to instantly judge someone and assume that you're better than them.

 

Girls (and guys too), we need to make a change to the society that we live in today. If we just take a minute out of our morning to look in the mirror and appreciate one good feature about our self, we might find ourselves leaving the house feeling a lot more confident. And if we all start to feel more confident, maybe just maybe we'll find ourselves feeling a lot less intimidated by the 'beautiful women' in the media today. And maybe, the media will begin to realise that it's not just the super slim super flat chested women that should be shown as desirable to both men and women, after all, why would you want to be flat chested anyway? And maybe, as the media slowly beings to bring in all shapes, sizes and races of women, eating disorders will slowly begin to decrease.. Or maybe I'm just being naïve?

 

Perhaps we'll forever be stuck in this world where the media eat off our desire to the thin flat chested women we see on the tv, and perhaps our children and our childrens children will all wake up take a look in the mirror and begin the daily love/hate battle with their reflection in the mirror.

 

If only we had the power to change it all..

 

 

 

Until next time guys,

Stay Magical

Nikki x

Something Christmassy!

Hello Everyone!

Firstly I'd like to apologise for posting on only one of my twelve days of Christmas! Oops! I knew when I said I'd do it that I probably wouldn't! Shame on me! But being that it's now Christmas eve's eve, I thought I'd make one last Christmas themed post before Christmas! Yaaaay only one more day to go guys!! So lets not spare anymore time.. this is my very Christmassy themed "Something Christmassy!"

Something I watched..
So after a very very long eager wait, I finally went to see the cinema to see Frozen on my birthday last Monday! It was beyond my expectations to tell you the truth and has definitely made it into my top 5 Disney films at a very very respectable second place after the little mermaid ofcourse! My favourite scene most definitely had to be Love Is An Open Door! But what I loved most about going to see this film, was the fact that I went to see it with my sister, for those of you who haven't seen the movie yet the movie is based around the relationship of two sisters, who I believe only argue out of love, a little like my sister Leanne and I. In the end an act of true sisterly love (SPOILER ALERT) actually ends up saving a life! And the soundtrack is one that needs a definite listen too! I know for a fact that it's a movie I will never get tired of watching over and over - so Clare.. Our date better still be on!

Something I attended..
So this weekend, my friend Becca actually hosted a very Christmassy themed Christmas Jumper party, the night consisted of  some very questionable mulled wine, cinnamon vodka (which actually goes really really well with coke for those of you who were wondering!) and lots of weird and wonderful Christmas jumpers ofcourse! I even wore my Christmas Minnie mouse ears which I bought from my work ofcourse! The night ended up being a fantastic one and I look forward to the same again next year! Thanks Becca!

Something I was given..
So as you may or may not know, last Monday was my BIRTHDAY! I'm till trying to decide how it feels to be nineteen! So on Thursday night my mum took me and my family out for tea, before surprising us all with tickets to go see The Royal Scottish National Orchestra's performance of The Snowman at the Music Hall. I must admit I was a bit sceptical about what to expect, but it definitely brought me back to my childhood and was an experience I'll remember, the orchestra were extremely talented! I also had a birthday night out with my girls on the Saturday who made it a questionable yet fantastic night! For those of you thinking of visiting the nightclub Vogue - don't. They didn't even have water in their taps. Yeah. But thanks to my girls for coming! Love you all!

Something I discovered..
Something I discovered on twitter this week is that Lil' Chris (yes, actual Lil' Chris who was ch-ch-checking it out wooooah) is releasing a Christmas single! I suggest you give it a listen it's actually pretty catchy, and part of me kind of hopes he does well in the charts this Christmas!

Something I'm looking forward to..
So obviously the main thing I'm looking forward to at this point in time is just going home for Christmas! Working until 7pm tomorrow night means I wont actually arrive home until about half eight/nineish.. But none the less I can't wait to get home spend the night by the fireplace, with my family around me, watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music! I'm also more than definitely looking forward to a wonderful Christmas meal with my grandparents! Gimme some turkey! Yum!

Something magical..
This video truly spread the Christmas joy in my heart, and although it is a publicity stunt, I just think it's wonderful to see so many people looking so happy! I hope this spreads the Christmas joy in your household!

 Well I think I'll go watch some Home Alone now.. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and I hope Santa is good to you!

And I'll see you all in the New Year!

Ho Ho Ho Until next time!

Stay Magical

Nikki x