December Favourites + Highlights 2020

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas Day even if you weren’t able to do what you had originally planned. Mine was very low-key, I was at home with my mum and one of my aunts and we had a big lunch. We didn’t really do presents which helps keeps things less stressful and the food was really yummy! I scored the crackling on the roast pork, was on cream whipping and strawberry cutting duties for dessert and also helped with general prep and cooking.

I’m ending the year strongly and going out with a bang with these favourites! These all make me happy and have brought me lots of enjoyment over the past few weeks.

1. Kylie – DISCO – I was meant to include this in November’s favourites but somehow it slipped my mind. I am a huge Kylie fan and every time I listen to DISCO I love the songs more. The overall sound of the album is very cohesive and Kylie co-wrote on each track as well as engineering vocals and synths at her home studio during the pandemic. The sound is very much in Kylie’s dance-pop lane and it is exactly what 2020 needs, 50 minutes of energetic fun that makes you happy and forget about any worries for a while. This is my favourite Kylie album since Aphrodite. Standout Tracks: Magic, Miss a Thing, Real Groove, Say Something, I Love It, Dance Floor Darling and Celebrate You.

2. Steps – What the Future Holds – Another album that I have not stopped listening to since release! This album is incredibly special as the booklet is signed by all members of Steps and 11 year old Chanelle never dreamed she would own something like this. It’s even more special as I was meant to be seeing Steps in May but because of Covid the show was cancelled. I was heartbroken but I’m determined to see them live one day. Steps represent so much happiness in my life and I’m thankful the album was released this year. Vocally I feel Lisa and Lee shine on this album (they all sound good but it’s clear to see the vocals are shared more evenly and these two have such beautiful voices as well). Standout Tracks: What the Future Holds, Something In Your Eyes, To the Beat of My Heart, One Touch, Under My Skin, Heartbreak In This City and Come and Dance With Me.

3. Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fu$$y – This gloss arrived in September as part of a mini set and I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned it in a favourites post yet. I’ve really enjoyed wearing gloss this year and found some great formulas that aren’t sticky and feel comfortable. Fu$$y is described as a soft romantic pink, it has a little bit of shimmer and can look quite sheer when worn on it’s own but it’s lovely on no makeup makeup days or applied over top of a lipstick for a bit of shine. The scent of this is amazing, it needs to be made into a fragrance (you can thank me later Rihanna).

4. In the Frow x Edge of Ember Birthstone Necklace and Nova Ring – In October Victoria (known as In the Frow on YouTube) launched a jewellery collaboration with Edge of Ember. I picked up two pieces and whilst I spent more than I tend to on jewellery I don’t regret it! The pieces are dainty and beautiful and the quality is up there too. I’m not a fan of chunky, heavy pieces and prefer things that are subtle and elegant.

The silver Nova ring is lightweight and simple but it goes with everything, the stone in the middle is a white topaz. Usually I prefer silver to gold but what drew me to the birthstone necklace was the simplicity of one stone on the chain. My birthday is in January so my birthstone is garnet and the red and gold work well together. The length of the chain is adjustable which is nice depending on how you like necklaces to sit and what you’re wearing with it.

December Highlights

• I took some time to reflect on the year that has been and unwind and get ready for 2021. I know lots of people hate January but I really appreciate the slow period and setting things up to begin again.
• Finishing work on Christmas Eve and knowing I have almost two weeks off. This is my first proper annual leave since February that won’t involve hospitals and where I can do things for me.
• My boyfriend finishing work early on Christmas Eve and coming to see me after not being able to see each other for a week. He also came to visit on Christmas Day so we could exchange presents.
• The first bite of pavlova on Christmas Day was amazing!

December’s Spotify Playlist:

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How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

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October Favourites 2018

October has felt like a busy month. We are heading towards the end of the year and this month has had many different things going on. I made some online orders (clothes and makeup), myself and my mum have been ill and I haven’t read as much as I would have liked due to busy pace. The past few weeks I’ve felt tired and haven’t eaten all that well due to being sick.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Urban Decay Primer Potion – I purchased the Primer Potion from MECCA Beauty last month and I have been using it non stop! In this post it was love at first use and one month later I feel exactly the same. This is one of those cult beauty products that is worth the hype! Going into warmer weather this will help my eye makeup stay on longer. This primer doesn’t irritate my eyes and it’s just as easy to remove as it is to apply.

2. Kmart Iridescent Metal Straws – Metal straws are good because they are reusable but what’s cool about these ones is they are iridescent and change colour depending on the light. Sometimes mum and I make milkshakes if we have milk that’s going to go out of date and we don’t want to waste it. We’ve started using these straws in our milkshakes instead of plastic ones. The texture of the metal is different if you’re used to plastic but it’s no big deal. (FYI, I’ve reused plastic straws in the past too, I don’t always throw them away after one use).

3. Kylie Little Stars Duvet Cover – This duvet cover is actually for children but it doesn’t look like it. The duvet is a double and I don’t know about you but I never had a double bed as a child – I still don’t – it has the perfect amount of drop for my king single bed. The duvet is a lovely blush pink colour although it looks more cream in photos (the duvet was the backdrop for the main image). With this duvet set I got two pillowcases and three cushions and a couple of weeks ago I posted a picture of the cushions to my Instagram. The sparkly sequins are what make this set look more grown up.

4. The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Body Butter – I have only used this a couple of times already but I do like the scent. The scent is zesty and fresh and not like the girly, sweet ones I usually plump for. I bought this in a Boxing Day sale in December 2017 so I’m glad to finally start using it! I do think it is an appropriate spring scent and using this in winter would have been odd. I love the lime green colour of the body butter and the texture is super soft and creamy.

October’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in October?

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Redhead Rambles #19

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

• This is the first Redhead Rambles post in over a month. During my blogging break I didn’t write them and this week is the first week where I feel like my mindset isn’t quite as negative as it has been.
• Last Sunday I actually saw my ex-boyfriend (it still hurts to type that) for the first time in a month. I had been writing down what I wanted to say and I had every intention of getting angry at him but I couldn’t do it. Talking felt like old times and we even laughed together but I have begun to realise that I cared about him more than he cared about me and he wasn’t willing to fight to keep me. I need someone who loves me the way I love them. In no way do I feel animosity or like our love wasn’t important but I’ve accepted we won’t be together. One day I hope losing me hits him and he realises what he lost, I don’t mean that in an arrogant way but I know I’m not like a lot of other people and I’m different. I’m not saying I’m better for being different but my mind and personality is unique.
• Monday was Queen’s Birthday in New Zealand so we got a long weekend and I got an extra day off work. I had a chilled day and spent the afternoon curled up on the couch with a book.
• Work was busy-ish on Tuesday (as to be expected after a public holiday) and was very hot. There’s an issue with the boiler and until it gets fixed it’s like working in a sauna and the temperature can’t be turned down.
• I also experimented a little with some makeup this week. On Tuesday I used Maybelline’s Molten Highlighter in Rose Gold as an eyeshadow base for MAC’s Tan pigment and my eyes looked lovely and sparkly. On Wednesday I wore the blue cream highlighter from the Chi Chi Unicorns & Mermaids palette for the first time and loved it! Blue works so well with a fuschia lip!
• Wednesday was also my last day at work for a little while. I’ve got some annual leave. It’s my first proper break in a year.
• On Thursday I had a huge sleep in. I also made cheesecake in the afternoon, the cheesecake is nice but sickly if I have too big a slice.
• I shaved my legs for the first time in a couple of weeks. Using The Body Shop’s Vanilla Chai Body Scrub seems to work a treat at not making them dry and itchy.
• The final of My Kitchen Rules Australia 2018 aired this week and unfortunately the team I wanted to win didn’t.
• I have lost weight recently without really trying. With stress, being sick and not feeling as hungry there has been a noticeable difference. Mum and work colleagues have picked up on it.

What I’ve been listening to:

Jake Carter ft. Una Healy – Take Me Dancing – The upbeat, positivity of this song makes me happy. This is the type of song that makes you want to forget about everything and, dance.

Kylie Minogue – Golden – This album has been out for two months and after my break up the tracks took on more meaning. The album was penned after Kylie herself went through a break up and lots of the lyrics are how she felt and personal to her.

Ellie Goulding – Delirium – I was absolutely addicted to this album when it was released and it is still one of my favourites to listen to. Can’t beat an Ellie sing-a-long.

How was your week?

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April Favourites 2018

April started off fine but by the end of the month I was dealt a devastating blow (more on that later in the week). I have been very sad this past week but I will push on and try to get through as best I can. Despite the sadness there are still items I have been loving and wearing quite a bit in April.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Kylie Minogue – Golden – As far as musicians go Kylie is a top contender for being my favourite! Her sound is my favourite to listen to and no one does dance-pop better than her. Golden sees Kylie include country on a few tracks as she spent some time writing and recording in Nashville. The album grows on me with each listen. I love the A5 packaging which houses the CD and includes a lyric booklet. Standout Tracks: Dancing, Stop Me From Falling, Sincerely Yours, Live a Little, Raining Glitter and Every Little Part of Me.

2. Juicy Couture Rollerball Perfume – I have been loving rollerball perfume lately. One end of the rollerball is my holy grail Viva la Juicy scent and the other end is Viva la Juicy Glacé which is lovely too and quite similar to the original Viva la Juicy. I find the scent of a rollerball lasts longer than some of my other perfumes in a bottle and the scent is more concentrated so you don’t need to apply as much. The top I’m wearing when I apply the scent picks it up nicely as well.

3. kikki.K Cat Necklace – My brother got me this necklace for my birthday and I love that every time I wear it I think of Tango. Normally I prefer silver jewellery to gold but because this is a cat and I don’t wear the necklace everyday I don’t mind that it’s gold. The chain and cat are dainty and delicate which is what I like my jewellery to be. I’m not into big, chunky pieces. I also like that the cat and the heart are attached to the chain and aren’t pendants that can slide off.

4. Max Factor – Auburn Envy – This may sound strange but I’m actually not the biggest fan of eyeshadow palettes. I’ve yet to find one where I use every single shade and coming up with different eye looks doesn’t daunt me. I prefer easy, simple eye looks with one or two colours which is why I’m glad I picked up this shade by Max Factor. It is a pretty neutral which can be worn on it’s own or it works nicely as a base shadow. There is glitter and while it looks chunky it doesn’t feel chunky or translate chunky onto the eyes – it gives a beautiful shimmer. I have been enjoying pairing Auburn Envy with another product from Max Factor; their Excess Shimmer Shadow in Copper. I apply Auburn Envy first then Copper.

April’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in April?

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Redhead Rambles #16

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

• Jamie has a series of posts about unpopular opinions and they are so fun to read. Check out her latest installment *HERE*.
• Last Friday I had a huge sleep in and got up the latest I have in a while… 1pm. I did feel well rested though.
• At the weekend I went on a short trip with my boyfriend and his dad to the shooting range they are members of. I have been before but they are always making changes and fixing things up and it’s come a long way since I was there last.
• Lily Pebbles liked a comment I left on one of her Instagram photos and Andy Brown replied to a comments I left on one of his.
• I think I have come to the conclusion eyeshadow is my least favourite part of my makeup routine. Coming up with combinations is hard, I’m more of a single or two shadow kinda girl!
• On Monday and Tuesday I attended a two day workshop for customer service staff instead of being at work. I really enjoyed the workshop and found it useful. I will have those skills for life.
• Attending the workshop meant I got to wear my own clothes instead of my work uniform and it felt nice to make an effort. I don’t always get to do that. Monday’s OOTD was dungarees with a jumper underneath and Tuesday’s OOTD was one of my favourite cosy jumpers and black pants.
• I’m going to plug one of my own posts because I don’t know whether many people saw it or they missed it. I shared my second Bullet Journal update and video which you can view via THIS LINK.
• I discovered Rimmel no longer sell my holy grail mascara in Extreme Black. They only sell it in Black and it’s not the same. It seems to be a worldwide change which is sad. I hate when you find something you love and it changes. I accept it may not be a popular mascara but it’s still annoying.
• I did find the mascara mentioned above on an American website so I purchased two tubes as well as some other makeup. Let me know if you’d like a haul once the order arrives.
• After work on Thursday I went for my second trip to Kmart. I bought underwear, socks, a top I intend to use as a pyjama top, a travel size EDT and toys for Halo.

What I’ve been listening to:

Kylie Minogue – Golden – My copy of Kylie’s album arrived a week ago and it has been on loop ever since.

Westlife – Back Home – I threw it back to 2007/2008 with this one. The vocal talent on this album is incredible, the melodies and harmonies are beautiful and it is one of my favourite Westlife albums.

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #15

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

• To be honest I had a lazy weekend. I read, napped and ate pretty much.
• On Sunday I tried to purchase a copy of Kylie Minogue’s new album ‘Golden’ but the store only had the regular edition and I wanted the deluxe! I ordered a deluxe copy online and it arrived on Wednesday. It would have been Tuesday but no one was home when the courier attempted delivery.
• I tested Rimmel’s Match Perfection foundation with MAC’s StudioFinish concealer again and it didn’t crease and sink into fine lines. I only wore moisturiser and no primer – maybe that’s the key.
• On Tuesday I came home from work with a headache. I had some mini cinnamon donuts and lay down until I felt better.
• The Commonwealth Games are on TV and normal programming is on a break so mum and I have been getting through a number of movies this week. They all count towards my goal to watch 20 new movies in 2018.
• On Thursday I got my hair cut. I wanted to get it done before schools break up for two weeks and I had been looking forward to it for a while. It’s so nice to have thin, lighter hair. I decided to keep the layers but only have two instead of three and get a lot of the heaviness taken out. I got my fringe trimmed as well. I never get dye or colour put in. Check out my Instagram @chanellehayley_ to see a pic!
• I’ve been listening to music a lot this week and it reminds me how much I adore it. Music will always be the most important thing to me and it makes me think of days I would come home from school and sing for hours.
• I cleaned my foundation makeup brushes, they get the most use and need cleaning more frequently than the others.
• I mentioned last week the weather was still warm but that’s certainly changed, there’s been a cold snap this week and even though I prefer being cold to being hot it does make me appreciate the mild, in between months.

What I’ve been listening to:

Calvin Harris – One Kiss (with Dua Lipa) – I adore the tone of Dua Lipa’s voice, it is strong and kind of deep but her tracks are always catchy and she’s one of the ‘popular’ artists I like.

Shane Filan – Back To You – Shane is one of my absolute favourite artists! As always his voice sounds beautiful and I love when he drops new music without warning.

Andy Brown – Put That Record On – A singer whose voice gives me tingles when I listen to it. I’m so excited for Andy’s country/pop album in June!

What I’ve Been Watching:

Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated – I’m not a fan of Demi Lovato but I thought her YouTube original documentary would be a gripping watch and I wasn’t wrong. I like how honest Demi and everyone was and seeing behind the scenes of Demi in the recording studio. If you’re a fan or you enjoy music, I urge you to watch this.

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #14

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

• I got to see my boyfriend and spend more time with him over Easter weekend which was nice. We giggled and laughed a lot, had cuddles and treated ourselves to Dominos last Friday night. I normally go for thin crust pepperoni with BBQ sauce but I felt like a change and went for cheesy garlic instead.
• The clocks went back which means winter is getting closer.
• When I got back home on Sunday mum surprised me with Easter eggs. I told her not to get me any but she was cute and did anyway. She got me a packet of Mini Creme Eggs and a Rolo egg.
• I started reading another ebook on Sunday and finished it on Tuesday. Predictably, another Poirot!
• I painted my nails using Bahama Mama by Essie and did a glitter top coat using Glow Your Own Way also by Essie. Inspiration for these nails came from this post by Mrs Strawberry Blonde.

• On Tuesday I felt irritable and was in a horrible mood.
• Also on Tuesday I lost my bookmark at work. I left it inside a book I returned. Luckily the next morning I searched the book and found my bookmark!
• At the supermarket I picked up a box of hot chocolate sachets and they are delicious. They are sweet enough without having to add any sugar. I just need to buy marshmallows.
• Halo had a vet appointment to get desexed so she can’t have kittens. She is very good with her cage, she doesn’t put up a fuss like other cats I’ve had. Apparently everyone loved her and had lots of cuddles.
• Mum and I were in town on Thursday afternoon. I bought a pair of Adidas trainers and I love the colour scheme, they’re not straight black like 99% of my other shoes.
• I haven’t been able to read as much as I would like this week.
• The weather is still very warm for this time of year. There was one small rain shower during the week and the rest of the weather has been clear and hot.

What I’ve been listening to:

Kylie Minogue – Raining Glitter – This is the third promotional track from Kylie’s 14th studio album ‘Golden’ (out today). The beat and the lyrics are very catchy.

Una Healy – Never See Me Cry – Una’s debut album was one of my standouts of 2017 and this track is the first of her follow up material. The song has a great message behind it.

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #4

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

• I wore MAC’s Tan pigment at the weekend and I am even more in love with it.
• I also bought another MAC pigment in the shade Silver. I think this shade is now discontinued but I got an almost full 7.5g pot for $18. Silver eyeshadow is one of my favourites to wear.
• I mowed lawns on Monday and I’m so glad I did because otherwise I wouldn’t have avoided the rain/humidity and scorching sun.
• Got some makeup together for a declutter post. I’ve got one more product to try before deciding if it will be kept in my makeup drawer or not. The post will be up in the next couple of weeks.
• On Wednesday I celebrated my birthday! There will be a post up next week all about it. Thank you to those that wished me Happy Birthday.
• Two of my favourite bloggers Lily Pebbles and The Anna Edit tweeted me Happy Birthday.
• The London jigsaw I started last week is slowly coming along.
• I haven’t eaten chocolate for two weeks and I don’t miss it!
• I watched a HUGE lipstick declutter over on Cosmetic Chaos.
• The colour on my nails this week is Glow Your Own Way from Essie.

What I’ve been listening to:

Kylie Minogue – Dancing – My favourite popstar released the first single from her upcoming 14th (!) album last Friday and it has been on repeat all week.

Andy Brown – Talk of the Town – Andy is the frontman of British pop/rock quartet Lawson and he is venturing out on his own and doing a solo album. Talk of the Town is a catchy country-pop crossover number.

How was your week?

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New In: January

Hi everyone! I mentioned in my most recent favourites post that January was such a good month for me and there was a buzz of excitement throughout. I had plenty* of new arrivals and I wanted to round them all up to share with you. Let’s get started!

*Plenty includes this post and one I’ve got coming next week; The Me Spree: Birthday Edition.

#1. Max Factor Lasting Finish Performance Foundation – I have been getting low on my Rimmel foundation for the past month or so and felt like changing things up base wise. I wanted a change for a few reasons: Rimmel have recently changed their Match Perfection formula (I haven’t tried the new one) and I wasn’t sure if the foundation would still be sold in my shade. I bought my current bottle in another city as I couldn’t find the shade here. Anyway, I began looking for alternatives and settled on Max Factor’s Lasting Finish Performance in the shade 101 Ivory Beige. This foundation provides a fuller, more matte coverage than the Rimmel and I think I prefer it. This is so easy to apply and goes on like a dream with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. This foundation doesn’t feel heavy on the skin and is hydrating. It gives me a much more flawless finish and I’m extremely impressed.

#2. The Body Shop Birthday Haul – I won’t re-write the post but basically as it was my birthday in January I took full advantage of my one off 20% member discount and treated myself to some new beauty and body goodies. To see what I purchased and read the post in full, CLICK HERE.

#3. Kylie At Home Ionia Duvet Cover Set – Last year I purchased a Kylie At Home Sienna duvet cover and I absolutely love it. The design and sequins are so glam and really give my room a more mature feel. I found a complete set of Ionia bedding including two housewife pillowcases and two Euro pillowcases for a ridiculously good deal! It’s still in the packaging at the moment but I can’t wait to put it on my bed.

The duvet cover was hard to photograph so I’ve included an image I found online.

#4. Dainty Doll Blushes – Remember my Mini Beauty Swap post from last year? I was on the hunt for two Dainty Doll blushes and found them but the company selling them only shipped to The UK. I was willing to do a beauty swap with another blogger in order to get them but nothing came about. I tweeted Ulalabeauty (the company selling the blushes) and they very kindly helped me out and created a special order so I was able to purchase them. I chose a soft pink shade (My Girl) and a nude/bronze shade (Billion Dollar Babies).

#5. Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick – I won my very first blog giveaway and my prize was a gorgeous Urban Decay lipstick in the shade After Dark. I wrote a post about my giveaway experience, to read it and see swatches of the lipstick, CLICK HERE.

Was January good to you? Did you make any exciting purchases?

Playlist: 21 Songs In 21 Years

Hey everyone – welcome to the second of my special birthday posts! Music is such a big part of my everyday life and I came up with the idea to compile a list of 21 songs into a playlist, each one representing a year I’ve been alive. These are all songs that I have loved since I was little and songs that are special to me. The playlist will be broken down step by step and I’ll explain why I chose each track.

Rules: In order to be considered, each song had to be released as a single or feature on an album in the year it corresponds to.

#1. 1995: Shania Twain – (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!

I chose this song as the first track as it is a great way to kick off the playlist and 1995 was the year big things started happening for Shania. The album this track is from was released just two weeks after I was born. Shania is a huge inspiration to me and her music has always stayed with me throughout the years.

#2. 1996: Spice Girls – Wannabe

Who doesn’t love a bit of girl power? Wannabe is a song that makes me happy whenever I hear it and is the essence of fun. I also know Mel B’s rap word perfect!

#3. 1997: Shania Twain – From This Moment On

I know I shouldn’t be biased but From This Moment On is one of my favourite songs from the entire playlist. This is the song that made me buy Come On Over and fall in love with the album. To this day it is still my favourite album and one of my most played albums of all time. I also want this song to be my wedding song.

#4. 1998: Jennifer Paige – Crush

I’m not going to lie, 1998 was a hard year to choose a song for but I did it. The beat to this song is so poppy and up my street and I always sing along whenever I hear this on the radio. In my opinion this song has aged well, it doesn’t sound nearly 20 years old at all.

#5. 1999: Steps – Better the Devil You Know

This song (a cover of the Kylie hit) is what ignited my love for Steps in the first place. Steps hold such a special place in my heart as their music made me realise that I want to be a singer too. I have an old video tape of Steps performing this song that I used to play over and over.

#6. 2000: Kylie Minogue – Spinning Around

Spinning Around is my favourite Kylie song and always brings a smile to my face when I hear it. This song brings back childhood memories of me dancing round the living room when I was five or six years old. Spinning Around was track #1 on a cassette tape and I played that cassette tape to death. I’ve still got the cassette and played it a few years ago – it’s still a cracker!

#7. 2001: Enrique Iglesias – Hero

This is another one of those songs that doesn’t seem it’s age. By 2001 Enrique was a worldwide success and Hero further cemented that. The lyrics of this ballad are so beautiful and almost bring me to tears. This song is special because we all need someone to look after us and be a hero in our lives.

#8. 2002: Dannii Minogue – Put the Needle On It

You can’t include one Minogue without the other. Put the Needle On It is one of Dannii’s classics and helped her 2003 album Neon Nights to become her most successful. Everything about this track is slick and sexy, the beat, the lyrics and the music video.

#9. 2003: Lisa Scott-Lee – Too Far Gone

Words probably cannot explain the obsession I have with Lisa Scott-Lee. She has always been my favourite member of Steps and her solo music is right up my street and the type of music I’d like to make. Too Far Gone was Lisa’s second solo single after Steps split and is a perfect groove for the dancefloor!

#10. 2004: Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved

My mum is a fan of Maroon 5 so in a lot of ways this choice reminds me of her. The poignant lyrics of this song have always struck a chord with me – the words are sad but beautiful.

#11. 2005: Sugababes – Push the Button

Again, this choice reminds me of my mum – she used to have this song as her ringtone. Push the Button also reminds me of my 11th birthday. I had my first ever birthday party and my friends and I were talking about how much we loved this song.

#12. 2006: Cascada – Everytime We Touch

One of the biggest things that draws me into a song is the beat. While I do love a good, slushy ballad, up tempo music is where it’s at! This track is proper Eurodance and has the most amazing beat that just makes me want to sing along and dance.

#13. 2007 – Westlife – Something Right

Something Right is up there with My Love as my all-time favourite Westlife track. When I first heard this song it reminded me what I loved so much about Westlife when I was a kid – beautiful voices making good pop music. This track really reignited my love for Westlife, for a few years they had slipped under my radar but they were back!

#14. 2008: The Saturdays – If This Is Love

I cannot begin to explain how special these five ladies are to me, what did I even do before The Saturdays? I feel like The Saturdays are one of the first bands I have followed right from the very beginning and all of the memories and friends I have made because of them I will treasure forever. It’s only fitting I picked their debut single as it’s where everything began.

#15. 2009: Natalie Bassingthwaighte – Someday Soon

This song gives me goosebumps because the lyrics are very personal to me. The lyrics are all about chasing your dreams and being successful in what you do. The lyrics could apply to a number of situations but the line, “someday soon, they’re gonna write your name in the sky” makes me imagine what it would be like to make it as a singer and inspire people which is my biggest dream. Also the line, “You know you’re my hero, you’re gonna be a star tonight” makes me think of being on a stage and hearing people sing your lyrics back to you, that’s when you know you’ve made it.

#16. 2010: The Saturdays – Higher

This is hands down my favourite Saturdays song! I prefer the album version with Una’s middle-eight over the single version which features Flo Rida but New Zealand Spotify only had the rap version so you’re stuck with it.

#17. 2011: Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Not Giving Up On Love

I have been a fan of Sophie since the ‘Murder On the Dancefloor’ days and this tune from 2011 is one of her best! She teamed up with Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren and Australian sisters Nervo to deliver a track full of euphoric synths and pulsating beats. I am so glad I’ve been able to showcase a few of my favourite Euro/trance tracks with this playlist.

#18. 2012: Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen

The title Anything Could Happen just makes me happy and fills me with positivity. It could have negative connotations but for me it doesn’t. Anything Could Happen is about releasing and letting go of everything and moving forward with the mindset that good things will come to you. This song was also a turning point in the show when I saw Ellie in concert, the whole room felt electric and everyone was singing along.

#19. 2013: The Saturdays – What About Us

This is the last Saturdays track I promise! What About Us is very special to me as it was the band’s first #1 in The UK and it was the first time I heard The Saturdays played regularly on New Zealand radio. Before that I felt like I was one of few people who knew about them and the fact What About Us charted at #27 in New Zealand means the world to me. Enough people bought and liked the song despite not knowing a lot about who was singing it.

#20. 2014: Da Buzz – Touch My Soul

I have listened to Da Buzz for years and I truly believe Swedes make some of the best music in the world, the singers, writers, producers etc. I really don’t know what to say about this song apart from it’s a bloody corker! It is in that Eurodance vein but with Da Buzz it is about the lyrics and vocals just as much as the beat. It’s not just a few lines layered over top of a sick beat and repeated for 3 minutes.

#21. 2015: Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do

Love Me Like You Do is my absolute favourite track from 2015 and I think it really did a lot for Ellie. It opened up her voice and music to so many more people and has bought her a lot of success in the process. This song even made my brother a fan of Ellie.

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Honourable Mentions: There were a few tough choices and that meant some of my most played tracks didn’t make the cut. These songs are also very special to me and I wanted to mention them: 2008: Girls Aloud – The Promise, 2011: Pixie Lott – All About Tonight, 2013: Shane Filan – Everything To Me and 2015: Delta Goodrem – Wings.

Thanks for reading, I know this was a monster of a post!