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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Claire Richards My Wildest Dreams – Album Review

Quote from the liner notes inside the album.

For those of you who have read my blog for a while now you probably know that I have a huge passion for music. My passion for music is bigger than my passion for makeup. I am one of those people that always has music playing and has done ever since I was a young girl. I could talk about music and what it means to me all day long but to sum it up, music is my favourite thing in the world. Whenever I listen to it, I’m happy – even if I’m listening to sadder songs.

Each person has a genre or two they gravitate towards as well as certain bands and artists that are their favourites and they never tire of. Personally, I’m very much a pop girl! By pop I don’t always mean chart music and top 40 hits, I mean uptempo songs that make you feel happy and have catchy beats but still have reflective lyrics and a message, e.g. ABBA, Spice Girls and coincidentally the band Claire is from, Steps.

Steps are one of the most successful pop acts to come out of the 90s. To date they have had 14 consecutive top 5 singles in The UK (including two #1’s) and have sold over 20 million records worldwide. In 2011 Steps became the first British boy/girl band to have #1 albums in three consecutive decades (90s, 00s, 2010s). After the release of Tears On the Dancefloor in 2017 and touring the album, Claire decided to go full steam ahead with her own solo effort My Wildest Dreams.

My Wildest Dreams was released on February 1st 2019 and debuted at #9 on The UK albums chart. From start to finish the project took around three years between finding songs, writing songs and recording them. It wasn’t until the latter half of 2018 that Claire announced news of her solo album and began releasing her own music. Claire is known for her powerful vocals and has often been called the voice of Steps. Her musical influences include Karen Carpenter, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston and these influences are evident in Claire’s delivery and tone. Certain voices make you feel something and give you goosebumps and Claire’s is one of those. She is part of the reason I want to sing and a line from track two on the album sums it up beautifully, “I wanna live so my heart can learn to sing.”

Without further ado, let’s get into the review!

Hardcore Steps fans won’t be disappointed but if this is not completely like a Steps album. There are your standard uptempo pop songs that follow the pattern of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, middle 8, chorus in the form of On My Own, 7 Billion and Shame On You. These songs all have a great message behind them as well as being highlights that you’ll be singing to in no time!

One guarantee with a voice like Claire’s is that there will be big ballads, it’s a no brainer and she does them so well. Claire especially shines on Ruins and Don’t Leave Me In This Love Alone (written by Diane Warren). My favourite vocal run on the album comes from End Before We Start at the end of the second chorus. (Listen *HERE*).

Singles may not always be a listener’s favourite on an album and that is the case here. Title track, My Wildest Dreams is one of my personal highlights and it sums up the whole experience for Claire. She never expected she would get to make this album but she has been in the music business for over 20 years and has more than earned her stripes. There’s even a line in Brave (another of my favourites) which reflects this, “I’m a fighter, I’m a tiger”. Claire co-wrote Brave with her children in mind and it’s a gorgeous song full of raw emotion.

Albums also usually have tracks which grow on a listener the more they hear them, These Wings and Liar fall into this category for me. These Wings makes me want to sing along and have my diva moment and Liar showcases a beautiful depth to Claire’s voice. I find the lyrics poignant and relatable to a situation I was going through last year.

Overall, this is a beautiful album and one you can tell Claire is proud to call her own and has put her heart and soul into. The songs suit Claire’s muscality and she’s playing to her strengths. She has been true to herself whilst living her dream of recording a solo album. Each song has a story and I will be listening to this album and these stories for years to come. Standout Tracks: On My Own, 7 Billion, Brave, Shame On You, Ruins and My Wildest Dreams.

You can listen to Claire’s music on YouTube and Spotify. My Wildest Dreams is out now if you want to buy a copy!

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This style of post is different to what I usually share but I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you think of the review!

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Redhead Rambles #21

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.

• Last week I dropped one of my bracelets into a jeweller to get some links removed because I have tiny wrists and I wanted the bracelet to fit better. I picked the bracelet up last Friday and it looks even more beautiful now.
• This year I have really been enjoying Shaaanxo on YouTube and I have been lusting over her makeup brand xoBeauty for weeks. I placed an order last Friday night and I got the items on Wednesday. (It would have been Tuesday but no one was home so a courier left a collection card and I picked up the parcel on Wednesday after work). If you’d like to see what I picked up let me know in the comments!
• Saturday was a low day mood wise, I tend to get Saturday blues as it comes up another week without my boyfriend and also it was my last day of annual leave before returning to work on Sunday.
• A new TV series called Instinct started this week and I decided to give it a go. The series is based on James Patterson’s Murder Games and is about an author and former CIA paramilitary officer who helps a New York detective stop a serial killer. The serial killer uses the former CIA officer’s book as inspiration for the murders.
• On Tuesday my Steps DVD of their Party On the Dancefloor tour arrived – I pre-ordered the DVD back in January. Mum and I watched the concert on Thursday and we both thought it was amazing! Steps are the reason I originally wanted to be a singer and their music always makes me happy.
• On Tuesday after work I had some training and during the hour after finishing work and the training beginning I was naughty and treated myself to Burger King for lunch.
• I opened my xoBeauty package and found I had been sent a palette signed by Shannon. I requested one when I placed my order as I know Shannon often goes into xoBeauty and helps package up orders and I was luckily enough to get one. I’m so excited to play with the palette and come up with looks, I’ve been watching so many YouTube tutorials about the palette.
• Thursday was winter solstice meaning it was the shortest number of daylight hours and from now on days will be getting longer.
• I painted my nails using Rimmel’s Go Wild-er-ness; a pretty light purple shade.

What I’ve been listening to:

Morgan Deane – You Or Anybody – Morgan is a singer I have followed since she was a member of Irish pop group Industry. This track is funky and cool and has a laid back vibe.

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #20

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 past week I have had time off from work and it has been nice to relax and complete tasks from my to do list. I’ve slept in pretty much every day and I’ve loved it!
• I painted my nails using Two-Timing the Zones (the second OPI polish I purchased in my Discount Beauty Haul). I needed three coats of polish.
• Mum cut my fringe.
• On Saturday night I ordered curry and there was so much food! I had butter chicken, pakora, fries, cheese and garlic naan and pappadum. I had to save some for the following day.
• On Sunday I went into town and did some shopping, I purchased two blouses and a new bra. Bras are difficult to buy, I’ve got narrow shoulders so the straps have to be in the right place, I like the cups to cover my boobs a decent amount and I don’t like a lot of lace. Bras are either pretty but impractical or they don’t suit my personality.
• I thoroughly enjoyed watching *THIS VIDEO* of The Anna Edit decluttering her makeup.
• On Monday I woke up with a stuffy nose and thought I was getting sick again. My nose feels better now thanks to sinus rinses.
• I cleared out my drawers and wardrobe and will donate old clothes and pieces I don’t wear anymore.
• My mum made homemade vegetable soup which is one of my winter highlights.
• Tuesday was a windy, dull, grey day so I stayed inside and didn’t do hardly anything. The internet was cutting in and out too which was annoying.
• I placed an online clothing order on Tuesday night, it only makes sense when you clean out your wardrobe right?!
• I took a bracelet into a jeweller as I want some links taken out. The bracelet has always been big on my wrist and I hope in getting some links taken out I’ll wear it more. The bracelet is beautiful and it was a graduation present from my mum back in 2014.
• Wednesday was another takeaway night, this time fish and chips which I haven’t had for ages.
• I watched *THIS TV SPECIAL* of Delta Goodrem’s Wings of the Wild Tour. Delta has such a beautiful soul and is one of the most talented musicians.
• The clothes I ordered online arrived on Thursday afternoon. A post will be up on Monday showing what I got.

What I’ve been listening to:

Two of my favourite albums from 2017 that I still listen to all the time:

• Steps – Tears On the Dancefloor
• Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa
  

How was your week?

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Life Lately #3

Hello everyone! Hope you’re well! I began these ‘Life Lately’ posts in April as a way to round up what I’ve been up to and document where my head and I have been. I break the post down into categories and update you on each one. This will be the last Life Lately post as I am toying with a new segment for 2018 which will include more regular updates, possibly posted weekly. (Some of you may know three is my favourite number so it’s fitting I’m ending this mini-series after the third installment).

Blogging

I have been super consistent with my posting schedule and I have been getting posts written in advance. I am still learning about my camera and getting to grips with the settings to try and make sure my blog photos are acceptable. If you have any tips or feedback on my photos, please feel free to share! I have been thinking about the blog in the near future and as I mentioned in the intro my two posts a week may be going back up to three. I conducted a survey a couple of months back so I will re-read the answers and make sure I’m incorporating what my readers said they want as much as I can.

Work

In the last Life Lately update I had left my job and was getting ready to start at the library. I have been at the library for almost three months now and the difference in my mindset is very noticeable. I have more time and freedom and more of a work/life balance. I’m not stressed and I generally feel happier.

Personal

Everything on the relationship front is still going really well. It was my boyfriend’s 25th birthday in September and I surprised him with 25 presents. Related post: Boyfriend’s Birthday Surprise!

I have been reading a lot and shopping a lot it seems too. I’ve picked up some bargains and purchased new products that I have slowly been trying/using/wearing. (Most items are beauty/makeup related, good beauty blogger). Related posts: My Recent Purchases and My Recent Purchases #2.

I have also done the majority of my Christmas shopping and wrapped the presents I’ve bought. I’m not a big fan of Christmas but I do like giving gifts and wrapping them.

In October I got my hair cut. I don’t know why but I don’t feel satisfied with my hair 90% of the time I get it cut. I like the way it looks when the hairdresser styles it but a couple of days later it’s thick again. I like to keep my hair routine easy and I don’t use styling tools often. I’m still trying to decide if I prefer my hair all one length or with longer layers.

Music

I ordered an album package from Shania Twain’s store and I’m still waiting for it to arrive! I ordered it over two months ago and have sent numerous emails to the help team. At first the item was out of stock and now there’s a problem with the delivery partner. I honestly wish I had physically gone to a store and bought the album and not got all the extras. I’m only seeing the order through because my money has been taken and the order can’t be cancelled.

Steps re-released Tears On the Dancefloor this month (with new tracks) and I ordered a copy signed by my favourite band member, Lisa. My CD arrived this week. I have had the album on repeat since April!

2017 Goals Progress

Related Post: Hello 2017!

I have been exercising pretty regularly. I want to find some leg yoga to try and tone my legs up for summer so I’ll feel more comfortable in shorts. I am going with the flow more and definitely haven’t been stressing about blogging. I’ve got a social media routine and try to keep my time using it to a minimum – I check it in the morning and in the evening. I tend to check Instagram more if I’ve posted that day. I’m sad to say I haven’t done any more driving and I want to make that a priority in 2018.

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What have you been up to recently?

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My Recent Purchases

I thought it would be fun to do a haul post and show you what I’ve bought recently. I haven’t done a haul post for a while and they are some of my favourites to read and write! I tend to go through phases where I’m good and don’t buy anything for ages then end up buying in a cluster. I’ve got music, makeup and beauty bits to share. Enjoy!

 

1. Shania Twain – Now (Life’s About To Get Good Package)

Shania has been one of my favourite artists since childhood. Now is Shania’s first studio album in 15 years and to celebrate I ordered one of the special packages available on her website. I chose the Life’s About To Get Good package which contains the deluxe version of Now, t-shirt, journal and pen, poster and a patch set. I love band t-shirts, I always feel inspired when I wear them and I love sharing my musical tastes.

2. Steps – Tears On the Dancefloor (Signed “Lisa” Edition)

Steps released their first album of new material in April 2017 and I have had it on repeat ever since! A Twitter friend has planned to get me a signed copy of the album and post it over. The album is getting a re-release with extra tracks in October and the band are releasing covers signed by each individual member. Lisa has always been my favourite so I ordered a copy signed by her.

3. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW10

Whilst I do love Collection’s Lasting Perfection concealer I’ve wanted to branch out and try this concealer from MAC for a little while. All I’ve ever tried from MAC previously are their lipsticks and if the rest of their makeup is as good it’s money well spent. I went in store to get colour matched and it was between W10 and NW10. I went with NW10 as it blended into my skin quicker and I am starting to think my skin tone has neutral tones to it. I hope this lives up to Collection!

4. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara

This is my holy grail mascara! I love the volume and length it gives my lashes and how beautiful and fluttery they look. I like the size of the brush, it’s not overly big but still gets into the corners and coats those lashes too. Bristles rather than a silicone wand work well for me and are my preference when buying mascaras. I normally buy this mascara in Extreme Black but the store I was in only had Black.

5. The Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter 50ml

Strawberry is the range from The Body Shop I have tried the most from. It’s a popular line and I’ve heard good things about this body butter – I hadn’t tried it but I always wanted to. The 50ml travel sizes are cheaper compared to a couple of years ago and I love being able to take one to my boyfriend’s. I’ve got a few uses of my Shea one left but I will be starting this straight after.

6. The Body Shop Moringa EDT 30ml

I am extremely close to finishing up my Strawberry EDT and wanted to pick up a back up. I also like to take these when I stay with my boyfriend as the bottles are travel friendly and fit perfectly in my handbag. I wanted something spring-y and the floral Moringa scent hit the spot. The floral scent is light and feminine.

7. Juicy Couture – Juicy Couture 100ml

This fragrance is the original one by Juicy Couture and was first introduced in 2006. Out of the three Juicy Couture perfumes I purchased this is the strongest and the least sweet. I hadn’t smelt this scent prior to buying it and when I first sprayed the perfume I found it very strong. I did do the first spray on my wrist and it does smell better on the neck. It’s different to my other perfumes and I like that. Viva la Juicy is still my favourite but Juicy Couture is a nice everyday perfume if you’re wanting one that lasts and something bold.

“Juicy Couture begins with sweet fruit notes of watermelon, mandarin, and passion fruit over a floral bouquet of gardenia, hyacinth, marigold, lily, and tuberose. Juicy Couture finishes on warm, sweet base notes of caramel, crème brulee, vanilla, patchouli and woods.”

8. Juicy Couture – Viva la Juicy 100ml

I purchased my first bottle of Viva la Juicy in 2015. I was nearly out and wanted to repurchase so I hopped online to see where I could find the perfume for a good price. I discovered I could get three 100ml perfumes for the price of one 100ml Viva la Juicy in store! I class Viva la Juicy as my signature scent, I love wearing it and it is my favourite perfume. It is the only fragrance I’ve ever repurchased which says a lot.

“Viva la Juicy opens with notes of wild berries and juicy mandarin. The heart encompasses a floral blend of honeysuckle, gardenia and jasmine, while the base notes await us with a gourmet rhapsody of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and pralines.”

9. Juicy Couture – I Love Juicy Couture 100ml

I purchased this bottle of perfume after Rachael mentioned it in the comments of my Fragrance Collection post. This perfume is quite a recent addition to the Juicy line, released in 2016. I tested this in store before I made the perfume order and instantly loved it. It’s a little lighter than the previous two but it’s lovely and fresh and will be nice for spring/summer. The bottle is stunning, especially the leopard printed glass. I’m very thankful to Rachael for letting me know about this!

“This fruity and vanilla oriental scent will have every Juicy Couture girl radiating confidence. The fragrance opens with an irresistible combination of taffy apple, lively red currant and sparkling mandarin. The heart is bright with beautiful jasmine petals and pink honeysuckle. It finishes with smooth, addictive notes of patchouli and captive musks.”

All three perfumes contain some of the same notes but they all smell different. The quality and lasting power of each is spectacular!

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What was the last thing you purchased?

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May Favourites 2017

May, where have you gone?! This month has zoomed past and I’m struggling to comprehend where all the time went. This month has been a bit of a lazy one, I haven’t always felt motivated, I’ve felt tired and I think that’s down to the the colder weather. I’m very much looking forward to my time off in June to take time out and relax.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Steps – Tears On the Dancefloor – When I heard my favourite band were reuniting for a second time at the beginning of the year I was over the moon! Steps are the ones who made me want to be a singer because their music is so joyous and uplifting and makes you smile when you listen to it. Last month they released their fourth studio album and first album of new material in years. I have been listening on repeat on Spotify as a friend from The UK is sending me a signed physical copy. I haven’t got anything signed of theirs and I can’t wait to hold the album in my hands. Steps have created current pop tracks mixed with their traditional sound. Their music has a deeper meaning and poignant lyrics but always sounds happy. Standout Tracks: Scared of the Dark, You Make Me Whole, Story of a Heart, Firefly and Glitter & Gold.

2. Victim: The Secret Tapes of Marilyn Monroe by Matthew Smith – I know who Marilyn Monroe is but I don’t know a great deal about her. I have been meaning to read this book after seeing it lying around home numerous times and let me tell you, this book was a real page turner. The book speculates a few ways she could have died and presents evidence for each case. The author remains neutral and lets the reader make up their mind. The author does lean towards the stance that Marilyn didn’t commit suicide and discusses how the tapes Marilyn recorded in secret for her psychiatrist support this theory. I don’t know what happened to Marilyn but thinking about it makes me sad. She had a beautiful spirit which lives on. 

3. Beanie – The weather has cooled down significantly over the past couple of weeks and it means I can get my beanie out. I love this beanie because it is so soft and the pom pom on top is ever so fluffy. I like the fact that it’s navy as it makes a change from my usual black accessories and means if I’m wearing black my outfit still has colour.

4. Keep Cup – My brother ordered this for me when he visited in April and I love it! I got to choose the colours myself (it’s a very Chanelle colour scheme) and the fact it’s personalised makes it more cool. I don’t often get takeaway drinks but on the odd occasion I do I will be able to use this from now on.

May’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in May?

P.S. Don’t forget to leave any questions in the comments section of *THIS POST* for my upcoming blog Q&A! Alternatively you can tweet any questions to @ChanelleTheSats.

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!

Week In Review: October 13 – October 19, 2014

I post an update here every Sunday giving an overview of my week. Accompanying photos from my Instagram are also included. Here’s the latest:

Twitter world was amazing to me this week! I received a tweet from Rochelle (my favourite member of The Saturdays), three members of Steps regarding this Twitlonger post and some words of wisdom from Dannii Minogue.

As mentioned last week I want to finish reading The Road Code before Shane Filan’s autobiography arrives and I kept my word. The majority of what’s left to read are practice questions for the driving test so it’ll be interesting to see how much information I’ve retained. *insert covered eyes emoji here*

Wednesday marked eight years since I bought my copy of Steps’ album Buzz for $0.97 and of course I had to commemorate my 8th Stepsversary by listening to it! After all these years I’m still a huge fan and it’s one of my favourites to listen to.

Upon completion of both the 30 day squat and 30 day sit up challenges I decided I wanted to continue doing something along the same lines. For the next few weeks I’m trialling doing 50 squats and 50 sit ups per day, using every fourth day as a rest day. I had a mid week planning session and printed out a yearly calender from arigigiart.blogspot.ch.

I cut out the month of October and stuck it onto a journal card to keep in my Filofax.

The reverse side of the journal card. Coincidentally, this quote is appropriate because I do enjoy doing my challenges. Even though it might not seem like much, I have witnessed the benefits and every little bit helps.

This week saw me make my first purchase on Depop, which is an app very similar to eBay. One person was selling 12 different singles by The Saturdays, 8 of which are hand signed by the band. At the moment I only own 3 singles (all signed) so I’m extremely excited to add to the collection.

On Friday I had another wee planning session, blog related this time! I just wanted to jot down some ideas I have for future posts. I used a piece of yellow spotted washi tape to create the heading before writing on it with a Sharpie. (I’ve purposely left this image quite small in case you don’t want me to spoil what’s coming up on the blog).

I also went to the recycling centre. It feels good to know you’re doing your bit for the environment and the planet and it’s generally pretty busy when I’m there which is good to see!

I thought I’d be a little bit vain this week and leave you with a selfie.

Thanks for all your likes, comments and support – hope you had a great week!

Chanelle x

Love’s Got a Hold On My Heart

This week marks a very special occasion. 8 years ago (October 15 2006 to be exact) is when I discovered Steps properly and fell in love with them.

I was pretty young when Steps were around the first time (1997-2001) and didn’t really know who they were despite their music being relatively successful in New Zealand.

Back in the days when people still used video cassettes I used to tape a lot of music programmes and one of these was the Smash Hits Millennium Party which Steps hosted and opened singing Better the Devil You Know. One night I heard the song on the radio in the car and remembered how much I loved it.

The next day I played the video nonstop and went looking to see if I could find any of their albums. I was in luck and managed to find a copy of Steps’ third album Buzz for 97 cents! Despite missing the liner notes/album booklet the CD was in good condition. I have never looked back since that day and I’m so glad I rediscovered Steps because they have been such an important part of my life for the past eight years.

A huge part of me wanting to be a singer is through the love I have for Steps and their music. When I listen to their songs I always feel happy and I would like to think I could have that affect on someone with my voice and/or music. Music is a very emotional thing for me, it’s what makes me happiest and I know it will always be there if I’m sad.

I was 11 when I became a Steps fan and I’m 19 now. In a way Steps have been the soundtrack to my teen years and I’m honoured I get to listen to their music and grow up with it. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Steps would get back together again but in 2011 the band reunited for a TV show and to support the release of The Ultimate Collection. I’m loving being able to experience life as a Steps fan first hand this time round.

Take a look at my Steps collection below:

Albums

Step One, Steptacular, Buzz, Gold: Greatest Hits, The Last Dance

Singles

5,6,7,8, Heartbeat/Tragedy, Say You’ll Be Mine/Better the Devil You Know, Words Are Not Enough/I Know Him So Well

Videos/DVDs

The Next Step Live, live@wembley.2000, Gold: Greatest Hits, The End of The Road, The Ultimate Tour Live

Books

The Totally 100% Unofficial Special, Steps Poster Book, Steps In Private

Steps wall in my room using posters from the poster book

Ultimate Tour Merchandise

T-shirt and wristband

Solo

Lisa Scott-Lee: Too Far Gone (CD1), Never Or Now. Claire Richards: All of Me

Throughout the years I am lucky enough to have received over 50 tweets from Steps combined. I used to have little conversations with Claire, Lisa has tweeted me for the last three years on my birthday and I even got a #FollowFriday from H once!

This is one obsession definitely not Better Best Forgotten 🙂

Chanelle x