South African Music

I remember a time probably about 2 years or so ago, that I disliked pretty much all South African music. I don't know why, but I just wasn't really intrigued by any of the artists current at the time, but recently, I have found myself listening to so many South African artists, and the music is amazing! So, for those are you, particularly who aren't from South Africa, have a listen, because this stuff is actually great, and I doubt you'll know much of it if you aren't from here. 

Shortstraw- I absolutely love these guys, they have like an indie rock type vibe and are so incredible live.

BIKINI WEATHER- SHORTSTRAW

*****

 COUCH POTATO-SHORTSTRAW

*****

Matthew Mole- whilst very different to Shortstraw, Matthew Mole is an absolutely amazing singer/songwriter who just sings so gently and genuinely that you can't not fall in love with him. 

YOU AND YOUR CROWN-MATTHEW MOLE

*****

IT'S SIMPLE CHILD- MATTHEW MOLE

****

Al Bairre- I looove Al Bairre so so much! They also do an Indie pop/rock type thing and are a lot of fun and write pretty interesting stuff. 

YOUTH DE FREITAS- AL BAIRRE

******

(current favourite!)

WE MOVE ON- AL BAIRRE

****

ANCESTORS- AL BAIRRE

*****

Jeremy loops- this guy just does such cool stuff and all his music just makes you want to dance about and sing along. 

POWER- JEREMY LOOPS

******

DOWN SOUTH- JEREMY LOOPS

*****

And then here are a bunch of others as well:

GIRL SAVES BOY - MICHAEL LOWMAN

****

ONE MILLION VIEWS- GOLDFISH

***

THE RIVER- MAJOZI

******

STEPPING OUT- SAMUEL MILLER- THE KIFFNESS REMIX

****

Enjooyyy

So Many Things to Smile About

So I posted a couple of weeks about my move to varsity (for all of you from other places around the world, this seems obvious, but varsity or university is the same thing as your college), and what an adjustment it's been. I have had to work so hard and quite a few times I've found myself feeling super panicked and exhausted with having so little free time. A few nights ago, I was in such a state about all the work I had to do and I was on the verge of tears because I was just so anxious for everything. I went on Pinterest as a break for 2 seconds and this little post popped up on my feed. It basically gave a whole bunch of statistics about good things happening to people right now. And it just made me feel really happy and I realised that I should stop worrying. I don't know, it didn't make my work load any less of anything, but I just feel so excited about life when I read these sort of things. I think it's an amazing thought that right now, at this very second, so many people are feeling absolutely overjoyed, or experiencing something really special. All of these stats are just for the US and so can you imagine how many more there would be if they considered the entire world!!

Today there will be:

5000 weddings

10 000 babies born

and 42 million hugs. 

At least 4 people will win the multi-million dollar lotteries. 

600 people will get job promotions

and 3000 people will loose their virginity. 

There will also be at least 600 homeless dogs adopted and 35000 balloon sold. 

800 000 packets of skittles will be bought. 

And the words "I Love You" will be said up to 9 million times. 

Even if it's not happening to me, I find it so exciting that somewhere, someone is absolutely overjoyed, or head-over-heels in love or telling their family something incredible. And while the best parts of life are when we get to add to these statistics, by being on of those people winning the lottery, or having a child or even just saying "I Love You" and truly meaning it, for the days when we don't get to do these things, it's a pretty great feeling to know billions of people out there do get to today. 

24 Movies I Want to Watch in 2014

So recently, so many people have told me of movie that they loved so much and that I "just have to watch". So, every time, I've written them down, and I now have this big sticky note on my laptop with all these movies. So I thought I'd share them here and cross them off as I go. I have also included the Rotten Tomatoes rating next to them. Rotten Tomatoes  is a movie critic site that is usually super accurate. Apart from a few exceptions (they are not a big fan of chick flicks, unlike me), I can almost always tell if a movie is good or not from their ratings. So, when I look at their ratings, generally, anything over about 80% is brilliant and anything between 55% and there is good. I haven't actually watched the Oscars yet, even thought they were on a few nights ago. I have them recorded and am just waiting for some time, but I think most of the good movies that won, I have on this list anyway...

So yeah, let me know if you've watched any of these and if any are particularly good. Otherwise I'll write my own rating type thing next to them when I cross them off after watching them, and maybe you too can have some good tv over the next few months. 


1) The Shawshank Redemption 
1994- Crime/Drama
"Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency."
Nominated for 7 Oscars!

CAST: Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Tim Robbins
Rotten tomatoes rating: 90%


2) Spring Breakers
2013- Comedy/Drama

"Four college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation. While partying/drinking/taking drugs they are arrested only to be bailed out by a drug and arms dealer."

CAST: James Franko, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Vanessa Hudgens (what a cast <3) 
Rotten tomatoes rating: 66%


3) Frozen 
2013- Animation
I'm not usually a huge fan of animations, but this one has had such amazing ratings that I have to watch it!
"Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter."

CAST: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad
Rotten tomatoes rating: 89%


4) Blue Jasmine:
2014- Drama
"A New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks a million, but isn't bringing money, peace, or love..."

CAST: Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins, Alec Baldwin
Rotten tomatoes rating: 89%

5) The Hangover 3:
2013- Comedy
"When one of their own is kidnapped by an angry gangster, the Wolf Pack must track down Mr. Chow, who has escaped from prison and is on the lam."

CAST: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms
Rotten tomatoes rating: 19%
I'm fully aware that this sequel is not meant to be very good. But let's be honest, the first one was pretty great (it got 79%!) and I kind of just want to follow through. I didn't like the second one either, and I think this one has a lower rating than it, but anyway, I just want to watch it anyway. 




6) The Way Way Back
2013- Comedy/Drama
"Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park."

CAST: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Jannie
Rotten tomatoes rating: 85%


7) Jobs
2013- Biography/Drama
"The story of Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century."

CAST: Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot Mulroney
Rotten tomatoes rating: 27%
Despite the low rating, I watched the trailer for this and it looks very interesting. I think Steve Jobs was a truly inspirational man, and so I'm interested to see this movie's take on his life. Not to mention that I luurve Ashton Kutcher. 



8) Despicable Me 2
2013- Animation
"Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal."

CAST: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt
Rotten tomatoes rating: 75%

Everyone seemed to love this movie, and I did quite like the first one, so I thought why not try out the second one too?

9) One Direction- This Is Us

2013- Concert Film
"A look at Niall, Zayn, Liam, Louis, and Harry's meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London's famed O2 Arena."

CAST: Niall Horan, Harry Style, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson
Rotten tomatoes rating: 64%

I'm such a fan, I can't wait to watch this!






10) About Time
2013- Rom Com
"At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think."

CAST: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighty
Rotten tomatoes rating: 69%

11) August: Osage County
2013- Drama
"A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them."

CAST: Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Dermot Mulroney
Rotten tomatoes rating: 65%
Even though the Rotten Tomatoes rating is quite low, this movie got lots of nominations for awards, particularly (I remember thinking) for the Golden Globes. 






12) Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
2013- Biography Film/ Historical Drama
"A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa."

CAST: Idris Elba, Terry Pheto, Naomie Harris
Rotten tomatoes rating: 58%

Again, despite the rating being quite low, this movie got lots of nominations for awards and being a proud South African, this is really something that I want to watch!

13) 12 Years A Slave
2013- Drama/History
"In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery."

CAST: Lupita Nyong'o, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K. Williams, Michael Fassbender
Rotten tomatoes rating: 96%

The reviews of this movie are amazing! I've heard it is very heavy and intense, but I can't wait to watch it and apparently the acting is phenomenal!



14) The Hunger Games 2- Catching Fire
2013- Science Fiction Adventure

"Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem."

CAST: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hensworth
Rotten tomatoes rating: 90%

I found the first movie in this sequel so so intense and gripping and while it was very emotional and I kind of felt shocked for ages after it, the actual film was so so good, and I have to watch this next one!


15) The Descendants
2011- Drama/Comedy

"A land baron tries to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident."

CAST:  George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller
Rotten tomatoes rating: 89%

This won so many oscars and golden globes, etc. in 2012 and I always planned on watching it and then never got round to it. 

16) Silver Lining's Playbook
2011- Rom Com Drama

"After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own."

CAST:  Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro
Rotten tomatoes rating: 92%

This also won loads of Oscars and awards last year, and I love both Jennifer and Bradley. 




17) American Hustle
2013- Crime Drama

"A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso, who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia."

CAST:  Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper 
Rotten tomatoes rating: 93%

Even thought I haven't watched this year's Oscars yet, I know that this was nominated for loads and won so many awards. I can't wait to watch this one!

18) Gravity
2013- Sci Fi Thriller/Drama

"A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space."

CAST:  Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris
Rotten tomatoes rating: 97% (!!!)

This also was nominated for a lot of oscars and I have heard that the effects, etc. were just brilliant!

19) A Beautiful Mind
2001- Drama

"After a brilliant but asocial mathematician accepts secret work in cryptography, his life takes a turn for the nightmarish."

CAST:   Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly 
Rotten tomatoes rating: 77% 

I think this is actually in French, but apparently it is so good despite the language barrier thing, so I definitely want to give it a try with subtitles. 


20) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
2011- Adventure Drama

"A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001."

CAST: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 47%

I started watching this at school and it just seemed like a really well produced movie, so I want to give it another go, even though it did seem a bit depressing...


21) The Intouchables
2011- Comedy/Drama

"After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker."

CAST:   François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny 
Rotten tomatoes rating: 77% 


As far as I know this is a true story, and everyone just raves about it! 

22)Geography Club
2013- Comedy

"At Goodkind High School, a group of students of varying sexual orientation form an after-school club as a discreet way to share their feelings and experiences."

CAST:   Cameron Deane Stewart, Meaghan Martin, Justin Deeley 
Rotten tomatoes rating: 56%



23) Admission
2013- Rom Com

"A Princeton admissions officer who is up for a major promotion takes a professional risk after she meets a college-bound alternative school kid who just might be the son she gave up years ago in a secret adoption."

CAST: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 38%

Even though Rotten Tomatoes don't seem to like it, I watched the trailer and it looks very good.

24) The Wolf of Wall Street
2013- Biography/ Crime/ Comedy

"Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government."

CAST: Leonardo Di Caprio, Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 77%

This was also a big one for nominations at the Golden Globes and Oscars!

Quite a few of these movies are pretty "heavy" and I'm not usually the type to watch intense movies, I'm much more of a chick flick/rom com girl, but I really appreciate good, genuinely brilliant film, acting or cinematography, and I think it's about time I start watching some good films. So I'm really looking forwards to watching these. 

IT'S BEEN 1 YEAR!

So I am pretty bleak that I missed the actual date for my 1 year blog anniversary! I was about 10 days ago and I just didn't realise, I had thought in the back of my mind that it was in March, but anyhow, that doesn't really matter. 

But I thought that I'd celebrate with a celebratory post :D Wow, I actually cannot believe it's only been a year that I've had this little blog of mine! And I can't believe that I've actually kept it going. I started it because I'm not a journal person, but when I have a lot on my mind, or when I am really excited about something, or really inspired, I always feel the need to share it or let it out. And so, basically this blog was just to post about life and beautiful things and cool ideas and travel and baking and music, essentially all the things that make life worth living. And, I've really just loved it! I love posting, and I've found that often I'll blog in the most stressful of times because it actually helps me relax, or have a break by doing something I enjoy. 

It's never been about who saw it, or how many page views. because the truth is that eve if I had 1 pageview, this blog was for me, and gradually it's kind of become something that I want to look back on, to remember times in my life, or things I loved, and that sort of thing. This last year was by far the most stressful one thus far, and I know now being at variety, it's only going to get more, but I know that I'll keep up this little blog of mine. I've only had 60 posts! That's crazy because it feels like way more!

So here are some of the stats after a year of blogging:
Page views: 4693
Most popular post: 90210 FASHION- Ivy
Most visited page: Never say Never
Audience (top 4 countries visiting this blog): 
South Africa, USA, Germany, France. 
My favourite post: Pinterest Rainbow or Christmas Gingerbread Cookies (because these were the most fun to write). 
Most commented on post: 90210 FASHION- Adrianna

So thank you so much, to all of you who've clicked to this blog. I've really enjoyed having someone out there to share all these amazing things with! 

UNIVERSITY

So, I am writing this to all of you still at school. Or those of you who are still planning on going to varsity at some point, or making the scary change from school to university, because I have just done it.  

Firstly, I am so so excited with the course that I am studying! I am studying medicine at UCT which is literally something I've dreamt of for so long and thought was completely impossible, but somehow, with lots hard work and whatever else it took, I am now studying the course I wanted to do more than anything at the best ranked university in Africa, which is where I've wanted to go since I was little. So I have been incredibly lucky. But wow, university is just SO amazing! It is a million times better than school and looking back, even though I've barely been at varsity for a month, there is just no comparison to how much more mature you feel and how exciting it is! But to put that in perspective, let me start by saying that I loved school, every grade, all my subjects, the best times with my friends, etc. and so I wasn't sure if I would prefer university to school. But there is just something about it, there are no more silly little rules, or teachers breathing down your backs which is so nice, and everyone treats you like you are an adult, not a child; you know, like if you don't do your work, that's your problem, they don't care, that type of thing. The second thing about varsity that is so amazing, is everyone is studying what they want to, so almost everyone is so passionate about their courses and you are actually learning things that you want to learn and that you find interesting. It is nice to meet new people as well, but I must say that one of the hardest things that I have found leaving school is not being able to see my friends everyday.  4 of my closest friends aren't in Cape Town anymore and whilst I do have two really great friends doing medicine with me, it has been really hard to not see the others. 

I am just loving the campus life, and I kind of just wanted to make a post of it because I feel like I haven't shared enough of the massive change I've had over the past few months! After my school valedictory (graduation), writing final exams, going on a MASSIVE holiday (that is the best holiday ever, to all you South Africans who'll have it too, make the most of it, never again will you really have three months off to do absolutely nothing!), getting my final results, applying to universities and then finally the whirlwind that has landed me on UCT med campus, has all gone so fast but I am just so happy. 







  
One thing that I don't believe school could possibly prepare you for it the amount of work. We are covering 3 months of a school syllabus in one lecture sometimes! The work is crazy and I leave home at 6:30 and get home at 5:30 almost everyday, so it is very hectic! But despite all the hard work and the hours, I don't think I say enough to people how much I'm loving it. It is just such a change, and if you're ever in doubt of whether or not you should go to college, I promise you now, it's a lot of work, but it's all worth it because people are right when they say that they are the best years of your life. I have just started and I can already tell how amazing the next 6 years will be for me. 

This is the other side of our campus. 

So, I made this post, I guess, as some sort of thank you to whatever it took to get me here. Like I said, I was never expecting to get into this course, it's very difficult and I never thought my marks were good enough, but now I'm here and as cheesy as this sounds, I literally feel like my dream I have been chasing for the least few years has come true. I hope that this post isn't just a very personal reveal of what's going on in my life and that maybe you can actually take away something, or at least, maybe I've helped to make you excited for what's to come, because its bigger and better!

I've had this quote up in my room for a while now, and it is one of my favourites.