Alpha Rev | You Will Be My Phoenix, Burn.

"I need a love that will release me

Keep me honest, keep me happy

I need a peace with understanding

Trying to find a softer landing...

I need to find a way of letting it go, when everything falls apart."

If you are a fan Dave Matthews Band, you'll love Alpha Rev. First heard these guys doing a short performance on SxSW4Japan and fell in love with their music. Putting aside the Dave Matthews Band comparison, their music and words are just so inspiring, motivating, moving and beautiful, especially for me right now. I've been in a bit of dilemma with some friends and trying to find a balance without angering situations or compromising in a way that doesn't benefit anyone or allow me to stay true to myself and I feel their music is one of the few things that is really helping me through that. For that, I thank Alpha Rev. Check them out! I hope their music touches you as it has done to me. :)

Links:
Official Website: AlphaRev.com
Twitter: twitter.com/alpharev

"You will be my Phoenix, burn."

love & light...♥

Colour Me Purple | New Painting

Paint mess!

Inspired by Gypsy 05: Talya Silk Maxi Dress

love & light...♥

SxSW 4 Japan

On the 19th March '11, SXSW along with the band Hanson teamed up to raise $100,000 to donate to the Red Cross for relief efforts in Japan; which they successfully succeeded in doing and beyond. They did this by hosting a 12 hour live stream marathon where nothing but music was played to raise these funds. Also, a benefit album from the event was made which is being sold on Amazon (as well as iTunes) & ALL proceeds made from this benefit album go towards Red Cross & Japan.

You can purchase the album here:

US Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sxsw4japan/dp/B004UY1TSY
UK Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sxsw4japan/dp/B004V57C9W

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sxsw4japan/id430111454

My personal favourite performances:
Hanson (obviously)
Ozomatli
Locksley
Leslie Stevens & The Badgers (Jaw dropping performance!)
Alpha Rev (They stole my heart!)

Papercranes (of course! #PhoenixLove)

You can watch the restream here: http://sxsw4japan.org/
Good music for a GOOD cause!!
Please, please, please SUPPORT!!

love & light...♥

"Use the gifts and tools you have been given to benefit others and make tomorrow a better day." - Jane Bannor

To Live Life..

How to live your life.
Live life to the full.
39 ways to fully live your life.

etc, etc, etc.

If you think this is going to be one of those "How to live life" guides or blogs, then I think you'll find, in the top right hand corner of the screen, an "X"; click it.

This is an itch I've been wanting scratch for quite some time now. I've been questioning myself as to whether I have been living my life fully (so far) and in all honesty, in some aspects yes, in others no. The only reason I've come to this conclusion is because I know... I know what I want from this life and what I need in this life. I know what moves my soul and what stirs my heart; there are times I feel I don't get enough/a healthy dose of this. Mostly due to the environment I'm in, some of the choices I make or financial reasons... hopefully all that will change this summer, or at least the end of this University year.

Everybody has a different temperament and the only way to live YOUR life fully is to suit that temperament. There is no point living it or measuring it up against someone else's ideals as they will never be able to fully fulfil your own.

Take travelling for example, there are people in this life who have hardly been anywhere in the world yet have seen, felt, experienced so much. Then there are some who travel endlessly and blindly, yet they are the one's who see, feel and experience nothing. Unless you have a soul purpose, a driven reason, why bother?

Life is there to live your own experiences not to re-live somebody else's. Live it for you, in ALL possible aspects; relationships, friendships, family, music, art, performance, health care... change. Anything and everything. Live it full of beauty and passion.

love & light...♥

Currently listening to: Sunday Lane (Check out her song 'Heavy Heart, Heavy Hands' on her website!)

Organic Fashion | Fair Trade

Those is the named title are two ideals I've felt (for a while now) compelled to, and aim to support it's cause. Also, as a person who jumps at an amazing opportunity to help is a natural given for me, but to look good while doing so is always a plus. I figured I would share the little I know about the topic and it's effect on me.

My first encounter with Fair Trade/Organic Fashion was circa '09 through the sustainable fashion pioneer People Tree. The beautiful signature embroidery on the majority of their garments first attracted me to the brand & I later found that there was more of a purpose to this brand rather than just pretty patterns woven in cloth. I did some digging, read around the brand and became hooked on their ethos & wanted to support it in anyway possible, and till this day I still do. The empowerment of people in less privileged countries, through work and livelihood, as well as providing healthy and stable work sectors and to know that somebody else's hard work to put clothes on your body and shoes on your feet was so moving and touching, there was no way I could turn my back on it.

I had loosely been following the works of the fashion model, Summer Rayne Oakes (best name EVER) who is an eco-friendly, sustainable fashion activist so ideally and in fact, VERY recently I felt it appropriate to get her book 'Style Naturally' based on sustainable fashion and beauty. I don't know why I waited so long to get it, it is very insightful. Though her book is solely a guide into shopping sustainably, she expectantly creates awareness of sustainable fashion whilst highlighting some very important causes within her book. There is so much possibility that lies within fair trade and to do it while feeling good about what you wear and in a way that renders you eco-conscious in what you buy is, to me, so inspiring.

I hope in this life I myself can make some sort of an impact through this initiative, even if it is just to encourage at least one person to be more eco-conscious of some of the things they buy and to know who suffers or in this case benefits from their choices. Who knows, maybe one day my dream will come true; I'll be an amazing Nurse who somehow manages to run her own boutique selling beautiful organic & fair trade garments. Hopefully, not all at once!

Check out these Places:

People Tree
TOMS Shoes

Levi's
Saumarez Lingerie

love & light...♥

"If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it and let it become you, and you will find great things happen for you, to you and because of you." - T. Alan Armstrong

Tuesday Mornings + Tuesday Nights | The Pierces!

I don't know how to express my love for this sisterly duo! I think I'm addicted to the style and visual concept of their music videos more than anything else. It's the epitome of me. I first came across them when they opened up for Lissie in London last year (2010) December but didn't really follow them up, though, I enjoyed the music I had heard. I then came across another song of theirs named 'You'll Be Mine' this year & needless to say I am hooked. It is so enchanting, mystical, luring, captivating, mindblowing... I could go on!

So much praise for these two sisters I don't know where to start!
Like someone said, it is a bit like ABBA meets Fleetwood Mac (which is NOT a bad thing for me at all, might I add!). Quirky but beautifully written lyrics, melodies, everything. I'm bursting with excitement I've even pre-ordered their album & that is saying something as I never pre-order!

Sadly I missed a live performance of their's in London just last week but hopefully I'll be seeing & hearing more of them in the coming months!
Album drops: 23rd May 2011

love & light...♥

"Now you know, now you know how I feel & I won't back down."

Winsome Charm

Just a fun quiz I came across. I would love to own a house like this one day. I would make a few adjustments, obviously!

Cozy… not oversized - a hand crafted gem. To cook a grand meal in an elegant kitchen is your joy. A bedroom with distinct character - warm and charming. Music provides the backbeat to everything you do. Set your table in a festive fare. Watch the grass grow in the hot summer sun. Hand knotted, vegetable dyed… a family history at your feet. Wild and crazy days in your wonderful home.

The Holly Blue...♥

Some weeks ago I had the sudden urge to paint, so I did. (Sorry the picture is not the best quality!)

But check out the snazzy new easel my house mates got me for my 20th!

Currently Listening to: 'From the Morning' by Nick Drake

"& see she flies, & she is everywhere, see she flies all around."

love & light...♥

Back to December | Free People: January!

My oh my, its been a while since I last blogged.. so for your viewing pleasure...

Free People January; shot in beautiful Paris! (I think this is my favourite set)

& Taylor Swift's 'Back to December'

Inspire Inspiration | New year, new beginnings

Inspiration is an elusive mistress. She strikes at her own whim, she pours out in abundance or withholds for unbearable lengths of time. She is never where you want her to be and seduces you until you are shackled and enslaved to her without even knowing how it happened. You simply wake up one day and you crave her... you need her... you're a failure without her.

- Bethany Joy Galeotti

It's been a while since I took the time to draw. I've been getting these signs and snippets of advice, from people, on something I thought I left behind long ago. But still, something inside me feels incomplete without it; empty and hollow. I have been told to "Never lose this gift." This Gift.

How could I be so careless with it? My ability to draw and create; so precious, with a million possibilities. To make the unseen, seen. I think it's time I take the given a make use of it. To create what I want to create. There's no point sitting, waiting around for something to come along. It's in my hands. I'm in control.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

First blog post of the year! Happy new year! I spent new years day with my family. We ate loads, talked about life and what we hope to accomplish in this year & years to come.

I'm quite excited for 2011. I feel something special is going to happen this year. I've already got a few things planned already which include tickets to see Lifehouse & a trip to the US to visit my sister!

Once again, happy new year!! I can't wait to see what it has to offer!

love & light...♥