Music Monday: Gigs Of The Year

Kicking off 'Blogmas' this year is my top five gigs of the year. I've seen some pretty amazing bands in 2014 but one gig in particular outdid them all. Though I'll admit it was pretty hard choosing the rest!

So here you are, my top five gigs of the year..

• 5. The Enemy - I watched the trio from Coventry at a local venue - small, sweaty and spectacular. There was just something about singing 'We'll Live And Die In These Towns' along with another couple of hundred local people around you. Controversial statement coming up here but I'd go as far as saying they are one of the most amazing live bands around. The louder the better.

• 4. The Libertines - Back in July I jumped on a train down to London and was all set for a day in Hyde Park watching live music. The Libertines headlined for 'British Summer Time' and if I'm honest with you this gig could of been a little higher up the list if it wasn't for the shambles of organisation on the day. Some of my favourite bands playing across three stages. Sadly, these said stages were just a little too small for the crowds it had attracted. However, seeing The Libertines back together was truly something special to witness. 

• 3. Arctic Monkeys - Another trip to London but this time the stage was set at Finsbury Park. First let's talk support acts - amazing. An unreal line up of Royal Blood, Miles Kane and Tame Impala. With Mr Kane edging it for me out of that lot. I did find something a little strange about the atmosphere for the 'Monkeys' though - like a lot of people who were in attendance were just there for a few odd songs they heard on the radio one time. Despite this and some idiot thinking it was hilarious to urinate up my leg I can safely say Arctic Monkeys know how to put on a show. And who got to see Miles Kane sing a The Last Shadow Puppets tune with Alex Turner? I DID!

• 2. The Courteeners - I know they're my favourite band and all that so it's no real surprise to see them clock in at number two but hand on heart I can say that was the best show I've seen the band put on. The new album that came out in the summer has been stuck on repeat for months so I was like an excited child to hear the new songs live. And of course the old favourites sounded as perfect as ever. Also, two words for you - Liam Fray. *hearts in the eyes emoji*

• 1. Kasabian - I'll be honest here in the days upcoming to this gig I was massively unsure. The support acts that had just been announced were nowhere near as good as the rumours (which was probably why I sat in the pub until they were over with). I don't know why I had any doubts though, There was a reason I'd been so desperate to see this band live for so long. In my opinion there is no better live band out there today. So it's no shock that I'm overly excited to see them again in the middle of this month in Manchester. 

So there we have it - Kasabian won it this year for me.

Have you seen anyone live this year I haven't mentioned?

Any bands worth checking out?

Recent Purchases #1

My spending ban (expect an update on that this week) has been super effective and I've really cut back on impulse spending and what not. I'm pretty impressed with what I've picked up recently, a few things I've been wanting for a while so that's always nice to get my hands on them.

• 'It' Alexa Chung (£16.99) - Like a lot of people I'm a massive Alexa fan and I've been meaning to buy this since it came out but I just kept on putting it off. Now I finally have it and loved reading it. Let the inner Alexa Chung wannabe continue I say!
• 'Lucy In The Sky' Paige Toon (£6.99) - I've really got back into reading this year thanks to the amazing author that is Paige Toon. This is the first book from her collection and one of the best but I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. 
• 'Colour Of The Trap' Miles Kane (prices vary) - Miles Kane is the man, okay?! Even if I have an album on iTunes I still have to buy the physical copy of it just because, well I do. I picked this up from HMV in a sale for £3.99, top bargain for a quality album.

Now Peacocks is not a shop I ever venture into because it's just never appealed to me. I find it targets an older audience than myself. This was placed very cleverly near a display window though and nearly every time I'm at work I've walked past it. After a good 6 weeks of deciding I finally grabbed it for £6. These style camis were huge last summer and it looks like they will be again this time round. Such a simple staple piece to anyone's wardrobe. You can buy it HERE.

This is exactly what I have been after without even looking. Again another quick look around Peacocks and this caught my eye on the sale rail. I knew I wanted a mint green bag for Spring/Summer - pastels are an essential. I love the stud detailing of this and I'm not usually a fan of the studs trend. It's such a pretty colour and can be worn as a clutch or you can add the longer strap for over the shoulder. No doubt I will get plenty of wear out of this. It was £4.50 reduced from £9!

Anything caught your eye from my recent purchases?

What I Got For Christmas 2013

Firstly I want to massively apologise for not posting in over two weeks. If you work in retail you will get me when I say it is the worst time of the year. I absolutely love Christmas but arsey customers don't half get you down. It doesn't help with your blogging schedule when you're working twelve days in a row. So I failed blogmas massively, sigh. Regardless of my ramblings I had the most lovely Christmas and already counting down to next years festivities. Just a little disclaimer to say that I'm not in no way bragging about any of these things I have been kindly gifted by my nearest and dearest. I've just been loving being nosey at everyone else posts if I'm honest with you. 

| The Yummy Stuff |

Could you get any more opposite in terms of mugs? My best friend Zoe got me the Joy Division one and secret Santa at work the Mike Wazowski offering (I love Disney too much). As for all the yummy treats, half of them are gone, oops, and I can't remember who got me what now, oops again. The little union jack tin though was picked out using my mum's purse no doubt by my little brother. It's filled with yummy shortbreads but the cute tin will come in handy after they're all gone.

| The Fluffy Stuff |

It's out of hand how much I want a real Dalmatian in my life so my Mum substituted with these cute nightwear items. I actually spotted these PJ's in Primark and mentioned them to my mum, she certainly listens. As for another person who listens is my Dad's girlfriend, Lyn. Since moving house back in October it's a little cold sometimes even with the heating on. We're placed on a hill with an open chimney and we get all sorts of little draughts around the house so she got me the lovely and snuggley hot water bottle in dog form. I'm the crazy dog lady, never mind cat lady.

| The Beauty Stuff |

Polka dot nail files, I was sold straight away. A couple of magnetic nail polishes I'm excited to try out. Bath bombs (though my angle here doesn't show them very well but them pastel blobs are bath bombs, honest). I embrace my paleness as much as possible but sometimes not being able to rock a gorgeous nail polish colour breaks my little heart at times so a girl has to fake it now and then, can't wait to experiment with this Xen Tan - who said Dad's can't make good beauty picks without any assistance or hints. A gorgeous scent from Ghost in Anticipation (I also had DKNY Be Delicious which isn't pictured). I actually had two of these Soap and Glory sets but it's full of travel sizes and no doubt I will make my way through the Hand Food's once popped into my handbag (I've had a new bag as well too actually which isn't in these pictures too).

| The Pretty Stuff |

I'm not entirely sure where the necklace is from as it came in a sparkly gift box but I love it. I'm not a massive jewellery wearer but I want to be and I love this simple piece. Yes I am still swooning at these Pandora boxes. Now if I'm honest with you I knew that my Nana had brought me a leather bracelet because back in August she popped into to my work (there's a Pandora stockist in the shop next door) and asked what colour bracelet I wanted. As for the other little box I wasn't expecting it at all but my Mum really made my day with this one. It needs a picture of it's own:

I've been lusting after this charm for ages and I knew they had sold out everywhere in stores in my local area so my Mum was a star and managed to get it online. I love scooters as mad as that sounds and always get over excited when I see one. I'd love to own a Vespa one day. Enough scooter talk anyway.

| The Technology Stuff |

If you've never watched any of the This Is England stuff it's well worth the watch (I know it's available on 4od still!) My best friend got me this Limited Edition version of The View's Which Bitch? album, it has a DVD with it that contains a documentary and a live gig so I can't wait to watch all that. The only thing I asked for this Christmas was an iPod docking station and I love this one from BUSH, it's so mini and cute and I love it loads (I sound like a complete saddo but MUSIC). If anything blew me away then it was this little secret surprise from my Dad. Never in my life did I expect the latest iPad Air. I haven't put it down if I'm honest since I opened it and I can't wait for 2014 blogging wise with this amazing product.

I feel so lucky to have such amazing family and friends who are so thoughtful and kind. I hope all my lovely readers had an amazing Christmas and a Happy New Year also!

Lifestyle - Two gigs in one week & Update!

A bit of a mixed post today but so far on my blog I haven't touched on any lifestyle really. So on Monday straight after work I ventured off to see Beady Eye at Wolves Civic Hall. I hadn't been to the venue before and I really liked it, totally different to anywhere else I'd been before. So now some of you might be like "wait, who are Beady Eye?" Basically, they are Oasis but without Noel Gallagher. Now a lot of people don't like him but personally I love his arrogant attitude but to see Liam Gallagher, my male hero was so amazing. I was really expecting him to not sound very good as he is knocking on a bit now but I was proved wrong and it's one of the best gigs I have ever been to.

Me and my best friend Zoe got to the barrier (why on earth do security stand in such stupid places though?!)

Then on Wednesday night it was off to Birmingham to see Arctic Monkeys at the LG Arena. Now if you are a bit clued up in the music world then you might know that originally this gig was cancelled very last minute. I was due to see them on Halloween but getting half way down the motorway to see they had cancelled wasn't leaving me very impressed. So they had a lot to live up and they certainly didn't let me down. A little young Irish band The Strypes were supporting them but after queueing for the shuttle bus from the car park and then for a few drinks it meant we only caught the last few songs (luckily I saw them back in July on their own tour though!) Back to the arctics anyway, oh my they were bloody brilliant. I do think it could be the best gig I have ever been to, certainly worth the wait. Everything about it, the atmosphere, the set list.. Everything. 

Managed to get a few pretty looking pictures as well on my phone!

Now for the next bit.. If you have read my blog before and remember it you might notice I've given it a little makeover. I was never really happy with it originally so I redesigned it and now I'm pretty happy, for now anyway. Along with my new blog design I've decided to make both a Twitter and Instagram pages for my blog. Most simply because I want to keep my personal ones separate from my blogging bits and bobs.

You can find my Twitter page HERE and my Instagram page HERE.

And don't forget I am going to be blogging everyday of December so following me on a few platforms will let you know when my posts go live or will be going live as well!

So what have you been up to lately?

What Lauren Says

I thought an introductory post would probably be a sensible place to start. After reading endless blogs and watching hundreds of YouTube videos for the past 8 months I decided this is most definitely something I wanted to try out. Even more so when I finished studying photography at college a few months back and felt a little lost and not sure what to do with myself. And so it begins..

So what is it that you do when you are no longer a student any more?

I decided against university as I just didn't think it was the thing for me (and the fees scared me a little bit). Mainly I didn't want to start my life as such with debt looming over me. I quite luckily landed myself a part time job as a retail assistant. I say part time, I tend to pick up a lot of hours recently to which I am not complaining at. A lot of people question me frequently asking me what I want to do with my life after leaving college and the answer is always well, I don't know. I have no idea what direction I want to go in but this is usually my reply to such questions; "I'm just an 18 year old girl who likes to earn a decent wage to cover costs of attending gigs and my habit of buying a lot of clothes/make-up".

What do you expect to see on my blog?
Well as the name of my blog states it's 'What Lauren Says'. A blog where I can discuss lifestyle, fashion, beauty and my massive love for music. Posts will feature reviews, hauls, OOTD's, music related or me just rambling on about something not even remotely interesting (sorry in advance!)

I tend to talk a lot so let's see how it goes.