Dear Ron (A Harry Potter Parody)

Ok, so I'm not gonna make a habit out of posting my YouTube videos here on my blog but I hope you guys don't mind me showing you this one. 

Basically, it's a fun little Harry Potter parody based on Taylor Swift's song, Dear John. It's from Hermione's point of view after Ron leaves during the Deathly Hallows. 

I really hope you guys enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it! 

So if you're still interested check it out below and I will love you forever and ever!

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Should one abdicate?

Those with any interest in the Royal Families of Europe will likely know by now that yesterday Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands announced her abdication.

Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands

The announcement got me thinking about the process of inheriting the throne and whether other Royal Families should adopt the ways of the Dutch Royal Family where by one inherits the throne after the reigning monarch abdicates rather than after their death.

I can see positives and negatives to both situations. With abdication you get the advantage that the current monarch, in this case Queen Beatrix, will get to, not only see her son become King, but also enjoy a much relaxed life. It also means that when Prince Willem-Alexander ascends to the throne at the end of the month, the event will be tinged with much less sadness than if Queen Beatrix were to have just died. I'm sure it will still be sad for those who like Queen Beatrix but at least she is still around even if she's not Queen.

Abdication also seems beneficial in that it allows a younger generation to take over the monarchy much sooner than they would have otherwise. Prince Charles is a perfect example. If Queen Elizabeth had decided to abdicate as Beatrix has, at 75, Prince Charles would have ascended to the throne at the age of 54. As it stands it looks like he won't actually become King until he's well into his 70's.

On the other hand, I feel that being monarch is a job you are born into and one that is therefore with you for life. It is not like a regular job where you can just hand in your notice when you want to move on. For those wondering whether Queen Elizabeth will follow suit, I can safely bet that she will not. She promised her life to her country on her 21st birthday, before she was even Queen, and that is a promise that she will keep.

Although slightly more superficial, abdication also means that Jubilee celebrations, particularly Golden and Diamond, just wouldn't happen. I feel like this is quite a major loss. Having lived through both the Golden and Diamond Jubilees, they really are events that help bring the country together and allow us to celebrate our monarch's reign. And, hey, they're a bloody good excuse for a party! 

Most people are quite happy with Queen Elizabeth not abdicating but there is a huge number of people that want Prince Charles to, so that the crown passes straight to Prince William. Now, don't get me wrong, I would absolutely love to see William and Kate on the throne but let's be honest here, as I said above, Prince Charles is unlikely to be King until he's nearly 80 which means he is unlikely to be on the the throne for long. He's already waited over 60 years for his moment so let him have it. Also, Prince William is only 30 and I think that because of the Queen being 25 when she came to the throne, people tend to forget that that is very young. Let him enjoy his life and his new family and then he can worry about becoming King later.

All in all, as much as I like the fact that each generation can take over earlier, I think I'm for the more traditional way of inheriting the throne, after the death of the current monarch. It makes more sense to me but then that is probably because I was born in the UK where it is the norm.

Well, that was was my ten penneth about the pros and cons of abdication. I hope you found it vaguely interesting and that all my rambling made some amount of sense to you. Let me know below what your thoughts are on Queen Beatrix's announcement and whether or not you think abdication is a good thing.

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Red Carpet Review: SAG Awards 2013

Last night we saw round 2 of Award Season, The Screen Actors Guild Awards. I have to say I wasn't that impressed with the fashion last night, there was no hands down winner for me this time. Nevertheless let's begin with those who were, in my opinion, the better dressed women of the night.

Maria Menounos, Clea DuVall, Mayim Bialik, Nina Dobrev, Amy Poehler

This slinky red gown worn by Maria Menounos was one of those where from the front it appears sophisticated and simple and then she turns around and you discover that sexy back. I love backless dresses when they are done right and this is one of those examples. 

Admittedly, I think I would have preferred Clea DuVall's dress had the sheer fabric been only on the back and not creeped around the front to give a cutout look to the dress. However I love that it still manages to pull fun, simple and sophisticated together into one dress with success.

Can anyone tell that I love me a long sleeved lacy number yet? I know it's very similar to Nicole Richie's from the Golden Globes but I still love it. I think that that also shows how versatile this look can be that two pretty different women can both look fabulous in it. 

I gave the top spot to Nina Dobrev because she was the first person I saw and thought straight away, I love her dress. There was a lot of dark, jewel coloured dresses last night so I loved seeing the pink in the see of black. I'm also a sucker for sleeves even when they're short. I can take or leave the small lace panels on the torso and I'm not loving the earrings but overall it was something a little different that still worked.

Amy Poehler has so far looked incredible throughout award season. At the Golden Globes she rocked the androgynous look but last night she was all woman in this amazingly slinky black number that seemed to fit her like a glove. Simplicity done right.

Kaley Cuoco, Sigourney Weaver, Rose Byrne, Anne Hathaway, Julianne Moore.

Seriously Kaley, what is going on with your hair? It looks like a helmet which is not a good look. The dress itself is actually not that bad. I absolutely love the colour but what I don't understand is the length. It makes Kaley look really short. I definitely think it would have looked better as a floor length dress.

Without a doubt, I had to give this to Sigourney Weaver. It genuinely looks like she's stuck a pillow to her chest. It really doesn't do anything for her. And to top it off we have another case of a dress needing to be longer.

Rose Byrne went for a look similar to Sigourney and although she managed to pull it off much better it still wasn't working for me. I think I could have dealt with the top if the frills didn't go all the way down the sides as well. With all those fills and then the very flowery pattern it was just too 'little girl' for me.

This dress was confused. That's all I can say. It was a mini dress underneath then had a tulle skirt that didn't quite go to the floor. It wanted to be sexy with the sequinned mini dress and then a sheer princess dress has been put over the top. I just don't get it. Her hair and make up however, looked amazing!

I was disappointed with this look from Julianne Moore. She only narrowly missed out on appearing in my best dressed at the Golden Globes but this time around, just no. The bottom looks like it's made from an old quilt while the top is suffering the same fate as Jessica Chastain from the Golden Globes. Ill fitted dresses are just not a good look.

Like I said, I was not overly impressed by the red carpet this time, there wasn't even that many major disasters! Disappointing. 

Next up we move to British soil for the BAFTAs in a fortnights time so I'll see you then!

Who was your best and worst dressed last night?

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50 Random Facts About Me

As I'm still fairly new to this whole blogging malarky I thought I'd do a 50 Random Facts post to allow you to know the girl behind the blog that little better.

I'm literally gonna list the first 50 things that pop into my head so, without further ado let's get started:

1. I collect salt & pepper pots and my collection now consists of probably around 40 sets.
2. I had laser eye surgery at the start of September last year (2012)
3. I'm extremely obsessive about things.
4. I'm not ashamed to say that my most played song on iTunes is See You Again by Miley Cyrus.
5. Harry Potter is more than just a series of books to me, it was my childhood and is very special to me.
6. I know far to much about the Royal Families of Europe.
7. I'm a very fussy eater although I'm slowly getting better.
8. I love anything to do with memories.
9. I attended the same school for 13 years.
10. I study English Language and Linguistics at University.
11. I've never seen The Notebook.
12. I'd love to try acting just to see if I was any good at it.
13. I don't like snow.
14. I have 4 A-Levels in Biology, English Language, Chemistry and Music.
15. I was the youngest in my year at school.
16. Tennis is my favourite sport to watch.
17. Despite being a fussy eater I really enjoy cooking.
18. I'm really competitive and I hate losing.
19. Michael McIntyre is my favourite comedian.
20. I've been abroad around 20 times.
21. The first song I ever sang in front of an audience was Hushabye Mountain from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
22. I don't drink tea or coffee.
23. I'm extremely close with my sister, Hannah. She is the only person I can really geek out with and never have to worry about what I say or whether I'm boring her.
24. I love modern history but I have very little interest in stuff further back than about the Victorians.
25. I love going to the cinema.
26. I can be exceptionally lazy when I want to be.
27. I never met my Grampy, my Mum's Dad, as he died 15 years before I was born.
28. I'm extremely shy.
29. My ultimate goal in life is to fall in love, get married and have children.
30. I'm determined to one day become fluent in at least German and one other language, if not more.
31. I find writing original songs really difficult.
32. Summer is my favourite season.
33. I really want to visit LA.
34. Some of my favourite TV shows are, Glee, Switched at Birth, The Big Bang Theory, Miranda and Gilmore Girls.
35. I'm really bad at making decisions.
36. I'm pretty good at imitating accents.
37. I hit my head on a brick wall when I was about 3 and split my head open. I still have a scar.
38. I passed my driving test first time with, I think, 5 minors.
39. I used to be scared of dogs until we got one and now I absolutely love them.
40. I can't wait to get my own house so the I can decorate it how I want.
41. I've never been to Ireland despite my Grandpa being Irish.
42. Earlier this month I finally got to be a bridesmaid.
43. I don't really have a favourite band or artist.
44. I'm no longer as worried about growing up as I used to be.
45. I have a really poor imagination.
46. I wish they'd bring Top of the Pops back.
47. I love learning.
48. I enjoy solving logic puzzles.
49. I talk to myself and have done since I could talk.
50. I'm currently listening to Give Your Heart A Break by Demi Lovato

Well that was a hell of a lot harder than I expected it to be! 

Anyway I hope you guys found some of these vaguely interesting and feel like you know me a little better than you did before!

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Half Way!

What is that you ask? Well people of blogger, that is my final two assignments for Semester 1 of my second year a la Université. I handed those two little buggers in this morning which means I am now officially half way through my degree! Crazy stuff, non?

I genuinely can't believe that I'm already half way through! It really does not seem that long ago that I was unpacking into my room in halls. Oh how I miss halls, it was so easy back then. No gas meters to worry about, an en-suite shower and the thing I miss most, the boost button on the radiator.

I'm pretty sure the next year and half are going to go by just as fast, if not faster. Unfortunately, third year will bring forth with it the dreaded dissertation but I'm sure they'll be lots of memorable moments involving my amazing housemates and our weird ways and dirty minds. 

Admittedly I'm torn as to how fast I want the rest of my time at Uni to go. At times it frustrates the bejeezus out of me that I have to do work when I could be doing other things, namely YouTube and Blogging but then when it all comes to an end I have to enter the world of unemployment and no one wants that.

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Red Carpet Review: Golden Globes 2013

Last night saw Hollywood's award season kick off with the Golden Globes and of course with every award show come a whole plethora of designer gowns. I'm going to take you through who I felt were my top 5 best and worst dressed of the night and then my overall winner for both.

Best Dressed

Kate Hudson, Emily Blunt, Naomi Watts, Julianne Hough, Nicole Kidman

This is very typical for Kate Hudson, a slinky number with a very daringly low neckline but there's a reason she keeps going for it, it looks amazing! However, I think I would've preferred to see an up-do due to the busy detailing around the neck.

At first I wasn't 100% sure about the cutouts in Emily's dress and I'm still not. I think I'm starting to lean more towards the like end of the spectrum but overall the dress is stunning but then I'm yet to see Emily Blunt look anything but.

I love nearly everything about Naomi's gown. The colour is incredible and I love the style, the only thing I'm a bit iffy about is the train. I'm a bit indifferent to it, I feel it would have looked better if the dress it's self merged into a train rather than attaching a separate one.

Julianne Hough's dress is Monique Lhullier so I'm not surprised in the least that I fell in love with it. I particularly love how Julianne has styled it, the slightly edgy hair and make-up adds a funky twist to what is a very girly gown.

My overall winner has to be Nicole Richie, I loved her dress the second I saw it! The long sleeves and the high neck and the lace and the colour are all amazing. I love how sophisticated Nicole has become over the last few years. The only thing I'm not sure about is the tassels on the clutch as they feel like they're competing with the dress unnecessarily. But, I can let it slide.

Worst Dressed

Jessica Chastain, Giuliana Rancic, Sienna Miller, Kerry Washington, Emily Mortimer

This colour should work on Jessica, what with her being a redhead and all, but for some reason I just don't feel like it does. I also don't like how loose the top is, it makes her boobs look like they're round her waist which is not a look you should be aiming for.

I had to give this one to Guiliana purely on the grounds that she helps present Fashion Police and should therefore be able to dress herself. Apparently not. I just don't understand this dress, it's a contradiction. The sheer lace over her chest is saying 'sexy' while the lace itself mixed with the weird neck brace is saying 'modest granny'. Said neck brace also gives her a bit of a lollipop head...

I genuinely didn't recognise Sienna when I first saw her. She looks so young, and fair dos to her for managing that with such minimal make-up but when you add in a dress that looks like she's made it from her baby daughter's bedroom, it goes too far. 

I'm really not a fan of this whole "let's make the bottom of the dress sheer", I just don't understand it and I don't like how it looks. I like it even less when you forget to take the dress all the way to the floor. Why would you end it at the ankles? 

While I loves me a high neckline with long sleeves a la Nicole Richie, it doesn't always work and Emily Mortimer is a prime example. There's far too much metallic. She looks like the tin man wearing chain mail and while the losers at the Golden Globes don't enjoy not winning I'm pretty sure they won't attack you with a spear while you make your way to Oz. Next time, ease on the metallic or the amount of fabric, unless of course "tin man going to war" was the look you were going for.

So there we have it. I'm planning on doing this for all the major award ceremonies and maybe more if you guys like it. Let me know in the comments below!

Who was your best and worst dressed of the Golden Globes 2013?

MeganShaelyn x

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Film Review: Les Misérables

I've been singing the songs from Les Miserable for years but had never had the opportunity to actually go see the show so when I found out that there was going to be a film I got very excited!

There had been mutterings of Oscar noms for the film for quite a while and positive reviews were coming through left right and centre as the film came out a good few weeks ago in the states so I had extremely high expectations. Well, on Tuesday I finally got to see it.

Boy does this film live up to expectations! It took me a little while to get used to the sort of talk-singing that links the main songs together but once I did I hardly even noticed that they never spoke. I'm so glad Tom Hooper took the decision for the actors to sing live because it really does add an amazing amount of depth to their performances.

The cast is incredible and as I expected Anne Hathaway blows it out of the water. A highlight for me was Helena Bonham-Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen, probably because they provide the much needed comic relief in the film. If I were to say there was a weaker performance I would say that it comes from Amanda Seyfried, I'm just not a huge fan of her voice but she also didn't have the best songs, or role to be honest, to work with especially compared to Fantine (Hathaway) and Eponine (Samantha Barks). She wasn't bad, she just wasn't as good as everyone else. 

There really is a reason that this film is up for so many Oscars. It made an epic start to the year for films and hopefully is a good omen for what is to come!

MeganShaelyn x

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Haul: Shoes Shoes Shoes!

On Wednesday, my sister and I went off on a little jaunt into town. We had a purpose, we needed bridesmaid shoes. Well, it's safe to say I left with a little more than bridesmaid shoes...

First we wandered into River Island which is where I made my first splurge. 

I'd been on the lookout for a jacket that I could just throw on over anything. In the end I decided to go for the same jacket that my sister had already bought a few months earlier, because to say she's lived and died in it is an understatement. The photo doesn't do it justice, as it's got a textured pattern all over it which I feel stops it from being too boring. It's also not a classic suit jacket, it's much softer and therefore much comfier! 

We then headed to New Look to start our scout for some bridesmaids shoes and although we were unsuccessful I did by some other shoes.

Again, I bought them because my sister already had them and had found them really useful. They're  simple black ballet flats with gold, silver and black studs on the toes. They go with practically everything! 

I was also hoping to find some earrings for the wedding if I could so we went into a little jewellery store called Argento. At the time I thought I'd be wearing a string of pearls around my neck so naturally I was looking at the pearl section. That is when I found these beauties! 

Now, anyone who knows me well probably knows that if I see anything that has cherries on it I have to have it. This was no exception. They are so me it's unreal yet the pearls add some needed sophistication for the wedding. Then my eyes fell on the matching necklace. 

I couldn't resist. My argument was that if I had a matching necklace, I would wear the earrings more. Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! Plus, once I got to the till the guy told me that they'd both been reduced by a tenner. Win!

Still on a lookout for the bridesmaid shoes we headed to Office which is wear I found these. They're so cute! They were also on sale, so it was rude not to really!

Then we went to our final destination, Debenhams. Lo and behold we found what we were looking for. I needed flats that were either red or gold while my sister was looking for shoes with a slight heel. We found these.

My sister's are exactly the same style byt red and with a small heel. Perfect! Plus they are sparkly and you can't go wrong with a bit of sparkle! They were also reduced from £15 to £4.50!! Bargain!

All in all it was a very successful shopping trip, although admittedly my bank account is now in a bit of pain...

Nails of the Moment: Decadence & Pink Sapphire

I absolutely loved this look at the end of last year. When I first wore it I genuinely couldn't stop staring at my nails. It's also a look that I got quite a few complements for.

When I wanted to paint my nails for New Years Eve, I thought this fun, sparkly look would be perfect.

 First I put on 2 coats of Decadence by Avon followed by a coat of Pink Sapphire Glitter by Barry M. Does anyone else find the names of Barry M polishes really disappointing? So unimaginative!

I really do love this look and it's staying power is pretty impressive too. Although not the 12 days Avon claims, I do get a respectable 5 or 6 which is good enough for me.

MeganShaelyn x

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2012 Playlist

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all rang in 2013 with appropriate frivolities.

As the new year is upon us I thought I'd take one last look back at the year of 2012.

This is going to be a list of those songs that will forever remind me of 2012. It's also the first of a monthly series as I felt my blog need a little more music, what with my YouTube being all music orientated and whatnot. 

So in no particular order, here are my top 10 songs of 2012*:

1. It's Time - Glee/Imagine Dragons

2. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift

3. Hall of Fame - The Script ft. will.i.am

4. Starships - Glee/Nicki Minaj

5. Cough Syrup - Glee/Young The Giant

6. Gangnam Style - PSY

7. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - P!nk

8. Harder Than You Think - Public Enemy

9. Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen

10. Sing - Gary Barlow and the Commonwealth Band

*I've linked to a YouTube video of each song

And, my favourite album of 2012 is The Truth About Love by P!nk.

What songs make you think of 2012?

Let me know in the comments below!

MeganShaelyn x

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