Think Like A Blogger Challenge // River Flows in You

As a personal challenge I have decided to learn River Flows in You by Yiruma. I took my ABRSM grade 5 exam this summer and I was SO nervous. I desperately wanted to pass and after I'd already had the stress of 21 other GCSE exams I think the timing was really bad for me. Fortunately, I passed! (yay) For a little while after I think I was a little scared to get back on the piano as I'd been so nervous for my exam and during the waiting period, before I found out, I had convinced myself that I had failed. After that I really didn't want to make any mistakes whilst playing, so I avoided it. Then I realised. Everybody makes mistakes and why does it matter any way, I'm not performing, I'm practicing. I decided not to continue playing my grade 5 pieces as I didn't need to and also it would be quite annoying if I ended up playing it better than I had in my exam, which was almost inevitable.
I needed to take a moment to just stop and be proud of myself for passing my exam. After that it was so easy to rediscover my love for piano. I'd always wanted to learn River Flows in You as it is such a beautiful song but I'd always pictured it as really difficult. Now that I am a grade 5 pianist I feel that it is much more comfortable for me to learn - although I must admit my sight reading isn't the best!
I think it's really good to set personal challenges and this is one of mine for the summer, I can''t wait until I can play it fluently!

Think Like A Blogger Challenge // Fresh Air

Is it just me or do you find spending all day inside totally rubbish? For the past two days that's all I've done. Not going outside actually makes me feel physically sick. I think living where I do, it's quite an outdoorsy sort of place, so not leaving the house is kind of a shock to the system for me.
As part of the Think Like a Blogger Challenge, today's post is about good old fresh air. My go to place when I need to get out the house is the beach. There's something so peaceful and calm about it and it's good 25 minute walk for me. When I'm feeling like this, I find anything helps - just walking and listening to my headphones gives me that automatic happy feeling. There's something you can't really describe about a good walk. (Does anyone else sometimes get so lost in their music and it feels like you're in a movie scene or something as you walk down the street:')?)
For today's post enjoy the calm aura of the beach with me and check out some of my recent favourite songs. It's kind of like a go-to walking playlist. 

Against The Current - Ain't It Fun // (Cover of Paramore)

The 1975 - Chocolate

Kings Of Leon - Radioactive

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

In case you're wondering... Yes it is summer, but British summer time likes to disappoint and it's very risky to leave the house without my trusty leather jacket nowadays! A good old sea breeze to blow the cobwebs off, that's what I keep telling myself!

What songs have you been loving recently? Where's your 'calm' place? Comment down below!

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Have an awesome day!

JAZ BISHOP x

Bold Lips & Think Like A Blogger Challenge

So recently, as I scrolled through my reading list, a post by Lily Melrose caught my eye. The 'Think Like a Blogger Challenge'. You can read it here but the general gist is that you just need to use inspiration by looking at the things around you! You don't need to over complicate blogging and that you shouldn't feel like you have to rush out and buy the 'latest' thing, you should just be able to pick out something you've had a long time or that you use every day. This is great timing for me because I've been trying to think of blog posts as my blog is finally up and running. So, inspired by the amazing Lily I will be blogging daily for this week only, following up the 'Think Like a Blogger Challenge' and I challenge you to try it too!

Topshop Lips in Black Widow

(no longer available but similar here and here)

Top - Topshop

Recently I went shopping and as I was getting ready to leave the house I discovered a lipstick that I actually got for Christmas last year and I've never had the confidence to wear. I felt like it was actually too dark for me and it was too bold(Now I think is there such a thing? Be as bold as you like). Reluctantly, I slapped it on with the rest of my makeup and I suddenly felt really good about myself. I was surprised how good my lips looked for such a daring colour that was completely out of my comfort zone. Say what you like but there's something about a lipstick that just makes you feel good. I personally am not really one for all these bright/hot pinks as it's not really me, but this deep dark purple was perfect. I wore it with a really simple outfit and I actually felt great all day and it's staying power was pretty damn good. I know you may think purple is more of a winter shade but why not break the boundaries and wear it all year around? I know I'll be using this a lot more this season and in the following ones - I mean why can't you have an all-year-round lipstick?

They may say blondes have more fun, but they're wrong - bold lips have more fun! Give it a try, I dare you.

Let me know what your bold lipstick shade is, comment down below!
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Have an awesome day and stay tuned for tomorrow's post!

JAZ BISHOP x