In which Demi debates 'guilty pleasures'.

Is there such a thing? Personally, I don't think there is. I'm only wondering after some excited googling of All Time Low's new album, Dirty Work, which should be coming through my letterbox in just over a week.

To my dismay, the few early reviews haven't been the kindest. There's an overwhelming suggestion of (whisper it) selling out, now that they've scored an Interscope deal. Of trying too many new things. Of moving away from their older style. The "original" fans are clutching their copies of The Party Scene and So Wrong, It's Right, the two albums which slingshotted them onto the mainstream about four years ago, and sharpening their pitchforks to poke holes in the band's "new persona".

Okay, so they're not making exactly the same music anymore. But quite why people are bemoaning so much the more poppy, less punky element to their new releases is quite beyond me. Why people are begrudging the fact that they can imagine half the tracks being regulars on the radio is bizarre to me. Personally, and as a fan of the band from before their second album, I'm so proud of these guys. They've pushed through the swarm of similar other bands, toured like crazy, cultivated a great relationship with fans and a created a fantastic reputation just as a band of guys. Instead of bumming around as teenagers, these guys have been working hard at their music and touring since before they even graduated High School.

Personally, I can't see how that's a bad thing.

But they're not the 20 year olds they were when they wrote gems like Jasey Rae (absolutely gorgeous) and Six Feet Under the Stars and we should accept this. Instead, they are the more mature musicians who, in my opinion, are still producing some fantastic songs - and if they are inadvertantly reaching a wider audience, good for them. In fact, if I were to recommend new listeners to any of their songs, it would be Poison, from their last album, and Painting Flowers, which was written for the album to accompany Disney's new 'Alice in Wonderland'.

Yes, they've changed. Yes, it is a band that is beloved by tweens the world over. And at 19, I probably shouldn't like them as much as I do. But the fantastic thing about music is that we all have completely different tastes. Hence my belief that there is no such thing as a "guilty pleasure". I should probably call my All Time Low love a "guilty pleasure"... but why bother when I can guarentee that their music will be able to cheer me up? When they brighten up boring trips? When they are safe choices when I don't know what to listen to? They are - if absolutely nothing else - the perfect soundtrack to summer, to driving with the window open and the music blaring.

So I will happily play their new single until my housemates are sick of it, because it's definitely helping me wade through these last couple of days of revision. Briiiiiiiing it.

What's your 'not really a guilty pleasure'? xo.

In which Demi can't stop giggling.

 http://damnyouautocorrect.com/

This site is what is getting me through revision, along with regular cups of tea and visions of these lovely men:

The McSteamy VS McDreamy debate is a regular discussion in my house. Personally, I wouldn't say no to either of them, but my inner romantic loves Derek a smidge more. ♥ xo.

In which Demi is bored of Medieval poetry revision.

The title's a pretty good summation of my feelings right now. Which is bad, since it's only my second day of revising it, and I still have a lot to learn before Thursday's exam. Boo.

Did my first exam on Thursday. Didn't go great, and I have myself to blame for that. Note to self: learn to tell time better. A lack of maths lessons in your life is no excuse.

That and some recent boy intervention (not just the ex, also someone equally unavailable) led to the anger than spawned the previous post. In general, I am not an 'angry' person. I am pretty much zen until exams or something come around, where I turn into a bit of a gibbering mess. But anger? Not really me. It takes a lot to get me going, and it was the culmination of months of frustration, topped with the exam mess-up cherry. After a good night's sleep, I'm back to not really caring.... YAY!

In other news, I was recently elected the new PR, Distribution and Social Secretary of my University magazine! WOOHOO! Basically it will be my job to co-ordinate advertising, events, manage the physical distribution of the issues and organise social events for the writers and editors. Yikes. Sounds like a lot, but it was too good an opportunity for PR experience to pass up. I was incredibly nervous during my speech, but since a couple of people in the running dropped out it meant that I got the place, along with another girl on my course, by default. I was then invited to a lovely meal out with all the old and new editors and magazine exec, and despite not knowing many people (and none very well) I had a really nice night.

I thought I'd also throw a couple of pictures in here to comemorate this, partly because (as silly as it sounds) I was super impressed with how my hair came out after using this ballerina bun tutorial from Lauren Conrad's new website, The Beaty Department, which I love. It covers hair and makeup, provides video style tutorials, and all sorts of other awesome stuff. I recommend!

So here were my results with the ballerina bun:

Outfit details: Cardigan - Matalan; Vest - Primark; Jeans - UNIQLO (love love love their jeans!); Shoes - Primark; Bracelets - all presents. 

I was reeeally happy with it! Obviously a few more tries will make it even better, but since I have super long hair at the moment, I love nothing more than tucking it all away out of my face.

More soon. Until then, I'll be entertaining myself with Medieval poetry and regular Grey's Anatomy/ tea breaks. xo.

Letter #6: Someone That Pesters Your Mind - Good or Bad

A/N: Late, irrelevant and angry, I know. But this is all I can hash out right now. Bad language ahoy, by the way. Avoid if you wish.

~*~

30 LETTERS PROMPTS:
- Your Best Friend;
- Your Crush;
- Your Parents;
- Your Sibling (or closest relative);
- Your Dreams;
- A Stranger;
- Your Ex-boyfriend/girlfriend/love/crush,
- Your Favorite Internet Friend;
- Someone You Wish You Could Meet;
- Someone You Don't Talk to as Much as You'd Like to;
- A Deceased Person You Wish You Could Talk To;
- The Person You Hate the Most/Caused You a Lot of Pain;
- Someone You Wish Could Forgive You;
- The Person You Miss the Most;
- Someone You've Drifted Away From;
- Someone That's Not in Your State/Country;
- Someone From Your Childhood;
- The Person That You Wish You Could Be;
- Someone That Pesters Your Mind - Good or Bad;
- The One That Broke Your Heart the Hardest;
- Someone You Judged by Their First Impression;
- Someone You Want to Give a Second Chance to;
- The Last Person You Kissed;
- The Person That Gave You Your Favorite Memory;
- The Person You Know That is Going Through the Worst of Times;
- The Last Person You Made a Pinky Promise to;
- The Friendliest Person You Knew For a Day;
- Someone That Changed Your Life;
- The Person That You Want to Tell Everything to, But Too Afraid to;
- Your Reflection in the Mirror.

~*~

-C.

I can’t be ‘the bigger person’ right now. Despite the fact that I always am. Despite the fact that I have been whenever something happens. Anything. I’m always the bigger person. I always make the sacrifice. I always remember. I always care. For anyone, not just you.

But I can’t be the bigger person right now. Because I am basically in the same place as I was last year. And I don’t want to be here. I’ve done this before, and I really, really don’t want to have to do this again.

When you said you wanted out of us I accepted that. Regardless of my nature, it’s not like I really had a choice. You’d already gone ahead without me. So I accepted this, and stood back, and let you sweep past me into the sunset with your new girl.

So how dare you think you can put me through more of this bullshit. How dare you flirt with me. How dare you want to text to me when your girlfriend of almost a fucking year is sleeping right beside you. How dare you remind me of what could have been. Of what should have been.

How dare you say we could have worked, when you were the one to end things.

Hindsight sure is a wonderful thing. Because I am a good person. And we have chemistry. And I have to forcibly stamp down on every damn butterfly that takes flight when I see you through the frosted panes of my front door. And maybe you’re right; maybe we could have worked.

But what gives you the right to jerk me around? Is it because you know I’ll go along with it? You know I only put up a half-hearted fight? Because you know that I will always care for you in some capacity, because you were the first boy to make me think I’d finally found It?

I am exactly where I was one year ago. Checking my phone constantly. Counting the days since I have heard from you. Thinking about you whenever my mind’s not already occupied. Of course, there are new additions. Feeling sick when I realise it’s been a year you’ve been with her. Wanting to smash something when I think of you two loved up in Rome, or wherever you’re going in the summer.

I don’t want to do this. And if you would let yourself admit it, you know what you’re doing is wrong.

I could handle being friends. I couldn’t handle flirtation and talk of the past. So why did you do it? When will you realise that you can’t keep chasing what you don’t have? Jobs, shifts, cars, girls – we are not toys to be traded in when you get bored!

So grow up and decide what the fuck you want. Until then, leave me alone. Because I was fine. I genuinely was. And now I’m not. And it’s your fucking fault.

-D.

In which Demi is a lazy sod. But deservingly so. Sortof.

It's midday, and I'm laid in bed with one of my housemates as we lazily trawl the internet for funnies. Lazy, perhaps, but this has been my life for a about a week now, as I bask in post-essay bliss. Unfortunately the fact that I have an exam next week doesn't seem to have fully registered. That notion is sadly lingering outside the house of CBA, knocking fruitlessly on the door in the hope of some attention.

Needless to say, I'm turning the music up louder to drown it out.

I'm not doing absolutely nothing... just less than I probably should be. The essays formed the vast, vast majority of this year's assessments, so my two tiny exams might as well not exist as far as I'm concerned.

Exciting things on the agenda before the end of term: Housemate's birthday; end of exams celebrations; massive mulitple 21-turing bash; Cambridge Uni trip; Grey's Anatomy; chocolate and ice cream; sleep.

It's a hard life being a student... Better post later :) xo.

In which Demi is successful.

11,000 words in 30 days, including all my research. Finished.

Considering the manic panic I had over Christmas, I can't help but feel proud of myself for being so organised (for once); for not compromising on the quality of my work, but not cutting myself off and being a hermit either. I've had a lovely holiday, and even if I don't manage to tip my overall grade from the high 2:1 I'm on now over into a 1st, I'll be happy. Patience is the key! I still have a year left after all.

I hope everyone's enjoying the sun wherever they are :) xo.