What happened on March 26th?

Once in a while I get nostalgic, simply because I have loved so many moments in my life. While I don't dwell on the past, I definitely try to stretch the memories for as long as possible. I never want to forget any events which have shaped me.

March 26, 2010
Jonsi - Live dress rehearsal at 3 Mills Studios, East London

Unbeknownst to us, we answered an ad to be an extra in a Jonsi music video and instead showed up to a private show! There were only about 100 of us, all in some sort of animal dress, as encouraged by the vague email. Show up here, this time, wear a costume. I didn't care, anything to do with these Icelandic greats, I was game! We were treated to some wine, some crisps and the first dress rehearsal of Jonsi's world tour. Amazing. Speechless.

This performance has since been released as a DVD entitled "Jonsi - Go Live". Pay close attention and you will see Miss Ray Louise Coyle and I near the front, on the right hand side of the stage :)

It's only my back but I made it on film!

Screen cap from 'Go Live DVD'

Screen cap from 'Go Live DVD'

I was able to film a bit that night but was too entranced throughout most of the show so this was the encore. The drummer, though not Samuli  Kosinen (from Mum and the drummer on the album), he was equally talented. I could stare at him all night!

March 26, 2009

Wellcome Collection - London

I passed many evenings strolling through London's finest museums. Tonight, I picked the Wellcome Collection which was on the way home by Euston Square. Free and delightfully informative, the Wellcome Collection highlighted the sciences and medicine, two of my favourite topics. From Malaria to the Human Genome Project, I was able to immerse myself for a couple of hours in some of today's hottest issues.

The Human Genome Project - pages & pages of DNA ...

March 26, 2008

Bologna, Italy

Before I settled in London, I went on a bit of a European jaunt. For the Italian leg of it, I was joined by my lovely bestie Becky and her equally lovely then sort-of bf and now definite-Fiance. We stopped by Bologna on the way from Venice to Florence.

Credit to some of the photos (the lovelier ones, go to Matt!)

March 26, 2005

Easter Preparations in Helsinki, Finland

So what does one do to prepare for an Easter away from family? You make the best Easter with your fellow orphans! Some of the erasmus students we lived with never had an Easter egg hunt and we thought that was highly unacceptable. We went to the shop, got side-tracked shopping for wacky shoes, loaded up on booze and started a bake-a-thon. We lived with a Polish girl. If anyone would know how to do Easter, it would be the lovely Anja ♥

We must have ventured off the path to the grocery store...

 

OK back on track, we loaded up or cart with the quintessential Easter supplies: flats of cheap LIDL beer and 35cent Orange juice!

Back on track, we finally produced some fine baked goods, boiled eggs and sorted out all our candies and chocolates in preparation for the next day's festivities.

And just to be fine examples of the studious exchange students that we were, we capped the night off at Umo Jazz club in downtown Helsinki. Great memories indeed!

Melissa, me, Pedro & Alvaro ♥

I am so FABULOUS!

Why am I so fabulous and dare to toot my own horn?

Frugal - who would have thunk it a few years ago but now I've listened to my mum and know that being frugal = getting more in the end ;)
Attention to detail ... or some may call it being nosey. Either way, I'm always accurate and meticulous. You can trust me to do a good job always!
Banter - I'm all about it. If my job didn't involve actually doing work, I could actually banter with our clients all day long!
Ubiquitous - I'm fab for simply loving this word and being able to FINALLY use it. Thanks Fabulous Savings for giving me the outlet :)
Live Love Laugh - wow, I should get bonus points for THREE L's :) That's a motto I live and breathe by, not just a cliche. I swear.
Overseas, overzealous, OTT. wow I'm really getting into this now ... I am beyond excited about exploring the world overseas and have been fortunate to live abroad. It's changed my life forever and I highly suggest it to anyone :)
Understated - I'm not one of those OTT people, but that doesn't mean I don't always give and live 100%. I just don't scream at the top of my lungs and brag about it ♥
Sick - I haven't heard anyone actually use that term to describe me but as I pat myself on the back, I think I'm pretty sick. Even maybe ill.

Wow, I sort of went off on a tangent there. Not sure if I actually did what I set out to do, which pretty much contradicts "A". Oh well :)

Cheers,
Katherine

♥ Embracing Ellie ♥

19 Days until Ellie Goulding's live show at Venue and already I cannot listen to anything else. Finally, one of my favourite Brit artists on my home turf! This will also be my first time seeing her with her live background vocalists. (Her pre-recorded backing vocals used to always throw me off!)

Ellie Goulding - Live at  Heaven - April 15th, 2010

With the re-release of her debut album, Bright Lights come my 3 favourite songs: Your Song, Human, and Lights. It's been over a year since Goulding has been tipped by BBC as the sound of 2010 and she continues to gain momentum. Sometimes being critically acclaimed can backfire, as did in her case. Most music loyalists were afraid of yet another fit blond girl, singing catchy songs. The key to Goulding's growth is her repeated reference to her days songwriting in her pajamas before her record deal. It reminds us of her raw and humble beginnings and as a result, we can relate to her.

Watching her perform also reminds me of how out of shape I am! Goulding was sponsored by Nike last year during her UK tour, during which she did runs around the cities she was performing in with fans. I of course, entered to win the chance, failed to win, but was glad in the end as I am sure I would not have kept up along the Thames of London! I always watch in awe when she bangs away at her drums or strums heavily on her guitar. That girl is fit!

Ellie Goulding - Brighton Great Escape Festival - May 15th, 2010

From a fashion standpoint, I'm fairly sure Goulding has paved the return of shorts with tights. Her most notable tights have been the House of Holland 'London' tights (which I coveted so badly but settled for the knee-suspender tights). Tights are something I LOVE ... and why I love Fall/Winter so much just so I can wear them everyday!

So where does Goulding go from here?  If her recent collaboration with Tinie Tempah on Wonderman is any indication, she is destined to capture the attention of many genres of listeners. She is ultimately pop, yet so cool in hip hop and when stripped down to just her and her guitar, she is bordering on folk. I am upset even thinking about missing the UK Festival season this summer but there will be many more. And trust me, I will make up for it ;)

And in her fabulous London tights at the London Hammersmith Apollo:

♥ ♥ ♥

I Just Had Sex (feat. Akon)

I am almost embarrassed to classify this under 'Music' on my blog but with 62 million views, I guess I am not the only one who cannot get enough of this video! Guest stars include the ever lovely Blake Lively and Jessica Alba.


Highlights include:

• Akon miming the lyrics and not able to keep a straight face
• The quintessential key-change
• I'm so humbled by a girl's ability to let me do her 
  'Cause honestly, I'd have sex with a pile of manure 
  With that in mind, a soft, nice-smellin' girl's better 
  Plus she let me wear my chain and my turtleneck sweaters 
• She kept lookin' at her watch (Doesn't matter, had sex!)
  But I cried the whole time (Doesn't matter, had sex!)
  I think she might've been a racist (Doesn't matter, had sex!)
  She put a bag on my head (Still counts!) 

Thanks to Ray Louse Coyle for sharing her love of Akon. Feel free to follow her blog for her musical musings as well!