Friday 31 August 2012

Burgundy and Camo

I was planning on going shopping today but this morning was lovely and sunny so I decided to stay at home and have a bit of "TAN TIME". Just as I went to sit outside this afternoon the sun went in and a breeze began sweeping through my garden. Cheers Mother Nature. So, instead, I made some back to school inspiration outfits out of some of the items that I was planning on trying on...
I have already ordered the Topshop geek tee and checked shirt. This year, I'm going to try and invest in more shirts seen as they're a good staple to cover up with and have such versatility...especially as this year we aren't allowed to bare our sexual shoulders. Oh the scandal! I also need to invest in some cream coloured converse, considering I've been wearing the same ones for the past four years, that are a size too small and have been through the sea and sand of Africa. They are literally the perfect shoe.

What are your staple items for college?

Wednesday 29 August 2012

I Am The Female Weezy

Preparation for my subjects  New folders!  Specsy beast

Today I registered for sixth form. After much deliberation, I chose to take English Literature, Biology, A2 French (but re-sit the AS speaking module) and Music. Awoohoo. I have to say, looking at my growing pile of new folders and books, I am a little too excited to organise my work. Is it nerdy that I look forward to opening a new notebook and placing it neatly in my folder when school starts? Well, I have to take advantage of it while it lasts, by the third week it is inevitably going to be a chunky hoard of sheets that I will have accumulated from anywhere and everywhere.

I really effing love this song by the way, hence the title. Lil Wayne never fails to make me want to bust a move. I have a crush on him.

Sunday 26 August 2012

Top Knotch

I really love top knots at the minute. I prefer to wear it a bit looser, less of a knot, but the height is still there. I also took inspiration from the images above of the studded bracelet wrapped around the base and like to wear a headscarf wrapped around mine. They're so perfect for 'don't care' days...as well as the fact that I haven't had my hair cut for almost a year now. Why oh why when I ask to have an half an inch off the ends the hairdresser always seems to cut off three I will never understand.
Oh, and how awesome is this upside down french plait leading into a top knot? I will be spending a hefty amount of time perfecting that, you know, getting warmed up for French to begin again.

Speaking of French, I have a question regarding my choices for my language course this year. I've been contemplating what to do all day. So, I did AS French last year (Year 11) one year early.  I'm quite pleased with my B Grade result, however, I've been told that I will have to re-sit if I want an A Grade overall at the end of A2. Considering the subject is a language and I'm contemplating continuing with this after college, I really do want an A and I think with some hard work I could achieve it. The options I have are: begin A2 and hope for the best, do A2 and re-sit my AS in January, or repeat my AS year. I'm swaying towards re-sitting the whole year again but I really would love any advice! Merci.

Thursday 23 August 2012

Jambo, Jambo Bwana

When: 14th July - 10th August
Where: Tanga, Ndarakwai, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Meru, Moshi
What: Tanzania Expedition with Camps International

The most amazing experience of my life.
Tanzania is now my favourite place in the whole entire world. I met wonderful people, both from England and in Tanzania, whose memories I shall hold onto tightly as they are irreplaceable. Here are a few of my photos and words to describe the time I had, although it really can't be put into words.

Project Work
The main purpose of our trip was to lend a helping hand to the local communities we visited. Our work involved wildlife conservation, building a house for a mama and renovating classrooms. At the three different schools we visited, we managed to build new doors and windows, cement a floor and build seven benches for the new dining hall. It was really rewarding to see the impact that our work had, particularly with the school, as we got to meet the children that our work would benefit. I met one little girl called Irene in Moshi who couldn't remember my name throughout the whole afternoon as we worked. The second day she got so excited when she saw me, shouting out "MOLLIE!".

Safari
Elephants, giraffes, a cheetah, a lion and flamingos are just a few of the animals we saw on safari. Our driver Julius was so good, he managed to get us magnificent sights of a cheetah chasing impalas in an attack, a lion that was literally within arms reach and a huge elephant shaking a tree. When I saw the giraffe chewing the leaves in the funny way that giraffes do, I had a hard time containing my laughter as it reminded me of Marty from Madagascar. I also have an urge to plaster my walls with images of elephants now too. During the two days of safari we visited Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, which was the most beautiful landscape that I've ever seen.

Tanga
Although I loved everywhere we visited within Tanzania, Tanga just holds a special place in my heart. Our camp was located right above the Indian Ocean and the village of Mbuni was full of such friendly and happy people. Each time we walked to our project work the children would come running to shout "Hiii", "Byyeee" and "Jambo". I also adored the camp staff at Tanga: Balla is the one who always sang and kept spirits high, Eliphas is the coolest person in camp who owns a happy hat, Anderson is just a big teddy bear that is constantly smiling, and Benson is the love of my life. I'm not kidding, he dances and holds everyones hands whilst maintaining the cutest smile. Oh, and let's not forget about the kitchen staff, William and Jambo Jambo Guy. Everytime I would walk past the kitchen Jambo Jambo Guy would say "JAMBO JAMBO" in a high pitched voice (of which me and my friend Meghan would imitate excitedly) and William would wave frantically after seeing me get so excited to see him. Awh, I cried when I left that camp. We miss only those who we never want to lose.
So if you see a person walking down the street saying "JAMBO" to everyone they pass, it's probably me. People in this country need to cheer up anyway.

If you have any questions about the country or what I did, I'd love to talk about it with you in more depth. I'm already planning on going again after my A-Levels. Maybe Benson could hook me up with a cheaper deal seen as we've already had a whole two conversations on Facebook.

Tanzania, Nakupenda Kwa Moyo Wote♡

Wednesday 22 August 2012

On The Road!

Hello my lovely jubblies! I come with the news that sadly this is the last post ever to be published on 'stereospecs'...but fear not, for I am moving to a brand new blog. I needed a fresh start and so I've created a blog for absolutely everything. If you want to make my day come over and say hi, maybe even follow me if you're in a good mood, there might be an answer to your question on my first ever post (ooh, how exciting!). 

I'm Over Here!

Welcome to my fresh new blog which I am, quite honestly, a little too excited about.
With no purpose whatsoever, this is my little space to write about e v e r y t h i n g; a blog without boundaries. You can expect posts about travel, music, momentous happenings in the world, even what my cats are getting up to. Oh, it is a hard life sleeping all day and having food handed to you...although, having said that, one of them still hasn't fathomed the mechanics of the cat flap. Anyway, the reason behind this (yet another) change is, after my previous indecisiveness and having a month free from the internet, I just thought I should have a mahoosive blog in which I'm not restricted to what style of posts I can write. With my beloved 'stereospecs' music blog I kind of felt that I wasn't posting for myself at all anymore so I am sadly going to have to say goodbye to my 336 followers, 109 posts and whole lotta writing. If you're migrating from stereospecs please do say hi and follow me on here instead, I still love you guys and will follow everyone that I used to. Seeing so much on my expedition, I just wanted to write about it all. So TADAA! 'Hakuna Mootata' has arrived, albeit with a misspelt word as I got last dibs on the name I wanted and couldn't think of another one, and I am ready to go. Awoohoo!

Friday 17 August 2012

Dougou Badia

I discovered this song when I was returning from my expedition. I was listening to the 'Africa Now' playlist on the little aeroplane tv to soak up the last ounce of Tanzanian culture I could and found this. By Amadou and Mariam, a blind duo from Mali, and featuring an urban injection from Santigold, this song is a brilliant fusion of musical style. I love the intro, especially when the voices enter.

Also, I haven't been able to stop singing the Jambo song. I even taught my friend this song from Tanzania and she can't get it out of her head either. Awh, it's just so happy.

Sunday 12 August 2012

Nakupenda Tanzania

I have returned from the most amazing experience of my life. Tanzania is now my favourite place in the whole entire world. I met wonderful people, both from England and in Tanzania, that I have memories with and shall hold onto tightly as they are irreplacable. I can't wait to see all the photos and get started on my scrapbook. Here are a few of my photos and words to describe the time I had, although it really can't be put into words.
Photos with Eliphas, William and Benson in Tanga · Snapshots from our safari · Playing with the lovely children from the village of Umbuni · Project work which involved getting rather dirty socks

Project Work
The main purpose of our trip was to lend a helping hand to the local communities we visited. Our work involved wildlife conservation, building a house for a mama and renovating classrooms. It was really rewarding to see the impact that our work had, particularly with the school as we got to meet the children that our work would benefit.

Safari
Elephants, giraffes, a cheetah, a lion and flamingos are just a few of the animals we saw on safari. Our driver Julius was so good, he managed to get us magnificent sights of a cheetah chasing impalas in an attack, a lion that was literally within arms reach and a huge elephant shaking a tree. We visited Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater which was the most beautiful landscape that I've ever seen.

Tanga
Although I loved everywhere we visited within Tanzania, Tanga just holds a special place in my heart. Our camp was located right above the Indian Ocean and the village of Umbuni was full of such friendly and happy people. Each time we walked to our project work the children would come running to shout "Hiii", "Byyeee" and "Jambo"; their happiness just resonated throughout the whole team. I also adored the camp staff at Tanga: Balla is the one who always sang and kept spirits high, Eliphas is the coolest person in camp with a happy hat, Anderson is just a big teddy bear that is constantly smiling, and Benson is the love of my life. I'm not kidding, he dances and holds everyones hands whilst maintaining the cutest smile. Oh, and let's not forget about the kitchen staff, William and Jambo Jambo Guy. Everytime I would walk past the kitchen Jambo Jambo Guy would say "JAMBO JAMBO" in a high pitched voice (of which me and my friend Meghan would imitate) and William would wave frantically after seeing me get so excited to see him. Awh, I cried when I left that camp.

So if you see a person walking down the street saying "JAMBO" to everyone they pass, it's probably me. People in this country need to cheer up anyway.

If you have any questions about the country or what I did, I'd love to talk about it with you in more depth. This post is merely scratching the surface.

Nakupenda Tanzania