Review: Ellie Goulding

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IT was an effective way to kick off her first major arena tour; sporting an outfit that appeared to show one of Britain's biggest female artists completely nude underneath a body suit of black panel strips.

The wow! factor of Ellie Goulding's stage wear was easily matched by the show she put on for Nottingham fans at the Capital FM Arena on Wednesday night.

The 27-year-old singer behind the hits Burn, Anything Could Happen and Starry Eyed, said how she'd not performed in such a large venue before but it was clear from this tour opener that arenas suit her.

A beautiful indigo beam lit up the stage, revealing a backdrop of huge squares, reflecting the cover of her latest album, Halcyon Days. Throughout the show, beautiful graphics and photos flooded the screens - including one of her mum, as the singer would later tweet: "Thanks Nottingham! Buzzing! My mum loved her cameo on screen."

It was Figure 8, with which Goulding opened the show in that aforementioned 'nude' bodysuit, over which she wore a glittery hooded bomber jacket.

After Ritual, came latest single, Goodness Gracious, the first proper singalong of the night.

For each, Goulding displayed remarkable energy, using every inch of the stage, suggestively grinding to those in the front few rows and looking like she was having a blast.

The set was, as expected, all the hits and more from her two studio albums, the No. 1 Lights and No. 2 Halcyon, along with the extra songs from the reissued 'deluxe' editions, Bright Lights and Halcyon Days. As a result it was a mostly uplifting, dancey vibe but with the more sedate and touching ballads thrown in, such as How Long Will I Love You? and her cover of Elton John's Your Song.

It is easy for performers to become consumed by the need to deliver a well-rehearsed set at an arena show, sticking to the structured routines that have been worked on for weeks in advance. But Goulding didn't appear overwhelmed and relaxed into it,

chatting to as many in the crowd as she could, sharing jokes and encouraging them to light up their phones.

As she broke into I Need Your Love, she shouted for us to "dance like you've never danced before", joking that she wasn't much of a dancer herself.

It was Burn, her first UK No.1 single, that closed the show.

"I really do have the best fans." she said. "You have all stuck by me from the beginning and I can't thank you enough."

There was only one way she could have done that and that's exactly what she did; by putting on a show to remember.

Is it summer yet?

Hello Beautiful!

With forecasters promising the hottest summer on record (please be true!) I have already begun the search for the perfect bikini and summer accessories. A little premature perhaps, but as some who loves nothing more than to soak up the sunshine and tan my body - I think its a necessity and definitely a little mood booster!

After browsing a few High Street stores and my favourite online shops, I have picked up on a few key trends to rock on your jollies; including eye-wear - which we all know is essential during the summer months.

Sunglasses

For many people (I know it is the case for me) only certain sunglasses suit certain shaped sunglasses. For example, I can happily rock a pair of aviators but look like a bug in over sized glasses. However, linking in with the sixties vibes that seem to be featuring all ore the high street are the round framed sunglasses. Yes, think John Lennon or nineties nostalgia - but they are super cute! And they can easily be pulled off. I love this pair of round sunglasses from BooHoo - and they are available in a range of different colours to help fit in with your wardrobe. Topshop and River Island also have a great variety of sunglasses in their store - but with a price range of £12-£20, BooHoo seems to be the more 'student friendly' option.

Zoe Round Frame
BooHoo
£8

Swimwear

Linking back in with the sixties themes, a lot of stores are displaying bikinis with high waist bottoms. As a female with insecurities about her stomach, I find this a great thing and really believe it will encourage more self confidence for women who are scared to get into a bikini. Primark and River Island have a great selection of high waist bikinis - some even demonstrating a nautical theme. However, I love this from BooHoo. The print on the bikini reminds me a lot of the Aztec themes that have been popping up on the catwalk this s/s. The bikini is also reasonable affordable, making it an essential for your wardrobe.

Paphos Retro Snake Print High Rise Bikini
BooHoo
£20

If you are more body confident or want to add some flare and sass into your wardrobe, I would recommend taking a look at Missguided. Their swimwear offers sexy and stylish bikinis and beachwear to wear around the pool. My personal favourite is the tasseled bikini in a neon pink: I absolutely adore the colour of this! The brightness of it will definitely make you stand out from the crowd. However, if you are not a fan of the color - Missguided do a range of different colours to suit your mood. What I do love about this bikini is that if you teamed this up with a pair of acid-washed denim shorts - you could pull off a casual summer look.

Trona Halterneck Fringe Bikini In Hot Pink
Missguided
£20.99

Last year, the trend of realistic or animal faces was huge - and I can distinctly remember New Look selling a swimsuit with a huge lions face on it. This year, ASOS have brought back the trend and create this beautiful swimsuit with cutouts on either side. It is perfect for those who have issues with their bodies (although every body is beautiful ladies! flaunt it!) and I cannot get enough of the elephant print! I may even purchase this myself!

Safari Elephant Print Bandeau Swimsuit
ASOS
£35

Beachwear/Pool-wear

Beachwear is a great way to make the transaction from hotel room to the beach or to the poolside. However, I am sick of seeing the same repetitive maxi dresses or short dresses and was looking for something a little bit different. After having a browse on ASOS, I came across this gorgeous outfit! This two piece has definitely ticked the boxes for uniqueness and still looking stylish. As we know, two pieces are hot right now and the cute print will definitely help you stand out from the crowd. At £40 for the complete outfit, it is a little steep - however, your student discount and/or other promotional codes. 

    

ASOS Reflective Palm Print Crop  outfit
ASOS
£40 (£20 for each item)

Footwear

Now this next item really is a flashback of my childhood. My mum used to hate me wearing jelly shoes - but I couldn't help but think that they were cool! And I still have a little love for them. I agree that not everyone will like them - but I think that they are prefect for wearing around the pool. They are also pretty inexpensive - with New Look selling them for £10 (plus 10% student discount) and they come in a variety of colours. If you loved them as a kid, I would recommend picking up a pair asap. 

Silver Clear Flat Jelly Sandals
New Look
£9.99

I actually cannot wait to purchase these items and, hopefully, it will encourage the sun to make an appearance. Please?

How excited are you for summer 2014?

Pancake Perfection

Hello Beautiful!

Across the world, people are celebrating Shrove Tuesday or as many call it - Pancake day. For many young adults and children, the day is on a similar level to Christmas and Easter - consuming pancakes all around the clock.

With many people opting for the traditional pancake with clichéd lemon juice and sugar; I have decided to mix things up a little. With a growing interest in trying new foods whilst trying to be reasonably healthy, I have scoured the internet for new ways to update and reinvent the classic pancake.

On the Good Food website, I have found the perfect mixture of fun and healthy! lemon and blueberry pancakes which are less than 70 calories each!

 

 

Ingredients

200g plain flour

1 tsp cream of tartar

half of a tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp golden syrup

75g blueberries

zest 1 lemon

200ml milk

1 large egg

butter, for cooking

 

Method

1. First, put the flour, cream of tartar and bicarbonate of soda in the bowl. Mix them well with the fork. Drop the golden syrup into the dry ingredients along with the blueberries and lemon zest.
2. Pour the milk into a measuring jug. Now break in the egg and mix well with a fork. Pour most of the milk mixture into the bowl and mix well with a rubber spatula. Keep adding more milk until you get a smooth, thick, pouring batter.
3.  Heat the frying pan and brush with a little butter. Then spoon in the batter, 1 tbsp at a time, in heaps. Bubbles will appear on top as the pancakes cook – turn them at this stage, using the metal spatula to help you. Cook until brown on the second side, then keep warm on a plate, covered with foil. Repeat until all the mixture is used up.

With Shrove Tuesday marking the beginning of lent - a time recognised for giving up fatty or unhealthy items, today is a perfect opportunity to treat yourself while being good to your body.

 

How will you be having your pancakes today?

 

 

February wishlist

Hello Beautiful!

As any keen lover of fashion knows, it's not always possible to get those oh-so great fashion pieces for our wardrobe. Maybe it's lack of spare cash or your wardrobe won't simply allow it - which is definitely the case for me!

And so, I have created a wishlist to share with you the items my wardrobe is craving for! Ahem, I mean me ...

A X Paris
£28

Celeb Boutique £125

Daisy Street £24.99

OMG Fashion                         £20.00

Looking at the items above, its very clear that I am a lover of the pastel pink trend. I predict that this is going to be a massive hit this year and the High Street has gone absolutely wild with pastel pinks, blues and peaches. 

The A X Paris dress was the first piece of pastel that really caught my eye. The dress skater-style fitted dress has a daisy trim, which is very ideal for the fresh spring days. It is super, super cute and I cannot wait to put this beauty in my wardrobe. Also, to all your students out there! Unidays offer a 10% discount for A X  Paris - so take full advantage of this!

Although high in prices, I cannot get enough of the dresses from Celeb Boutique. Worn by celebrities such as Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattison, this brand demonstrates high quality dresses in unique styles. A particular favourite of mine is this animal print bodycon. To me, it screams Barbie chic and I think it is definitely a statement piece. It hugs in just the right places and doesn't need to be accessorised due to the various animal prints. 

I have always been a huge fan of Daisy Street since I discovered them last year. They are extremely affordable and have a unique, vintage twist to their designs - which I love. This shift dress; teamed up with a Peter Pan collar, is a perfect daytime dress. The pink checked pattern is also adorable, and adds youth into your wardrobe. Again, Unidays offer a huge discount of 25%! which is extremely good when they are priced brilliantly!

Since I saw Kimmy k and TOWIE's Lucy rocking this piece, I have been eyeing up different PVC skirts to add to my wardrobe. OMG fashion offers a range of different coloured PVC Skirts at an affordable price of £20 - which is the best price online shopping has to offer. I really like the nude/pink colouring - and it goes hand in hand with the pastel trend without looking too tacky. A 25% discount is again offered for students, so go and check out Unidays!

I cannot wait to get my hands on these items, and with such a good student rate - it also affordable to do so!

What are your season must-have pieces?

Love is in the air!

Hello Beautiful!

Well it's nearly that time of year again. Valentine's Day - it reminds me a lot of Marmite - you love it or hate it. For most singletons (like myself)  it's a day to be feared and a bucket full of Ben and Jerry's to be on had to get you through your day. However, this year I have decided to embrace my single status and spend the day with my best lady friend Steph. Who say's valentines have to be a romantic love?!

However, if you are lucky enough to be with someone on this romantic day, I have been browsing high and low for the perfect outfits for the day. Whether it be a date night to the cinema or a fancy dinner out - I have come up with a few plans to help you look your best!

Date at the cinema:

For most, when it comes to a cinema date comfort it a must. I know most of the time you are in the dark when it comes to this date, however I believe that a girl can look her best whatever the day - you may just have to dress it down a tad. 

This tunic dress from New Look is perfect for this occasion! Teamed up with the grey cardigan below, a black bowler hat, black tights and pumps - style and comfort are both available with this look.

Tunic Dress
New Look
£19.99

Cardigan
New Look
£17.99

Casual Drinks:

For some, Valentines will be a first chance of a first date.  For most, a woman wants to show her sexiness but I believe it's the first chance you get to show signs of who you are but to still keep them guessing.

Daisy Street offer a range of clothes perfect for that first date feeling. Their style is similar to that of Urban Outfitters but with the prices slashed in half! Very handy for when you are a student. This pink PVC skirt is bang on trend and can be teamed up with a sheer, cream vest or something that doesn't show too much flesh. For shoes, I would opt for a low to mid heel in a nude colour or some black platform boots. 

Midi Skirt
Daisy Street
£17.99

Dinner Date:

For those who have already found their valentine, a posh dinner may be on the cards - and a perfect time to slowly seduce your partner. Celeb Boutique have a whole section of dresses made for Valentine's day, all of which are sexy and seductive. My Favourite happens to be this pink & grey pencil dress. It's figure hugging and reminds you man how luck he is to be with you. I would team this dress up with a pair of black stilettos. 

Pencil Dress
Celeb Boutique
£95.00

And for after ....

Well, we all know what I mean there. Ann Summers are perfect for providing you with sexy and playful outfits to drive your man wild! And this is one of my favourites ... 

Babydoll
Ann Summers
£36.00

How will you be spending Valentine's?

S/S14: What to expect for trends!

The new year is finally upon us; which means that we can finally stock our wardrobe with the new spring and summer 2014 collection. Last year, we saw heaps of neon, bright colours and Orientals prints – but this year, we have a few new treats instore!

The development of the feminist:

This winter, we were introduced with the androgyny, feminist trend which saw us dabbling with suit trousers and shirts. During the presentation of London Fashion Week, brilliant designers such as Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent debuted that they are pushing this trend even further; making suit trousers a necessity in our wardrobe.

Saint Laurent

Louis Vuitton

Pastel Madness

Candyfloss pink and baby blues have all made an appearance in LFW; promising to be one of the top trends. Chanel and Balmain have introduced these beautiful colours into their tweed suits, while Miu Miu and Olympia De Tan have mixed it up by adding cute prints such as cats to their dresses and jackets.

Olympia Le Tan

Miu Miu

Chloe

Lace to Lace

Valentino is famous for his use of lace in his designs, and this year it is set to be big on the high street. The theme is very romantic; mixing in deep reds and blacks for a gothic feel. Lace dresses and skirts will be hot this summer, being teamed up with open toed heels.

Stella McCartney

Elie Saab

Valentino

Think Aztec

Last year, Aztec patterns were popular on midi dresses – and LFW saw a twist to the popular trend. Famous designer Alexander McQueen based most of his campaign around this trend – mixing in beading with heavy feather details. However, this trend can be easily adapted using heavy accessorising – which can be seen in the collection by Celine, who used chunky, bright necklaces.

Alexander McQueen

Celine

Frozen feet? What not to wear this winter!

We have all been there; those cheap but oh-so pretty pumps from Primark that have never been snow friendly, yet we are still adamant that our poor feet can survive the cold weather in them.  These are definitely a no go for the winter season, especially when we are expecting a special delivery of snow.

Ugg boots: Now I know these may seem to be your feet’s best friend when the weather gets cold. But, unfortunately they are not 100% waterproof – and you will catch a dread cold if you wear them. Instead, opt for wellies with fur lined socks/cuffs – warmth and bang on trend!

Hunter's are a popular choice when it comes to Wellingtons. I have purchased a pair ready for the rainy season and for my local festivals - not only do they come in millions of colours, they are the best money can buy! And what's more? Hunter also do their own fur-lined socks to fit each boot!

Hunter Wellies
Around £89 

New Years Resolutions

Hello beautiful!

Firstly, a very happy new year to all my loyal readers!

Well, it has come round to that time of year again - where we all promise ourselves that we are going to become the next fitness guru and to finally find Mr Right.

When it comes to New Years Resolutions, I know a lot of people can be very sceptical about the concept of them; me being usually one of them.

However, this year is going to be a little different. This year, I have goals I want to achieve & today I am going to share my hopes for this year.

1. Get fit (or, at least toned)

To be honest, when it comes to exercise I am probably one of the laziest people going. The only sort of exercise I actually enjoy doing is a long walk through the countryside. However, this year I am taking action to get the toned body I crave. After looking at the transformation of GeordieShore's Vicky Pattison this year, I have become more determined than ever to get my dream body. Vicky has dropped 5 dress sizes this year and, I'll be honest, I have developed a huge girl crush on her body. Luckily, she has very recently released a fitness DVD, which I am going to use religiously. 

Another body crush I have is that of Jodie Marsh. If I'm honest, I've asked all of my guy friends about their thoughts on Jodie's body - and not one of them liked them, calling it too 'masculine'. However, I cannot help but admire her. The amount of effort she put in to get this body is admirable, and I want to channel this energy into becoming fit and healthy.

2. Pass my driving test

This has been a long time coming but, I think it is about time I passed my driving test. I will admit, I have done quite a number of lessons, but after failing my theory test (yes, you may laugh) I kind of sunk back into my shell. However, this year I want to be able to drive places - just decide one day 'Hey, lets go to Blackpool' - I love a good adventure & I feel not having this skill is definitely holding me back. 

3. Focus on my Blogging & keep up with my journalism career

I am probably one of the worst bloggers out there when it comes to delivering new posts. I have the ideas, I just never seem to gather enough time to put them in actions. However, this year I want to make sure I blog at least Twice a week, and I am going to try and make certain days for me to do so. I also want to progress as being a journalist. This year saw me conduct my own interviews with some amazing celebrities and I really do feel this is the career I belong to. I absolutely love my job.

4. Be Happy

Very clichéd, but a certain must amongst my resolutions. I want to remain happy. At this moment in time, I am in a happy place - but if you asked me this a few months ago, I would tell you I was not. So this year, I will make sure I do things that make me happy - keep the loved ones close, see my friends more & treat everyday like it's my last. 2013 has definitely been an eyeopener. So lets make 2014 better.

What are your New Years Resolutions?

 

Review - Union J Hits Nottingham

Photo by Kevin Cooper (more at facebook.com/EGNottingham)

AS one might expect from fans of an X Factor boy band with over a million Twitter followers, it was teenage screams throughout Union J’s set at the Royal Concert Hall on Sunday night, part of their first headline tour, Magazines and TV Screens.

The quartet – consisting of George Shelley, Josh Cuthbert, JJ Hamblett and Jaymi Hensley - have gone a long way since getting together on last year’s ITV talent machine, with three hit singles, a No. 6 album, two books and this 20-date headline tour that runs in to the New Year.

Turning out to see them in Nottingham was this year’s X Factor winner Sam Bailey, who had a busy time on the balcony having photos taken with fans.

Before the main event at 9pm, there were four support acts; Eylar Fox, Ollie Marland, Room 94 and Five Angels, who all had the crowd on their feet dancing along.

While the former two suited the Union J sound, Room 94 had an edgier rock sound, closer to that of Lawson and lyrics about teen romance sat well with the audience.

But they saved the hysteria for the Union J, who opened with Where Are You Now, the quartet making full use of the stage, bouncing around it and encouraging their fans to join in.

Any group with just one album to their name, needs a few extras to fill a set and in Union J’s case they were covers of Katy Perry’s Roar and One Republic’s Counting Stars.

Debut single, Carry You, the video for which was filmed in Nottingham earlier this year, sent the crowd into overdrive and even the parents were out of their seats, dancing along.

The light from a thousand phones lit up the venue as they ran through their second hit single, It’s A Beautiful Life, while latest single, Loving You Is Easy, closed the set.

The fans clearly enjoyed it but what of the group? Yesterday, Josh described it as “my favourite show of the tour so far!” on Twitter, adding: “NOTTINGHAM......you were insaneeeeeeeeeeeee.”

Union J have slipped right in to those pop shoes left behind by JLS and are racing after One Direction for the title of Britain’s biggest boy band.

Interview: Little Mix's Perrie Edwards

You've just announced your second headline tour, so are you excited about getting back on the road?

We are so excited; it's going to be amazing. We're very much buzzing for this.

You came to Nottingham earlier this year on your first tour. What did you think of the city?

We loved it! We just loved it. The crowd were very loud and really up for a party. Everywhere we go our fan base is amazing; we're very lucky to have the fans we do. We just know it's going to be an amazing show and we can't wait.

Your latest album, Salute, reached number four in the chart. You must be pleased with that?

We are really proud of how it's doing. Obviously the last album (DNA) did really well in America as well as here so that was quite a big deal. Hopefully we will have the same success with Salute, or it may do even better.

What is your favourite song on the album?

(Laughs) I don't know – it changes every day. I definitely love the title track. I think that's an anthem and is going to be amazing to perform on the tour. I love Boy because of the acapella and the harmonies. I love Mr Loverboy because of its old skool feel... basically, I love all of them!

You've come a long way since the X Factor in 2011 and there has been a lot in the press about your relationship with One Direction's Zayn Malik. How do you deal with that?

Well, we have each other. We keep each other grounded. We've all got amazing families and an amazing team around – we are very lucky. We do our best to just enjoy everything. It can get tiring at times but what we live for is touring – that's what we love the most. It's the best part about this job.

You'll be playing at the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball this weekend. Are you excited about that?

Yeah, I wasn't able to perform there last year so I'm very excited. I missed it because of getting my tonsils taken out and I was very poorly.

Anything you would like to say to your fans here in Nottingham?

Just a massive thank you to all our amazing fans for getting us where we are today, for helping us make another album, for getting (recent single) Move so high in the charts and hopefully I will see them all on tour very soon.