Sarah Dave: August 2015

Monday, 31 August 2015

August Playlist

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Another month has come and gone and August has been a good one for music.

Jaymes Young // I'll Be Good

Jaymes Young // Moondust

James Young // Habits of My Heart

Aosoon // Under

The Beach // Thieves

Jack Watts // Push Blue

Matt Corby // Brother

Birdy // Wings

Kaiser Chiefs // Ruby

Imagine Dragons // Summer

Macklemore ft. Ed Sheeran // Growing Up (Sloane's Song)

The Kooks // Bad Habit

I have also been been listening to Birdy's Album 'Fire Within' found here. Jaymes Young has been on constant repeat and you can listen to all his music on soundcloud here.

I also reached 100 followers on Bloglovin'. It means the world that people want to actually read what I have to say so thank you so much!

What are some songs you have been listening to this month?

Sarah x

Monday, 24 August 2015

I absolutely love going on safari and am fortunate enough to live only a couple of hours away from Tsavo, one of the oldest and largest national parks in Kenya. My dad is very keen on us being campers and not 'lodge people' but as a treat for my sister and I for graduating, we went to Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge, located in Tsavo West.

It was an amazing weekend with the family and the highlight must be when we spotted a leopard just but the side of the road. It is very rare to see a leopard so close and we were so lucky to be able to see it. We also saw loads of zebra and giraffes.The second night we were there, nearly 20 elephants were by the water hole and it was such an amazing sight to see.

Have you ever seen any animals in the wild? If so, which ones? I am desperate to see a lion.

Sarah x

Friday, 14 August 2015

What I've been Watching Lately | Summer Edition

Mad Max Fury Road

There are so many things to admire about this film from the stunning visuals to the script and the bad-ass female characters. Something I also love is the fact that the plot is so simple; they drive down a road and turn around. It is as simple as that and yet, you get to experience two hours worth of a brilliant movie. This is probably my favourite film of the year so far.

Ant Man

I did not have high expectations for this film after watching the trailer and though it would be a bit silly. But, it was actually rather good. There was humour that was actually funny and not cringe worthy like in Avengers 2. There was also a good ratio of action scenes to the rest of the film. I do recommend that you watch it just because it is a good film and if you ever what to watch any future Marvel films and understand them, I'm betting that you will need to watch this one.

Home

I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It was a bit strange at first hearing Sheldon Cooper's voice making grammatical errors but soon got over it because I was just so engrossed in the film. Yes, it is a film for kids, but who does't love watching a kids film now and then? If you are looking for a humorous, feel-good film then definitely watch Home.

Spy

I have been a huge fan of Melissa McCarthy ever since her role in Bridesmaids and was very eager to see Spy. And I loved it. It was really funny and the cast was excellent. I particularly liked Jason Statham and Rose Byrne. The only bad thing I can say about the film is that the plot was a bit generic to any other spy comedy film. None the less, this is a must see.

Mission Impossible Rogue Nation

I really really really liked this film. I am a big fan of the 4th Mission Impossible and I might even like this one a bit better. I liked that you couldn't really tell if certain characters were good or not and there were a lot of surprises from the onset and thought. And as always, the stunts were brilliant. If you can, go see it in the cinema!

Cinderella

I pleasantly surprised with this film. I genuinely enjoyed everything about it, from the cast to the visuals and script. This might be my bias towards Disney talking, but there are just so many things about this film to love. If you are a huge Disney fan then I really do think you will enjoy this film.

Aloha

There is no nice way of putting it, this has got to be one of the worst films I have ever watched. The film was so confusing with under-developed characters and a very weak and predictable plot. I do not understand how a film with such a good cast including Emma Stone, Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murry and Alec Baldwin can be so so poor. I was actually really looking forward to watching the film and it was a big disappointment.

Age of Adeline

I really don't know how I feel about this film. I can't tell if I feel bad for the main character, Adeline, who doesn't age for over 100 years or annoyed that she victimises herself constantly throughout the film. It's an alright film if you feel like killing some time.

Any good films that you've watched lately?

Sarah x

Wednesday, 12 August 2015

World Elephant Day

I had never seen an Elephant in real life until I was about 10, and I can remember being completely mesmerised by them. Now, I can't even count the number of Elephants I have seen. And it never gets old being able to witness these beautiful animals in their natural habitat.

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This post isn't just me confessing my love for elephants. I wanted to draw attention to the fact that they could be extinct in our lifetime. How scary is that? Both African and Asian Elephants face threats such as the escalation of poaching, illegal trade, habitat loss and mistreatment in captivity.

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When trying to tackle such a big issue like this, you can sometimes feel like there is nothing you can do the help. But there are so many different things you can do to help keep these animals alive.

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Become more educated on threats to elephants and the solutions to such threats. Awareness is key.

Only visit Eco-tourism operations. Support those who treat elephants with respect and dignity and aid in conservation efforts.

You can also support any of the organisations listed here. Whether that is donating funds or simply sharing their efforts on social media. I personally support the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust through fostering Lasayen, an orphaned elephant who fell down a well.

And lastly, support World Elephant Day. Help raise awareness by expressing your concern and knowledge as well as solutions for the improvement of care for captive and wild elephants. Get involved and sign a pledge here to "support a world that protects elephants, wildlife and their habitat".

This post was written with aid from resources available from the World Elephant Day website.

Read more about World Elephant Day here.

Don't forget to use the #WorldElephantDay hashtag today. Make your voice heard for those who don't have a voice.

Sarah x

Sunday, 9 August 2015

MAC Hot Tahiti | Review

I have always heard tales of the wondrous MAC lipsticks but have never been prepared to fork out £15 for a lipstick. That is, until a couple of weeks ago. My sister and I were waiting in St. Pancreas Station waiting to meet up with some friends when she suggested that we just take a look in the MAC store. How many times will I have to learn that 'just taking a look' never means 'just taking a look'.

Several swatches later, I walked out of the store with £15 less in my pocket and my first ever MAC lipstick. And boy is it pretty. I got the shade 'Hot Tahiti', which is a glaze finish.

I am not one to venture out of matte lipsticks but the glaze finish does feel super creamy and smooth on the lips. However, because it is a glaze finish, I must say that it doesn't last long. You can certainly build up the colour, or just have a sheer tint and both options look gorgeous.

Sarah x