Emily Warren’s Not Ready to Dance perfectly sums up what it’s like to deal with heartbreak.
In a recent interview, the Grammy-award winner opened up about her experience with post-break up blues and anxiety attacks.
Originally writing for other artists like The Chainsmokers, Emily had kept a few songs to herself that she felt were “too personal to give away.”
In Not Ready to Dance, the song is written from the perspective of a girl whose relationship just ended and is exploring the possibility of moving on. But she just cannot reach happiness, no matter how close she is to attaining it.
“He is my chance”, she sings, “and I’m not ready to dance. I wanted to but I just don’t think that I can.”
Emily said that she penned this song during her own struggle:
“You make an effort to get over something and say ‘okay, im not gonna be sad anymore’ and you go 90 percent of the way. Then at the last 10 percent, you’re just like ‘I cannot do this yet’.
“I’m constantly figuring out,” the singer confessed. But eventually after repeated times of trying to move on after a hardship, Emily had an epiphany.
For her, she had to realise that “it’s a choice”.
“I’ve kept that in mind a lot with everything this album [Quiet Your Mind] is about. You can always mope around and be sad about it forever, but at a certain point it is your call to decide you’re not gonna do that anymore.
“At least, it has been for me. I used to get into the habit of whenever I was really upset or sad about something I’d want to talk to everyone about it constantly. It was endlessly perpetuating it for me versus just deciding that today, I’m not gonna bring it up and gonna put my mind elsewhere.
“It’s an attempt to make myself feel better, even if it doesn’t go the whole way, it’s the effort" that is the hardest part.
The talented singer was able to combat her melancholy with a combination of a positive mindset and daily choices.
However, as we all know, this is easier said than done. How does one find a foothold amidst the earth crumbling around them? So, I asked Emily how she overcame this and channelled her thinking to be more positive.
“I had really severe anxiety and panic attacks last year,” the New Rules writer explained.
“It felt like it was never gonna stop. And eventually it did. And knowing that I could work through something like that and knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel was a really cool lesson for me to learn.
“Because it’s okay to be sad. Someone told me recently ‘you have to feel it to heal it’, and I really believe in crying and getting it out. I know that time can get me out of anything, so it’s just about being patient with that.
“As sad as you are, you’re not gonna be sad forever.”
She is a strong believer that time heals all wounds – but not completely. Getting over something that shatters your world to pieces is a long and painful process.
Emily said a big part of her moving on was rediscovering her self-confidence and drawing on that to conquer each day at a time.
“My brother taught me when I was little that ‘confidence is attractive’ and that really got into my head,” she said. “After a couple times of being confident, trying something and seeing how well it works, you kinda just get yourself into it.
“People are what they describe themselves as. So, if you call yourself lame and say you’ll never amount to anything then you’ll become that person. But if you see yourself how you want to be, that’s who you are.
“People can only view you the way you view yourself.”
In today’s world, it is so hard for women to find this self-confidence within themselves, and Emily agreed that it was a daily struggle for her as well.
But she said that if you take this extra step to live each day proud of who you are then you can “unlock your life”. It’s like writing music, she explained.
“If you trust your instincts when you’re writing a song, if you trust your instincts when you’re quitting a job, if you trust your instincts in a relationship and not worry what other people are gonna think and just follow your gut – you’re rewarded for taking risks.
“I’ve found that time and time again with myself as an artist, as a songwriter and as a person.
Doing the thing that’s bubbling up inside of you even if it seems crazy is always rewarded.”
Being more confident will lead to trusting these instincts more often and making choices that put your own happiness first and foremost.
Emily’s new album discusses these struggles along with the difficulty of dating in the modern world. Called Quiet Your Mind, it is available on Spotify.
It is important to note, the singer said, that the last word of Not Ready to Dance is 'yet'. Eventually, you'll get there.
Halloween is only a few weeks away and as per usual we’re already fretting about our costumes.
You could go as one of the Marvel superheroes or perhaps your favourite singer like Taylor Swift or Britney Spears- does anyone have a snake we can get a lend of?
Some of us will spend weeks, if not months, getting our costumes ready. We search Etsy for the perfect Halloween accessories, we scour through charity shops looking for costumes, we look to Instagram for Halloween makeup inspiration.
Then there’s the group of people who always seem to forget about Halloween until the day before when the shop shelves are bare and there isn’t a single witches hat or cowboy costume in sight.
Luckily, we’ve conjured up a list of 5 Halloween costumes you can literally make with a black bin bag.
1: The classic witch
Back in the day, every second kid on my road donned a black bin bag for Halloween. It was the go-to costume for parents who completely forgot about dress up day at school. We may not be in primary school anymore but this classic costume will never let you down.
All you need to do is cut out holes for your arms and head and maybe add a belt to give yourself some shape. Grab a witches hat and you’re sorted.
2: A bat
Simply cut bat wing shapes out of a black bag. Wear your favourite little black dress and secure the wings to the underside of your arm and the side of your body. It’ll look like you’re flying when you move your arms up and down. You can even make bat ears by cutting two triangles out of the bin bag and securing them onto a black Alice band.
Maleficent is one of our favourite Disney villains. Angelina Jolie brought the iconic Disney character to life in the live-action movie and you can mimic her iconic costume by simply using a few bin bags. To make the famous Maleficent horns all you’ll need is some newspaper, a headband and some sellotape. Twist the newspaper into cone-like shapes and place them onto the headband. Cover them both in bin bags and hey presto- you’re a Disney villain.
4: Cheerleader
Ready? Okay! We’ve all daydreamed about becoming a cheerleader. We blame the millions of times we watched Bring It On for this. Put a spooky twist on the American- sweetheart costume by making black pom-poms out of bin bags. See the below tutorial on how to make the perfect pom poms and channel that team spirit.
5: Skeleton
It’s a stereotypical costume, but it works so well with the perfect face paint. All you need is a black bag and masking tape. Simply cut a hole at the top of the black bag for the head and one on either side for the arms. Lay the bag down flat and shape out the bones of the skeleton using the masking tape. Focus on creating an incredible makeup look like the one below and you’ll be bound to win the costume of the year.
“I made a mistake which I’m very sorry for. I’m sorry for the hurt that I’ve caused. You never think about the extent of the damage that you’re going to do in a mistake that you’ve made.”
“I feel it’s also important for me to say that the people that know me the most, that love me, they know that I am not the person I am being portrayed as,” he added.
“I’m still sorry for what I did but it’s very important for me to get that out there.”
Many people have asked for Seann and Katya to be kicked off the show, but should their personal lives affect their chance at winning the Strictly glitterball trophy?
He's a bad person, he made a massive mistake and damaged two serious relationships, but the Strictly producers have confirmed Seann and Katya will perform on the weekend, much to our disappointment.
Judging by his dance skills and the public’s reaction to this Strictly scandal, we can’t imagine Seann will be spinning around the dance floor for much longer.
Model and DJ Vogue Williams has had a busy year, with the birth of her first child and her non-stop TV work.
However, the presenter is showing no signs of slowing down, as she took to Instagram to give fans a preview of her upcoming and hotly anticipated tan brand.
She announced five months ago that she is lending her hand to beauty product development, and clearly the venture is progressing.
'I have just gotten the bottle for my new gel tan and how good is this?' she exclaimed, showing her followers the pop-up lid bottle.
'I love the way it opens.'
The sneak peek is giving us an insight into what Vogue's tan offering will actually look like when it lands on our shelves.
The former Fade Street star previously said that while she appreciates that there are many tans on the market, she hasn't quite found one that ticks all the boxes.
'I’ve been working on a product line over the last few months. It's a TAN,' she told her followers.
'It's still a work in progress… at the moment I am still trialling formulations – testing different consistencies, colours and fragrances (all safe to use while pregnant too btw!)'
'Launching my own tan is something I have always wanted to do.. there are so many on the market but I have yet to find one that I'm 100% happy with, so why not create my own!'
Buckle up and dive into the deepest darkest depths of the ocean to discover the myth and legend of The Kraken sea beast.
Hold on to your hats and if you get seasick, it's time to exit now, as your mystery exploration will plunge you into a sea of terror as you take in a classic horror film.
If you dare book a seat at their auditorium packed with gruesome ‘Horrors From The Deep’, you'll be watching movies chosen by real horror gurus.
But you can also do your bit by selecting the surprise feature film on the Kraken Rum Ireland social media channels by casting your vote for the most spine-tingling sea movie of all time.
As a Screamfest cinema-goer, you will enjoy a one-of-a-kind movie experience like no other – if you think you can handle it.
For those of us that just can't do make up – don't worry. Kraken Horror Parlour has you sorted with a freaky, sea-themed makeover before the movie begins – which will make top-notch Insta content.
Horror-seekers will also sample a spine-chilling selection of The Kraken Black Spiced Rum cocktails including The Perfect Storm signature cocktail, and tuck into hauntingly delicious cinema snacks, along with a few other dark and twisted surprises along the way.
Those who dare to face The Kraken can get their hands on a ticket at Ticket Tailor.
Tickets cost €20 and include two Kraken Rum cocktails. But beware, there will be a limited allocation available.
So if you think you're brave enough for a truly frightful Halloween, with some on-point make-up and delicious snacks and drinks – this will be one, not to miss.
Make-up might seem like a bit of fun, but our much-loved beauty products can tell an important story.
Through the creative hands of Paddy McGurgan and the hardworking team at Make-Up Pro Store, they have taken on mental health using make-up to start a campaign.
To mark Mental Health Awareness day yesterday, they picked up their brushes and carefully crafted a look to reflect the darkness mental health can bring.
Meshing the two together, the idea wanted to acknowledge that at one stage or another, we all go through challenges in our lives and it can hard to find the light.
The campaign didn't shy away from hard pressing issues like the reality of suicide rates, and they want their project to bring action in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Titled, 'You Are Worth More Than Your Darkness', their goal is to use makeup to communicate a message to politicians, heads of state and national decision makers that more needs to be done to curb the soaring rates of suicide.
The aim is to get more care and services available for those who truly need it the most.
The Make-Up artists, as well as fans, are being encouraged to open up in a safe space using makeup to visually articulate the rough moments that they encounter in life.
With this campaign, makeup becomes an important and positive tool for self-expression and conscious well-being.
It's about acceptance of one's self – wherever on the spectrum of darkness into light you may find yourself on a given day.
Make-Up Pro has even set up a masterclass on October 25 in aid of Action Mental Health in Belfast.
French Skincare brand Académie are launching their stunning limited-edition Eternal Youth Cream N°260 in collaboration with Swarovski Crystal, and we are LOVING it.
By reinterpreting their famous Eternal Youth Cream N°260 (50ML- €110), Académie are aiming to totally revive our skin's youthful complexion.
The limited-edition cosmetic treasure has been gorgeously reimagined to deliver us the face cream of dreams containing precious active ingredients such as diamond peptides and powder which grant you the glow you’ve always wanted.
The beautifully re-created jar with its silver cap covered in Swarovski crystals is the perfect gift for someone special, not to mention for treating yourself.
Containing the first age-recovery skincare from Académie, it radiantly restores your skin to its youthful softness.
The Diamond acts as the heart of the new formula, adding beautiful Swarovski features to Académie’s products for the absolute match made in heaven.
The diamond particles in the powder diffuse all wavelengths of the light, reducing lines, pigmentary spots and imperfections.
The powder which acts as a liposome, includes age-recovery peptides as it’s primary ingredient. The creams bio-availability enables a better delivery of peptides, stimulating the fusion of anti-ageing proteins which help to fight early signs of wrinkles.
Eternal Youth Cream is the ultimate velvety perfection for any woman who wants to fight against the signs of ageing, hydrate their skin and have a flawless complexion, whatever their skin type.
At the start and end of your day, simply apply Eternal Youth Cream Morning on a cleansed skin with light massages to the face, neck and décolletage.
The limited-edition Eternal Youth Cream n°260 (50ML- €110) will be available October 2018.
The Académie Beauté range is available from select professional salons nationwide, for your local Académie salon, please contact 01 6205493.
There is even a desk in the apartment that once belonged to JK Rowling herself – who knows, maybe a few chapters were even drafted on it.
Much like Hogwarts, the walls are decked out in painting-printed wallpaper (though sadly these painting donts move) and the apartment entrance is hidden behind a brick door with a Platform 9 and 3/4s sign printed on it.
The apartment boasts two double rooms, one of which is decked out to resemble a compartment on the Hogwarts Express (minus the Bertie Botts Beans and occasional Dementor visit).
It features the iconic lamp that is home to the hilarious genie with colourful wisps of ancient magic slipping out its spout.
As of now, the film’s release date is set for May 24th, 2019, and we cannot wait!
Alongside Will Smith, actors confirmed for the Disney remake include Mena Massoud (Masters in Crime), who will play Aladdin, and Naomi Scott (The 33) starring as Jasmine.
My daughter is so excited about this new live-action version of #Aladdin
She shouted, "@NaomiScott is going to be Jasmine!"
I was like "Who?"
"She was the pink power ranger & Mohini from #LemonadeMouth, Duh dad!"
Today marks the International Day of the Girl, a day which promotes girl's empowerment and fulfilment of their hopes and dreams despite their circumstances.
Emma Watson, who is renowned for lending her voice to the feminist movement, took to Instagram to encourage young women to pursue their goals.
Sharing a throwback photos of her younger self on a red carpet from her Harry Potter filming days, Emma said:
'Today is International Day of the Girl and I want to celebrate by letting all the girls here know that I am truly and totally in awe of all the ideas, efforts and talents you’re using to organise together and transform our world!'
'I’m so inspired by you all,' she wrote.
She went on to encourage her young fans to research an organisation called the FRIDA Fund, a project which is committed to embodying young feminist voices.
'I encourage you to check out @FRIDAfund – the only youth led fund focused on supporting the organising of young feminist activists all over the world because your work is critical to expanding, rejuvenating and sustaining social justice movements, now and in the future,' she finished.
UN Women, who champion the day, encourage people to joining 'UN Women as we stand with girls everywhere as they inspire, innovate and take charge of their own future.'
'The 1.1 billion girls of today’s world are challenging the status quo. They’re redefining girlhood, and they’re doing so against the odds. Across the world, girls face adversities that hinder their education, training and entry into the workforce,' they say in their mission statement.
'They have less access to information, communication technology and resources, such as the internet where the global gender gap is growing. A quarter of young people, most of them girls, are neither employed nor getting an education or training.'
'This year alone, 12 million girls under 18 will be married, and 21 million girls aged 15 to 19 years will become pregnant in developing regions. And yet, they persist, they succeed.'
'They are innovating technology to solve global challenges, they are standing up for the environment, they are raising their voices against violence and they are preparing to run for office.'
The singer continued to keep the prank up, even commenting on Pop Crave’s Insta when they unrevealed the joke.
Ariana responded to their caption ‘Ariana Grande trolls fans with what appears to be the music video (?) for “breathin” starring her pet pig, Piggy Smallz’, with 'This is the official video.’
Although most thought it was hilarious, one person did not and let her grievances be known.
A user commented, "this era is a joke and lazy" – OUCH.
Ariana didn't take too kindly to the criticism of her new music and responded with an emotional statement.
"This era is beautiful to me but I don't know. Been through hell and back and I’m doing my best to keep going" – Preach it gal.
"Thought this would make you laugh while you wait for the real one because I took a break to take care of myself for a little while. My b," she added.
And, Ariana being the badass b*tch that she is, blocked the teenager.
In response, the teen said ‘Hi to all of the Ari fans that came to hate on me. I honestly didn’t even think she’d see my comment nor reply. I honestly don’t like sweetener that much (except a couple songs) and that’s just my opinion."
"Maybe I should have said it a little nicer or not at all but I can’t take it back. She blocked me which is understandable considering how many people she’s blocked recently and I think I deserve it. I don’t hate her and I’ll never hate her. I just dislike this era/album. I’m sorry if I hurt any of her fans. You can hate on me all you want I don’t care. I’ll laugh with you. [sic].’
The moral of the story is kids, if you're gonna dish up some hate, particularly to someone who has recently gone through the mill, don't be surprised when the backlash arrives.
Remember what your momma told you, if you've got nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Ariana might be a superstar, but she is also human.
