Material-Media's Taking A Break!

That's right, I'm going to take a break from Material-Media for a while. Sorry readers! 

I feel that the blog is getting a little repetitive and needs a major revamp. Also, I start my third year of university this month and want all my time to be dedicated to that.

But I'd like to thank everyone who has taken time to read Material-Media. It's very much appreciated!

Abbey xo

My Trip To Rome!

For the past five days, I've been in sunny Italy visiting Rome! In one word: Amazing. I've put together some photos of the must-see places if you're thinking about taking a trip to the capital city!

The Spanish Steps
A vibrant square with tonnes of steps surrounded by water fountains and roman buildings. The perfect place to watch the world go by!

Pizzerias
The pizza and pasta in Rome is out of this world! Now I know why they are classed as 'Italian' food. The British take on it just doesn't compare!

The Vatican City
You have to visit the home of the Pope when you go to Rome! The Vatican City is absolutely beautiful and such a spectacle. Make sure you go inside to look at all the wonderful sculptures and paintings as well.

Trevi Fountain
This huge fountain is amazing. The water is so clear and the building is so clean! There's also a great lively atmosphere around this monument.

Monumento Nazionale A Vittorio Emanuele II
This fabulous building is a museum about the history of the Italian Army. It's a spectacular monument with a buzzing surrounding area. One of my favourite places in Rome! 

Collosseum
You definitely need to visit the Collosseum when you're in Rome! It's absolutely amazing. Make sure you also go inside and pay for an audio tour. It explains the history of this ancient building, which is fascinating.

Foro Romano
These roman ruins can be found between the Collosseum and Monumento Nazionale A Vittorio Emanuele II. It's astonishing to see these ancient buildings in the flesh. Very surreal!

Hope you've enjoyed my holiday snaps!

Abbey xo

The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones Is A Must-See!

And here comes yet another romance sci-fi series following in the footsteps of The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games. But this film is definitely a must-see for fans of this genre! 

What's good about it:

- The characters in the film portray those in the book perfectly. They act and look just how you imagine them.

- The graphics look fantastic and really make the film believable.

- The story line is so clever and complex. It's refreshing and like nothing I've ever seen before.

What's bad about it:

- The film doesn't include as much detail as Clare's book, but that's how it always is!

- Parts of the film were slightly cliche and cheesy. 

- The plot can be quite confusing in the film as there's less time to explain all the ins and outs. The written version provides a lot more depth into the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and recommend it to anyone who loves a bit of drama, action and romance!

Abbey xo

Cute Cushions

Everyone needs a cute cushion to brighten up their bedroom! Here's a selection...

Mine look so pretty on my bed!

Abbey xo

Sunday Baking

I spent my Sunday morning baking these scrumptious cupcakes! Here's how I made them...

Cupcakes:

- 4oz of margarine

- 4oz of caster sugar

- 40z of self raising flour

- 2 medium eggs

Icing:

- 3oz icing sugar

- 2oz margarine

- Drop of stawberry essence

- Drop of vanilla essence

- Teaspoon of coffee

1. Cream the margarine and caster sugar together until light and fluffy.

2. Beat together the eggs and add to the mixture a little at a time whilst stirring.

3. Gently fold in the flour after sieving.

4. Place the mixture into greased cupcake cases.

5. Bake at 180°c for 15 to 20 minutes.

6. Once the cupcakes have cooled, mix together the icing sugar (sieved) and margarine until creamy.

7. Separate the mixture into three bowls. 

8. Add vanilla essence and strawberry essence to two of the mixtures.

9. Add the coffee and a splash of hot water to the third mixture.

10. Spread the icing onto the cupcakes and decorate with fruit, sprinkles of whatever else takes your fancy.

Happy baking!

Abbey xo

A/W '13

Well, the sun has gone and there's a chill back in the air... Which only means that Autumn is approaching! River Island has prepared for this seasonal change and have their Autumn/Winter 2013 collection ready and waiting. Meet the trends you'll be wearing next season...

Click here to see more of River Island's A/W '13 range.

Abbey xo

Friends Forever By Danielle Steel

"Five children meet on their first day of school, one bright September morning. Gabby, Billy, Izzie, Andy and Sean - bursting with their own personality, all with strikingly different looks and diverse talents - soon become an inseparable group, known to everyone else as the Big Five.

As they grow up, their seemingly perfect lives are altered by families falling apart, and losses and victories great and small. As they emerge from school, their futures seem neither safe nor clear, and the challenges and risks they face become greater, the losses sharper. It becomes much harder to know the right path to choose.

But despite life's ups and downs, together the Big Five are able to face up to the challenges, and to treasure valuable friendships that last a lifetime... friends forever."

Although the blurb makes this story sound thrilling and exciting, I wasn't really that impressed.

What's good about it:

- There are many unexpected twists in the book which leave you feeling shocked, surprised and eager to read on.

What's bad about it:

- There are too many characters to keep tabs on. It's hard to remember the parents and siblings of all five friends.

- The story was fairly boring and uneventful for the first 150 pages. It's only after around half way through the book that it finally becomes worth reading.

- The plot is far-fetched and very untrue to live, making the story hard to believe and relate to.

- Danielle Steel has chosen to write Friends Forever from the third person, but I think the story would have benefited a lot more from five first person perspectives. It's difficult to connect to characters when you are unaware of their thoughts and feelings.

- The ending felt rushed. The first half of the book needs condensing so the eventful part of the story is focused on in more depth.

Overall, I would give Friends Forever a miss. Danielle Steel does not live up to her name with this novel. I was slightly bored throughout and could have easily put the book down. I'm glad I only paid £1.99!

Abbey xo

The Lion King Was Amazing!

Last night, I saw The Lion King at the Birmingham Hippodrome... And it did not disappoint! I recommend you all to book tickets before the last ones sell out.

What's good about it:

- Absolutely fantastic costumes. So cleverly put together and really portray the characters!

- Brilliant cast who can sing, dance and act to perfection. Stephen Carlile (Scar), Cleveland Cathnott (Mufasa) and Gugwana Dlamini (Rafiki) were particularly astounding.

- The staging was such a spectacle and so breath-taking.

- The orchestra were amazing, which made the show even more fabulous. 

- The audience were included in the performance. Those on the ground floor in aisle seats get an extra special treat!

What's bad about it:

- Gabriel Cadogan (Young Simba) provided average singing and mediocre acting, but The Lion King does mark his professional debut. This young performer still has a lot to learn.

- Act One definitely out shone Act Two. I felt that the most spectacular scenes were used up in the first half of the show.

Overall, I absolutely loved The Lion King. I had high expectations after already seeing the award-winning musical in London as a child, but the Birmingham Hippodrome's version did not disappoint! Absolutely worth £60.

To book tickets, visit The Lion King's official website: www.thelionking.co.uk.

Abbey xo

Brights

River Island do a great selection of colourful clothes and accessories. Add a bit of zest to your summer wardrobe!

Click here to shop the full collection.

Abbey xo

Enjoy Free Delivery At Topshop!

Abbey xo

Thunder And Lightning

So who was kept up for hours by a crazy storm last night? Me! Here in the UK we're experiencing a few spells of thunder and lightning due to the humidity. Here's how you can keep dry and cool in this freak weather!

These macs and parkas are both light and waterproof. Say goodbye to your winter coat otherwise you'll boil! Investing in a mac is a much more refreshing choice.

Abbey xo

It's Getting Hot In Here!

... So take off all your clothes. And buy some new ones! The UK is actually hot and sunny. It's a miracle. So embrace it! Head down to your sizzling high street and treat yourself to a new summer wardrobe. Here's what Topshop, New Look and River Island have to offer...

Abbey xo

Go To London And See Billy Elliot!

I took a trip to London over the weekend and seeing a musical is a must for when you visit the city. On Thursday night, I watched Billy Elliot The Musical at Victoria Palace Theatre... And it was amazing!

Here's why I loved it:

- Every member of the cast was super talented and provided top notch acting, singing and dancing. Ali Rasul (Billy), Anna-Jane Casey (Mrs Wilkinson), Deka Walmsley (Billy's dad), Kevin Wathen (Billy's brother) and Ann Emery (Billy's grandma) were particularly fantastic.

- The staging was brilliant and used the theatre's space really well. It was prepared quickly between scenes so the audience weren't kept waiting!

- The orchestra provided wonderful music, which is the vital component of 'a musical'. 

- There was a lot of successful humour in the script making the audience cry with laughter!

Ticket prices vary from £19.50 to £67 depending on what day, time and seat you choose. Click here if you'd like to purchase book seats for Billy Elliot The Musical in advance! Me and my mom managed to buy our's only four hours before the show started! If you fancy last minute buying, head to the ticket office in Leicester Square. We sat in the fourth row on the first floor (brilliant seats!) for £45 each, reduced from £65 each! However, no matter what price you pay, you'll get your money's worth from this amazing three hour show. 

Abbey xo

The Apprentice: Final Five

The Apprentice is one of my favourite reality t.v shows and I've watched it religiously throughout this series. There's only five candidates left, so the final is getting really close now! Tonight you'll be graced with the interviews, which is the best part of the process in my opinion. It's pure satisfaction watching the contestants get grilled by top professionals! Here's how I think the final five will do...

Tune into BBC1 tonight at 9pm to see who will be the latest casualty of the board room! Then if that's not enough, watch You're Fired on BBC2 at 10pm. As you've read, I think Neil will win series nine of The Apprentice, but who do you think will be Lord Sugar's business partner? Voice your opinion on www.facebook.com/MaterialMedia or tweet me with your thoughts: @Abbey_Hartley and #MaterialMedia. 

Abbey xo

The Summer Wedding By Fiona Walker

"The Summer Wedding is a sizzling summer comedy set against the beautiful backdrops of the Chilterns, Spain, Africa and LA.

The hotly anticipated wedding of Iris Devonshire, ravishing teenage daughter of celebrity couple Mia and Leo, is to be held in the gardens of their grand Palladian pile alongside the Thames. But they worry that she's rushing into the marriage. Just ask their best friends since college, Simon and Laney, whose relationship is on the rocks again - and they've already married each other twice.

On the big day, Iris's hellraiser fiance Dougie Everett is not only the one flying high. As Iris rides up the aisle on a white stallion, a hot-air balloon appears over the woods. Its arrival is about to transform the lives and loves of the wedding guests for ever."

... That's what the blurb says, but here's what I think of it!

What's good about it:

- The plot and story line is unique and very well thought out.

- It's written in a lot of detail which makes the book really believable, convincing and descriptive.

- The settings are exotic and tropical, making The Summer Wedding a perfect holiday read!

- Humor, drama and sex are all displayed in the story, offering a great mix of emotions.

- It's a feel good story, bound to put a smile on your face.

What's bad about it:

- There are so many characters it's hard to keep up with them all!

- You need a good attention span to fully understand what's going on. Not a read for the easily distracted!

- It's written in the third person but I think it would have benefited more from the first person. It's hard to relate to the characters' feelings and emotions as you haven't seen inside their heads.

- The book could be half the size. Parts of some of the chapters are unnecessary and wordy.

- The ending is slightly predictable and cliche. But I won't spoil that too much for you!

Overall, Fiona Walker's The Summer Wedding is the ideal story to indulge yourself in on your holiday getaway. You'll be hooked to the dramatic plot and it'll leave you with a positive outlook on love and romance. However, be sure to concentrate while you read as it's easy to get lost in the complexity of the characters.

"Sexy, funny... An essential summer travel companion" - Daily Record

"An undeniably well-written book" - Daily Mail

Abbey xo

Jewellery Stand Style

I took a trip to the Birmingham Bullring today and treated myself to some goodies! One of which was this gorgeous jewellery holder. I thought a quirky ornament like this would add style and chic to my bedroom! Here it is in place...

I bought my jewellery holder at Urban Outfitters for £18.

Add your best jewellery to the holder to create a fabulous stand for your shelf or mantelpiece. Feathers and dangling necklaces/bracelets create the best effect! A number of high street stores sell jewellery stands so you can buy your own...

Happy jewellery standing!

Abbey xo

Summer Florals

It's July. The sun's out. So grab yourself some floral prints! Topshop do a great selection of flowery pieces, perfect for your summer wardrobe...

Click here to shop the rest of Topshop's 'Flower Power' range.

Abbey xo

What To Do This Summer!

Listen up local readers! Pondering over what to do this summer? Feeling bored on your summer holidays already? Or just want some ideas for sunny days out? Well you're at the right place! Have a read about these activities on offer in the Kidderminster area...

Abbey xo

End Of Semester Celebrations

Thousands of students across the UK are finishing exams and assignments for the past academic year. Summer is finally here and it's time for a well earned break. Let's celebrate!

Abbey xo

The Voice: My Verdict

The Voice, BBC's answer to The X Factor, draws to a close tomorrow night. If I'm honest, I can't say that this second series of The Voice UK has particularly excited me. There's not enough drama and scandal for my liking! Tomorrow night, the remaining four finalists from each coach's team will battle it out for first place in the singing talent competition. This is what I think of the artists...

So who do you think will win this series of The Voice UK? Will Sir Tom Jones take his artist to the top again or will another one of the coaches clinch first place? Let me know your thoughts on www.facebook.com/MaterialMedia and on Twitter: @Abbey_Hartley and #MaterialMedia. Tune into BBC One tomorrow night at 7.15pm to watch the competition come to an end in the grand finale.

Abbey xo