Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Here is my video for this year- a little late, but better than never and just in time for Christmas Day! It took me over 7 days to edit, and over 30 hours to record and film it! A lot of work, but worth it in the end :)



Have a lovely day and I'll be back in the New Year!

Sarah xxx

Music | One Woman A Capella Let it Go

Hi everyone!

I do have a blog post coming up, but for this week, I will share my latest YouTube video with you all. I have been working on this project all summer, planning and putting all my ideas together, and so here it is! It was a lot of hard work, but I am super happy with how it turned out :)

I have plans to do more One Woman A Capella videos in the future, and am looking forward to sharing them with you. Of course, as I am studying Musical Theatre this year, there won't be as many videos, but I will try to do as many as possible! I might do a video a month, sometimes they'll be like this one, other times they will be just normal covers or maybe original songs.

I hope you guys enjoy this video, as I very much enjoyed making it!

Until next week,

Sarah xxx

The Struggles of Using Synonyms

Every time I go to write something, I come across the same problem every single time. Synonyms. They are important, yet they are like a bump in the road every time you want to find another way to say something. I come across this issue very often in my blog posts. For example, right there in my last sentence, the words "come across" were what automatically came to mind when I was writing the sentence, then I realised I had just used those very words moments ago. And so the trek to find the right synonym begins. So instead of using the same words, as much as I think they fit really well in the sentence, I use something else. So for "come across" I might use "run into". And that's only if I'm lucky enough to find a synonym that suits what I'm trying to say.

Synonym: 

noun

A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language.

It is because of synonyms that writing can be so dreadfully hard. You flow along fine for the first few sentences, then poof, you run into a word you've already used... Sometimes you can be lucky and find the perfect synonym, and other times it's like treading through mud, searching high and low for that perfect word to fill a sentence.

One of the words that gives me the most trouble, and I assume for many others as well, is beautiful. Yes there are other words, but I always find myself looking combing through that oh so very long list of similar words (unfortunately there is no perfect synonym for "word", which is why it will end up being a very prominent word in this blog), to find uncover something of a similar comparable nature. There just isn't much else like the word "beautiful", is there? Nothing else, no matter how hard one might try, really achieves the same effect! Of course it has a lot more options than "word" itself, but I still find it a challenging word to replace.

While writing this post I have searched for 15 synonyms (including the rest of this post), over 5 of which are failed attempts. Sometimes I find myself looking for synonyms every two sentences, and other times I don't end up needing that many. It depends on what I'm writing, I suppose, but it is one of those things that annoys me, because finding coming upon the perfect ( yet another word I struggle to replace) word can be quite a struggle! Even a synonym for the word "struggle" is hard to acquire when in a certain context. Basically, synonyms are the one thing that can make us spend more time writing something than we intended. I suppose we've gotten too comfortable with a set amount of words, so when in need of a synonym, we find it hard to let go of the word we originally wanted to use. And that is my experience with synonyms. Something quite necessary, yet we don't always use a big enough range of them.

-Sarah

The words that are striked through are examples of some of the words that I changed to synonyms today.

Adventure | My Mission Story: A Feeling of Home

In a previous post, I shared some memories from my adventure in Mexico last summer. Today, I would like to share something with you. Something that, I suppose, encapsulates my experience in Mexico. That something is my mission story. I wrote it a little while after my mission as part of my role as a student volunteer, and it was featured on the Operation Smile Ireland website as well as their Autumn/Winter 2014 newsletter. It even got featured in my church Tidings. I felt rather proud that my story had been shared with others, but I never once thought of sharing it here, on my blog! So I am finally sharing my mission story, A Feeling of Home, with all of you. I could write more about many stories and certain people that I met, but for today, I leave you with a summary of my thoughts on my first ever medical mission with Operation Smile.

Sarah xxx

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This year I got to experience something very different and inspiring. I had the chance to go on a mission in August with Operation Smile to Ecatepec, Mexico. For me, the charity is close to my heart, because I was born with a unilateral cleft lip and a cleft palate. There, in Mexico, I felt at home amongst those with cleft lips and palates. Many of the patients were having revision surgeries done, so it was even more familiar to see their scars, something I see every time I look in the mirror.

I know that if my mother had been there, it would have been an emotional rollercoaster for her. I had expected to cry a lot more, but despite that, it was still very moving and important to me. If my mother had been there, I probably would have ended up crying a lot more! One touching moment was when the mothers cried. The first time I saw them cry, I cried a little myself. Isn’t it funny how we worry as human beings, even though we know that it will all be alright in the end? All these mothers were so worried, so I tried to reassure them that everything would work out just fine, and that it’s normal to be emotional. I showed them a photograph of myself as a baby, which also seemed to help.

Being able to share my experience as someone who grew up going to hospitals and dental appointments my whole life, was great. Years ago, when I was a child, some other kids bullied me about my lip. Now, I am able to tell people about my clefts without being judged. More people listen, and it was especially nice to be able to speak about my life experience with so many people who are going through something similar.

One of the most astonishing things that I saw on my mission, were all the adults that came for surgeries. It’s horrible to think that they have lived with either a badly repaired cleft, or an unrepaired cleft, their whole life. I can’t imagine what sort of life that could have given them, except that if anyone was a cruel as they were to me as a child, it must have been dreadful for them. All I can hope now is that they live the rest of their lives much happier than before.

The children on my mission were so full of life and enthusiasm; it is hard to believe that some of them could be rejected by other children. Just thinking about those kids makes me smile. They were kind, energetic, and above all, beautiful in their own way. I will never forget my adventure in Mexico, from all those smiles, to spending a great time with my team members.  Each moment is precious, and the memories will certainly be carried throughout my life and beyond; through my stories, videos, and photographs. I will never forget that in that brief time, surrounded by all these people, I felt at home.

Haul | Primark/Penneys Mini Haul

So I've been trying to find new ways to tidy and decorate my room, and decided to go and buy a few things to give my room a new edge. Instead, I ended up not really getting much for my room, rather a (small) assortment of things. I went to Primark (Penneys in Ireland) twice, and so I thought I might do a haul here on my blog. 

The only thing that I bought that is actually for my room, is a scented candle. It's called Winter Rose. I chose it because it hasn't got too strong a smell, but it's enough to fill the room with a nice faint scent. I also like the colour, a pretty light pink. I'd never actually used scented candles in my room before, so I thought it would be nice to try it out for once. I think that starting with a subtle scent is probably best, plus it's not just about the smell, but also the aesthetics. Candles are so pretty and atmospheric! I used to be afraid of lighting a candle, just because I hated fire, but now it doesn't bother me, so it was high time I got a candle for my room!

I also got a travel bottle kit that includes all sorts of different types of bottles and containers. I find these really handy for going away, even when you have a registered case, because it means you don't have to carry a whole bottle of shampoo or lotion, or whatever you might bring with you on holidays. I just found this particular kit to be useful, as it contains a bottle with a dispenser and a cylinder to make pouring a lot easier!




As well as getting the travel bottle kit, I got more cosmetic jars, as I thought they might come in handy not just for travelling, but for use at home too. They don't even have to only be used for cosmetics- you could store jewellery, sequins or something else! I just find these really great for storage in general.

This next one is something I always seem to lack, that I need almost everyday. Ankle socks! I'm always searching through my sock drawer, especially during spring and summer for them, and I can never seem to have enough. They are so useful to have. I was just in line for the till when I saw them, so I just grabbed them as they were my size (I have small feet, so it's hard to find ankle socks that fit!), and I was in need of more. I have plenty of normal length socks, but never enough ankle ones!

The last thing I'm going to talk about, is something that I sort of treated myself to. Not a necessity, but it is always nice to buy a little present for yourself now and again! I saw this scarf and completely fell in love with it! I have many scarves in different shades of blues and greens, but not this particular style or pattern. I found it so lovely I just had to get it!

So that's it for the mini haul, I hope you enjoyed reading this :) Let me know if you want more hauls in the future in the comments below.

Until next week,

Sarah xxx

Adventure | Mexican Memories

Fernanda, aged 2.

So as you already know, last summer I was given the opportunity to go on an Operation Smile medical mission to Ecatepec, Mexico. I've decided to add an "adventure" segment to my blog. I've already spoke about going on adventures and encountering new experiences, so I thought I might as well have a segment on this blog dedicated to adventure. Why not?

Click below for more!

Beauty | My Top 5 Beauty Must-Haves (Make-up)

* I meant to post this a few months ago, but never got round to finishing it as I have been so busy- so here it is, finally! (This post is based on my top 5 make-up essentials- the products are only examples; some of my favourites from around the time I started writing this post.)

Hi everyone! I know I haven't posted in a while, but I really am busy at the moment. At the end of 2014, I mentioned I would do more posts relating to beauty and fashion, such as the one I did about festive nail art. I've been inspired by YouTuber, and blogger, Zoella, to do more of these types of posts. She uploads videos and posts about these kinds of topics, and it has given me more ideas about what specific areas I want to post about within beauty, fashion, and any other topic I might post about.

1. Lipstick

Always a great beauty essential to own. I personally love to put lipstick on nearly every day, it always adds an extra splash of colour to whatever outfit I might be wearing.
Red lipsticks have always been very popular throughout time. I occasionally wear the Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss. I like the Kate Moss lipstick collections because they're really nice, with a decent enough range of shades.Whether you like pink or red, glossy or matte, there's a lipstick that's right for you! I have a darker shade of red by Clinique that I really like too.
I also love wearing more pale or subtle colours, in the pinks and purples. I have quite a few of these, but one of my favourites is the Yves Rocher Luminelle Mauve Poudré. It's a nice soft shade, perfect for everyday use! I have a few more nice shades by Yves Rocher, including sparkly red and a darker rosy-red. One of my first Yves Rocher lipsticks, and I think the first lipstick I owned, is the Rouge à Lèvres Dragée Rose Innocent, although I think it is no longer available. I like it because it is a slightly sparkly/shimmery pink, which is always nice to have. Lipstick is probably my favourite make-up accessory, and in my opinion, you can never have too many shades!

2. Mascara

I believe that mascara is one of those things that is handy to have when you don't want to do a full face of makeup, but rather just add a little enhancement. If you either don't have time, or just want that extra sparkle, mascara is the ideal make-up essential.

Here are some of the mascaras I use:
If I want the effect of luscious, voluminous eyelashes, I use my SEVENTEEN Blow Out Mascara. It's great to add that volume to your lashes, whether you're going out or not.
To get those curvy lashes, without using any sort of lash curler, I use the Rimmel Kate Mascara in Jet Black. It really helps to give you that curvy look, while adding volume, with its broken heart-shaped brush. If you want curves and volume, it's a great one to use!
For natural lashes, just to brighten your look, brown mascaras are brilliant. I use the Yves Rocher Luminelle Ultra-volume, which I also have in blue. if you don't want your mascara to be noticeable, and are looking for an "au naturel"  look, this type of mascara is the one to use!

3. BB Cream/Concealer

Something we all need from time to time is little bit of BB Cream to brighten those faces of ours! It's a great essential to have in your make-up bag, because it blends in really well, moisturises, and can also act as a foundation. It's perfect for when you don't want to use foundation and you want something light, that makes your face that bit more radiant. I use the Seventeen BB Magic Blemish Balm. BB cream is one of those things that usually does what it says on the box. That's what I like about it; it actually works!

Concealer is a brilliant and convenient make-up product to have. It can be used in many different ways- I use concealer for highlighting, hiding any blemishes, or contouring. The one concealer I use at the moment just for concealing, is the Natural Collection Cover-up Cream. I didn't have a liquid concealer- all I had used up til recently was stick concealers, so I went out and bought one a couple of weeks ago. It's great because it blends in quite easily, and matches my BB cream perfectly! I also use the Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer to highlight under my eyes and any other area I may want to brighten up.



4. Eyeshadow

I love so many different shades of eyeshadow. I mostly use the more neutral shades, perfect for that everyday/natural look. One of my favourite palettes is the Rimmel Glam'Eyes Quad Eyeshadow in Smokey Brun, which I also have in Smokey Blue. They're great to do basically anything you want (within the colour range). You can follow the instructions on the back, or do your own thing! I enjoy blending lots of different colours as well- from shades of purple to sparkly shadows. Eye shadow can often help set the mood of your make-up or outfit. Another eye palette that I like is the Victoria Jackson Pink Color Collection. It also does the trick when you're going for a natural look! Looking it up, I found one that I think is the same, but is called Studio Color.


5. Bronzer/Blush

Every so often, I like to add a little more than just mascara or lipstick (or BB cream). A little blush or bronzer is nice sometimes! I usually just contour the cheekbones to add some depth. I use the Natural Collection Suntint Bronzing Powder, in Sun Shine. The blush that I use is the Clinique Young Face Powder Blusher in Rhubarb, which I believe has been discontinued, but is perfect for that nice rosy complexion.


Thanks for reading, and if you want to see more posts like this one, comment below :)

Sarah xxx

And So I'm Finally Writing a Post About Musical Theatre...

So it's been a while since my last post, I know, but life has been extremely busy! I did have a post nearly ready to publish, but I never got round to finishing it. I will hopefully post it in the next while.
A lot has happened in my life recently, from college to music-related activities; it's been chocabloc!

One of the things that has happened to me lately is that I've been offered a place in The Irish College of Music Theatre. I couldn't really say anything, or blog about it until now, in case I didn't get it- but since I've been accepted, I can finally write about it!

Despite how nervous I was, the audition process was quite enjoyable, which I hadn't expected! I liked being in the atmosphere, and to be surrounded by people who share the same passion I do. The process consisted of three stages, and for theses stages I had to prepare two songs, a monologue, and there was a group class situation in which we had to learn and perform a dance. As well as this, there was a short interview in the final stage. Altogether it was a good experience, and would benefit my audition experience whether I got in or not.

This means that I will be able to post about musical theatre-related things more often! Originally, when I first thought of the name of this blog, it was going to be about musical theatre, and only that. Since then, it has become more of a general blog, a way for me to share things and just write. Even though it is called A Musical Theatre Dream, it is more of a metaphor for our ambitions, and life experiences.

I am very excited to commence yet another adventure, and what will hopefully bring me closer to my very own musical theatre dream. I hope that you will join me on my new adventure as I journey into the world of musical theatre, and all it has to offer.

Sarah xxx

2015: A New Year full of New Experiences

It's a new year, and a new opportunity to experience many new things. 2015 may not have started off extremely well for the world as a whole, with what happened in France, Belgium and Germany, but nonetheless the year must continue. Unfortunately no year is spared from the pain and suffering that we, as humans, endure. And as always, we must keep going, otherwise there would be nothing to live for.

Christmas passed very quickly this year, giving me little time to enjoy it. I'm always sad when Christmas is over, even though I know it always comes back the year after! But once we are well into January, I start getting excited for summer. I don't know if anyone else is like this, but it just sort of comes on, and I can never stop thinking about my plans throughout the year as well as those during the summer holidays. I think it might be because even though you might know about your plans in 2014, it's not until you enter 2015 that you really get hyped for your agenda of the upcoming year. Well I think that's what it's like for me, anyway.

These days I can't stop thinking of my plans for the holidays, relatives that are coming to visit, or the new experiences I will encounter. So much happens in just one year- it feels like yesterday I was visiting Berlin or on the verge of turning
19. 2014 was a busy year, and it flew by. I had so many diverse experiences- I even went to Mexico, somewhere I hadn't expected to go this past year. Sometimes you have to just stop and think about how lucky so many of us really are.

It is believed to have been one of the worst years for the homeless crisis in Dublin. This was plastered all over the news, with updates and reports at every news broadcast this winter, as well as programs about it on TV. It made me think about how fortunate I am to have a home and a bed to sleep in.

2014 was a year of new experiences, the end of schooldays and wearing uniforms, and the beginning of the next chapter of my life. Now it's time to move on and let 2015 throw everything it has to offer at me. Another year, another adventure.

Happy New Year (a little late, sorry)!
-Sarah xxx

The snow that briefly fell in our garden the other day.