DASH shop is epic!

Don't hate me. Yes, I know shopping in the store of reality tv queen Kim Kardashian is a bit, well, not credible, but I actually love their store! There's super unusual items in there and I found this little play suit which I just had to have. 

I just love it, it's gorgeous!! So lots of 💖💖 to whomever picks the clothing for this place. It's on Melrose Avenue. 

One thing I did do yesterday though, is think I could walk all the way from the I10 motorway to Ciconnes (definitely my favourite restaurant!). Well, it did look a little far on google maps, but I sort of started walking...and then it got too close to get a cab. So I kept walking....and walking...and then I'd made it half way and I was flat out exhausted. I must have walked 5 miles in 100 degree heat. Never again!!! 

Xxx Kitty 

$9 for juice and $4 for food...

So...still in LA. Yeah, I know I told everyone I was coming home on the 20th, but I just couldn't get on that plane. My body just wouldn't do it. I need to be here, not in rainy UK. I am counting the days until I can move here. 

Every single day the sun shines...and I've lost at least 6 pounds in weight. I have no idea why, maybe because driving in LA terrifies me and I've been walking everywhere, but hey I'm not complaining! 

There's one thing that massively confuses me though. $9 for apple juice?? Really?? That's just lunacy, come on. And apparently that's a normal price, so probably the reason why everyone is so super skinny here. They can't afford to eat....well....that was until I discovered happy hour. Not just for drinks, but for food. Whaaheyyyy. $4 for a black truffle hamburger. Happy Kitty. 

Just a little OMFG but The Man In The High Castle comes out today on Amazon. I think that might just be my favourite show of the year. Gripping Sci-fi TV. 

Xxx Kitty 

SISSY THAT WALK OBSESSION

I am just obsessed with this song right now! Mainly because I'm just totally fangirling over Seann's performance of it on Saturday, but also because it's a sick tune and I'm in love. Haha! Here's the video...

Diva life in LA is fabulous...

I'm going to just blog a little bit about LA, because, well, I'm here, and sitting at Chateau Marmont with a cup of tea. I'm literally obsessed with this place. They have old records in the lounge and superfast wifi with comfy seats. I've been sitting here for hours!

It's my birthday on the 15th (I'd love a Tesla Model S please) and I fancied a beach rather than rainy England. So, while the studio was out of action for a few weeks due to a tech problem, I thought I'd jump on a plane and see what happens.

I've had some adventures here to be honest. I've been here on and off since I was 19, and the first time I nearly got a record deal with a major label - took me 2 days and I was being driven around in limos. I didn't even have pink and purple hair back then, so I know it's not that! Having crazy hair helps though. I am basically fitting right in here.

Just looked at the menu, ouch. Salad is $15, so instead I'll be drinking tea and reminding myself that nobody in LA actually eats. I'm telling myself it's best to just look fabulous and ignore the fact that my stomach is slowly eating itself from the inside out. The best diet is the broke diet. Leave your wallet at home and you will always fit into your jeans. HAHA!

When I first came back from LA when I was 19, I wrote something on my computer that I kind of added to over the years - I thought I'd share it with you guys. It is still true...I just loved it.

-----

REASONS WHY LA IS BETTER THAN LONDON

Valet Parking (For those that don't know me, I don't drive. I crash)
Drive in Starbucks (For when I can handle driving)
Mexican Food
24 hour diners
Hash browns
24hr mexican burrito stands
Nice waitresses that actually care about your food
Creative people (as opposed to fake creatives who admire their beards more than their writing)
Vegas is only 3 hours away (as opposed to 13 hours stuck at the back in economy with a screaming baby)
Cheesecake Factory
Cruise control on cars (now they even have cars that drive themselves. Hurry up UK)
The beach is really close
Automatic cars
Cars in general
International House of Pancakes
Hot weather
£3 all day parking
Insanely cheap uber rides where a 1 hour journey will cost £5
Hot weather
Hot music scene
My friends are there (sad face, true)
Award shows I can go to
Everything is cheaper
You can get on the property ladder without selling your kidneys
Pool Parties
Magic Mountain
Disneyland
People are generally nicer
Florida is £200 away
Petrol is the same price as bottled water (well, its close)

-----

Obviously, this list is a bit tongue in cheek, but yeah, LA rules.

xx Kitty

My thoughts on Seann Miley Moore and X Factor...

Hey Divas,

As you know, I have been writing for the Mirror Online for a while now about X Factor and what I think about each week. Here's the link to the last two blogs I wrote:

Saturday: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/x-factors-kitty-brucknell-asks-6791231
Sunday: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/disgusted-horrified-kitty-brucknell-reveals-6795732

I thought I would write a little more on here about my thoughts behind what happened last Sunday. I was in so much shock, sitting on the bed with my mum and we were just screaming at the TV. A cynical person would say that's exactly what the producers want, after all, the more people talk about the show the more people watch it, the more ratings go up, the more they want these shocking results. It's an endless circle, and there seems no stopping it.

I just felt that after Sunday night, things had gone too far. It's one thing to say "there's always shock exits, it's nothing new", but I actually really believed that Seann would buck the trend and go on to win. If I was an unknown singer, sitting at home with my pink and purple hair, wondering if I should enter the show or not, Sunday night's result would have put that idea right back in the box. I wonder how many other kids who err on the side of "a bit quirky and unusual" we will never see because their champion has been so unceremoniously kicked off the biggest show on TV. It certainly says a lot about our culture.

It took me 4 years to really believe in myself - I had a lot of knockbacks after the show finished, people telling me I basically wasn't worth anything at all and that I should give up on my dream. This didn't come from twitter trolls, but from industry people who I had previously admired. Everything that I am as an artist, I was told was wrong and "attention seeking". To be told that you are basically useless, as a person and as a musician, was pretty hard to deal with, and it took a lot of inner strength to pull myself through that.

I get so many messages from kids who are bullied in their day to day lives for being "different", and I had hoped that Seann would finally buck the trend, and come out on top, to show all these misfits that they CAN make a difference, and that their dreams are not just fantasies unlikely to come true. It just feels like on X Factor last night, it sent the message that if you are talented, unusual and a true artist, you will get sent home in favour of a kid who had a tantrum on TV and sings out of tune.

That's pretty harsh I know, and I actually like Mason a lot. I think he's talented and a great performer. But he was on his way to making it before he entered the show, and probably would have been signed even if he had left on Sunday. It probably wouldn't have made a difference at all to his career. But it would have done with Seann and my heart is just breaking right now.

Seann - just get out there and make a great album. We will all buy it, and you will have that Madison Square Garden show xxx

xxxx Kitty

My X Factor Blog for The Mirror!

Just a quick one, but if you didn't already know - I'm currently blogging for the Mirror Online about X Factor each week. I am so excited to get this opportunity to write something each week, and I've got so into this series. I think it started slow, but since bootcamp it's really picked up and Sunday night was just insane! What was Mason Noise thinking? I can't actually work out whether he is incredibly smart and switched on, or just insanely dumb. My PR friend Rob thinks it's the former. I'm just so confused.

And...I actually think Sean Miley Moore can win. At least, I hope so, because I'm really fed up of having super bland singers with zero personality win this show. It's about time that the X Factor winner was someone who could genuinely sell millions of records. I actually think Sean could be it. I just love him!

Anyway - you can read all my blogs and more by going to this link: www.mirror.co.uk/kittybrucknell

Enjoy!

My insane nail varnish collection....

I've been painting my nails for quite some time, but it never really occurred to me just HOW many nail varnishes I've built up in the last few years. At the last count it was over 100, and I've got them all in a bag under my bed, so I thought I'd get a few out and show you my favourite ones!

I must have the most eclectic nail varnish collection ever. Some of them cost over £40 each and some cost literally 50p. Some are over 40 years old and quite honestly I'm not even sure if they are safe to use! Anyway... here's a few choice picks, let me know which ones are your favourites.

Here's a pic of the entire collection, minus multiple colours and top and base coat, which makes up around 30 (yikes).

Yep, it's a pretty big collection. I think the coolest thing about having such a massive stash though is literally being able to match any outfit ever to your nails. I've also gotten epically good at painting them, and that includes both hands!

I've got a bit of a trick though to share with you about that -

Say you are Right Handed (if you're a leftie, the opposite would apply) - well, your left hand will always be the easiest to paint. The trick comes when you need to paint your right, instead of moving the brush, you move your hand. So - holding the brush in your left hand steady and still, you move it up and down with your right hand that's moving.

Does that make sense? I figured it out a while back but I know loads of people struggle putting varnish on their opposite hand so I thought I'd write it up here. Works for me anyway. :D

The most expensive nail colour I have is Christian Louboutin nail polish, which is absolutely amazing, but was an eye-gouging amount of money. Luckily it was a gift from a very special friend! (Thank you xxxx )

They have a whole load of different colours, and I have to say, it's worth the price. Not only do you get the stunning varnish pot, but there's also a top and base coat for around £40. It lasts for absolutely ages and doesn't chip at all (it sort of just peels off). You can get it online or in Selfridges in London, which is where I got it from. I'm a total sucker for this stuff, but it's just amazing.

Here's a bunch of links on Amazon if you are curious. The different shades are awesome.

Christian Louboutin Python Vulcano
Christian Louboutin Nail Care Kit
Christian Louboutin Nail Polish - Rouge 

Of course, there's the other side of the coin - and I've got loads of really cheap ones as well! I picked these up in a shop in Westfield for £1 each - I just kind of grabbed a handful and hoped for the best but they are really gorgeous colours. They don't last nearly as long as my expensive ones but unusual colours rock!

Everyone knows I'm obsessed with all things glittery :) So of course I have a huge glitter collection as well, there's cheap ones from Avon and expensive ones I've been gifted, just loads (see centre pic)

Probably the most interesting story though is my red Chanel nail varnish (bottom). I bought this when I was about 13, and I was so excited because it came in a little white Chanel bag that I kept on my dresser for years in my bedroom. It was probably the first designer thing I ever had and I remember getting so excited when I bought it! I was showing it off to everyone!

It actually works really well in conjuction with the red glitter nail varnish top coat from Illamaqua. They can always be relied on to do unusual colours, so every time they have a sale I always see if I can get one or two!

Anyway - I hope this has given you lots of ideas! You can get Illamasqua products on Amazon or direct from their store, they have incredible makeup products that last and last, I'm always in there hunting around for new ideas. I tend to try and find a look and stick to it but lately I've been experimenting a bit, now I've found a hairstyle that works for me!

By the way - KITTY TIP OF THE WEEK - Nizoral Hair Shampoo. This stuff is simply magic. I've been really struggling with dry and brittle hair for weeks and was recommended this product by a special friend from Belgium. It's incredible. It's actually meant for flaky scalps and dandruff, but it also makes hair incredibly silky, and hasn't drained the colour out of my hair either.


Get it here: Nizoral Anti Dandruff Shampoo 60 ml - you won't regret it! Use a regular conditioner as well but you will notice the difference almost right away. I'm never using another shampoo! Ever!

xx Divahugs
Kitty