Q #51

I found this quote floating around Tumblr - I have no idea who this person is, or whether this quote is really attributed to them. I did a google and can find no accurate sources, but I liked the quote, so fuck it. I kind of love that sort of internet bullshit - it could just be someone made it up, who knows...

However my point today is not about the intricacies of ownership on the internet, but how weird things are, when people (and with it, memories) slink back into your life, and it feels like nothing has really changed. I was talking earlier this week about feeling like you've got your shit together, and I most definitely did not feel like I had my shit together when this person popped up. Until that point, I thought I'd made peace with certain feelings, but suddenly I felt like I fell down the rabbit hole again, and I handled it poorly - but it's bizarre how memories of feelings can stick with you, and they will not leave you no matter how hard you try. 

So, whoever wrote this down, some Tumblr philosopher, perhaps, is spot on. Be wary of who you make memories with, because those feelings don't always go away. One day you could be casually scrolling through your Instagram feed, or perusing a selection of wine in the supermarket and you'll realise that they were there all along. By all means, make peace with those memories, accept them for what they are (a poor decision is a learning opportunity, if we're being optimistic!), but maybe don't trick yourself into thinking you'll forget them completely, as I apparently did...

spring skincare favourite: kiehl's midnight recovery concentrate review

I've had a few instances of feeling like an adult recently - as a rule, since I've turned 18 I've felt fairly unprepared for adulthood. I'm clearly just one those people that likes to live in my little bubble pretending I'm 17 and nothing can hurt me. Recently I've had some little wake up calls - like realising I have to pay back student loan (a day I thought would never come).

Sometimes everything feels a bit up in the air and - but then I realise that there are small, adult, things I can have control over. Like picking up my favourite bottle of wine at the weekend, buying houseplants and getting excited about looking after them... and sorting out my skin-care routine. Small things, you know, that make me feel like I've got my life in check.

I'm a few weeks shy of my 25th birthday, and I think I've finally figured out what works for my skin. It doesn't mean I still don't suffer hormonal breakouts (because anyone that has seen me this week can attest to the volcano that's currently living on my face) but it means I can have my tried and tested products that suit my skin. What I love about knowing that, though, is that you can introduce products, and try them out, and know that you skin probably won't go mental, like it might've done at 16 or 17 years old, and it might even like them.

I wanted to try a facial oil. Whilst I have an more oily forehead and nose area, my cheeks get quite dry, and I've heard good things about this little blue bottle. I do really like it - I'm not sure it works wonders, however, but it makes me feel very pampered, and the smell is divine. It makes my skin feel plumped up and more moisturised; I've been mixing this in with my base when doing my makeup some mornings, and it makes my skin glow like no other.

I always struggle describing smells in writing - but to me this smells like luxury. You know when you're in the Liberty fragrance room and surrounded by those amazing, rich smells and everything feels too expensive for you but gorgeous anyway - that is what this is like. It smells a bit like jasmine and rosehip, and when I have my tobacco and patchouli candle burning, my night-time routine turns into somewhat of an aromatherapy session; and this is mostly why I like this product. It gets me sleepy! I have a terrible time falling asleep when I'm tired, which sounds bizarre, I know, but I just have a very overactive mind and find it incredibly hair to switch off, so things like lull me into a false sense of security and get me all cozy and ready for bed.

I'm not sure it's making me look any younger or making my skin recover it's vitality, and I'm not sure I'd repurchase this - however it makes me feel fancy, and like I've got my shit together, so I suppose that's all you can ask for, in a skincare product.

weekend wanderings #62

(images from nishaantishu.com, hazeljane.co.uk and intoruth.com)

• Recently on Uncia + Tigris, I spoke about my love of ruined photos, I shared with you a recipe for amazing, clean, chocolate treats, and this week I shared a need peak at my dressing table.
• I am a huge Instagram-nerd, I am a little bit obsessed with the platform, and I love finding new, pretty accounts to follow. It's like real-life Pinterest. 
• I am in love with this piece of writing from my friend Meghan, How to do religion when you don't believe in god - it does perfectly sums up a lot of the struggles I've had with religion over the years.
• I've been to Brighton quite a few times now, but I've never taken the time to visit Lewes, despite there being a castle and some interesting history, but Carrie makes it look so adorable.
• Cat's flat is filled with the most amazing trinkets, furniture and she's the queen of styling a photo - I have dreams of living in a flat like hers!
• Freya's garden (the last picture) is the most perfect looking garden - I can't believe she lives in London!
• Isometrically perfect cubes of food - is apparently a thing I didn't know my life was missing.
• I've fallen off my healthy-eating bandwagon quite terribly these last few weeks - so I'm desperately reading anything and everything about getting back on track, like this How to have a healthy week.
• I have wanted to visit Athens for the longest time, although a lot of people say it's not the best city, all that amazing ancient architecture clouds my judgement. 
• Hazel's first-try florentines look so good! Definitely saving this one for future use... 
• A really interesting post about knitting vs lifestyle brands, of sorts. 
• I miss the rhubarb bush in the allotment, with a passion - a rhubarb crumble was one of the highlights of the end of summer, without a doubt. I would like to try out these rhubarb curd bars, though.
• I'm impressed that a work handbag can be so neat and tidy - mine is a black-pit of forks and napkins, receipts and train tickets, cables and phone chargers.
• Sorcha shared with us a visit to Petersham nurseries, and it looks like one of those beautiful little hidden gems - it's not that far from where I live. Might be a lovely little spot for a bank holiday Monday...
• A selection of lovely libraries - it is my dream to have one of my own. 
• Gillian has nailed the perfect spring into summer transition outfit - and she looks amazing.
• On the subject of outfits, I also know the feeling of having that item of clothing that gives you confidence - I have a black, 60's style pea-coat that I got over the winter, that instantly makes me feel like I can on the world.
• I'm always thrown by herbs with sweet things (like mint with strawberries, what?) - but I'm willing to risk it for this amazing looking lemon and thyme cake.
• I like to think I followed all of these interview tips (I got the job) but my interviewer might tell you differently, haha, but I think they're all good, solid tips.
• I really admire Becky's confidence for addressing her current struggles - a lot of the time blogs gloss over the hard parts of life. She's a great blogger, is Becky, and often addresses things that no-one else will - like are you blogging for the wrong reasons? (The answer is no, for anyone and everyone!)

dressing table decor

To my utter delight, I recently discovered my local H&M had a makeover, and now includes a delightful Homeware department... My bank balance will probably be less delighted, in the future, but hey-ho...

Q #50

A Beyonce quote is a bit different from my usual quotes, but it's the sentiment I'm trying to convey, here. I think you don't realise how much you can do by yourself and depend on yourself, until you're actually put in that situation. 

I find new things quite challenging, sometimes, but when it comes down to the wire, I somehow seem to pull it out of the bag. It's weird, this ability of mine, to underestimate myself. 

as close to clean as it gets: raw vegan chocolate bars

I've discovered my new favourite treats, and they're these delicious little bars. They feel like a cross between a flapjack, tiffin or caramel shortbread - but they're nowhere near as decadent as that! 

For more pictures and the recipe, keep reading;

life adjustments

I was reading about blogging recently, and how even if you set up a schedule, your readers and audience don't really notice if you don't adhere to it - generally. However I like the schedule I set up for myself, and it stresses me out whilst I I realise that people probably don't care. 

However I've told you that I've recently started a new job, and whilst I'm loving it, there just isn't much space in my life for my blog anymore! It's less hours than my previous job, but more involved, and not a 5 minute walk from my house, so it leaves me with less time to get stuff done. I'm thoroughly enjoying it, the people are lovely and the work is motivating and interesting, but with the time I do have off, I want to spend with friends and family, relaxing and adventuring. This said, I'm making a few changes on my blog - you might notice them, and you might not - but I don't want blogging to feel like a chore (I have enough of those at the moment!), which it kind of does at the moment, and thats not what I want it to be like. 

So please hang in with me - there will be less weekly posts and series, but hopefully this will make me put the emphasis on interesting, well produced content that I'm really proud of, instead of feeling like I've got to to keep up with every blogger out there who posts daily!

cereal magazine + the joy of ruined photos

Generally, I can resist a pretty magazine. I am good at this because I'm a blogger, I think - I know that I can get better content on my favourite blogs, but then sometimes, I'm in a train station in Sheffield and the sun is shining and I'm enticed in by pretty pictures in pretty magazines. That's how I came to pick up Cereal. It's one of those magazine that it's in a similar vein to Kinfolk or Oh Comely - lifestyle centric and stunningly shot.  I devoured it on a hot train home, and I can't bare to part with it, the pictures are so pretty.

But when I did arrive home, my mother had been sorting through great crates of photographs and pictures and postcards and all sorts of wonderful little things from her youth, from my youth, from my grandmothers youth. Whilst I love beautifully shot magazines, my heart will have a soft spot for a bad photo.

Over exposed, underexposed, light leaked, or poorly framed - I love a ruined photo. There's something heartwarming about a half recognised face lit by angry red film. I also love just the weird photos that someone took, particularly in film, of a strange building, an odd bit of flooring: something someone chose to capture, because for that instant it was important, but the reasoning has been lost.

This might not make sense to some, but I'm a fan of the extremes of photos, from the beautifully, impeccably shot lifestyle editorials, to the snapshots of long gone family, ruined by a poor photographer. I can't bear to part with any of them; I'm a hoarder.

weekend wanderings #61

(images from Uncia + Tigris, sending-postcards.com and tlvbirdie.com)

• I talked about my love of cherry blossom this week (so basic white girl blogger, whatever) and coming around to espresso's, after 25 years!
• Jane takes beautiful photos anyway, but I love these pictures of a rainy, film-noir-esque black and white Sydney at night.
• I love this particular dish from Zizzi - so Lizzie's healthier and Slimming World compliant version of strozzapetti is right up my street; definitely going to try it this week!
• This Projection LA art installation is absolutely stunning. I'm not sure what it's about (I'm going to research, now!) but that white palm tree against the blue sky is just the one.
• Generally I'm not a giant fan of those letters to my sixteen year old self...blog posts that bloggers adore, but I could've written Charlotte's ("boys from Slough and Newbury aren't exotic"!).
• I would give my right arm to visit this amazing glass tea-house at this temple, it creates rainbows through the prisms in the building, which make it so you can 'hold' a rainbow. So amazing!
• There's also the Texan's guide to Tokyo, if that kind of thing floats your boat!
• I can't help but dream of summer skies and sunsets when it's grey and rainy...
• I wish someone had beat these observations on people into my when I was 13 - probably would've saved me a lot of hassle!
• Some lovely blog post prompts from Eleanor for the month of may.
• Dream homes with dream plants are my kryptonite. 
• I want to eat this: avocado and chickpea salad sandwich. Definitely making for dinner one night this week!
• I am keen to look after the birds in my garden, but bird feeders are expensive - so I really love this super cheap and effective DIY bird feeder.
• Anya perfectly sums up the struggle of being a blogger, and managing expectations all in one, in her quest to photograph a sunset. I feel ya, Anya!
• Chrissy's little Italian vlog is adorable and makes me want to get my butt back over there - something I probably won't have the time this year, but I'm putting it on my list for next year!
• I think I found this via a blog this week - but I've discovered Stuff You Should Know, which are great. I like to learn things, so I think I'm going to download a bunch to try and listen too on the way from work. I'm currently listening to the How Sea Monsters Work episode - which I'm loving.
• I live for chorizo, essentially, and lots of other cured salami's and meats, so I could do with about a hundred chorizo based recipes - however for now I'll settle with Rosie's 3 Ways with Chorizo. 

What are you up to this weekend? 

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Q #49

I feel like sometimes I need to be bit more aware of my surroundings, there are a lot of things going on, that I miss because I have my head in the clouds.