This week I have been mostly…

Feeling jolly. Yup, I’ve been rocking the Christmas tunes. In my continued quest for a joyuex noel I’ve been playing all the xmassy songs that give me the good feels. 

Ok, let’s get cheesy. Mariah is so not my style, but who doesn’t love her festive offering? I have been singing along & thinking about someone dreamy since my school days. Some of those objects of my affection make me blush to remember. The song, however, remains untarnished. 

You know, I’m not even entirely sure that Mull of Kintyre is a Christmas song, but I always play it at this time of year. Now, maybe it’s because I’m Scottish or perhaps it’s my soft spot for Paul, but it swells my heart. It’s a song that makes me think of home & family & love. I suppose that’s what Christmas means for me.

John Lennon’s Christmas isn’t your standard merry track. It does, however  have that ‘make you think’ quality. I think this tune was probably easier to love in my youth when accomplishments stacked up with ease. These days when I think about what I’ve done in the preceding 12 months I often worry I’ve come up wanting. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be Xmas with John & sadly his message remains salient. 

I have saved the best for last. Not the most original choice, but one that is dear to my heart. The Pogues & Kirsty McColl’s bittersweet tale of love in the big apple hits my spot. That chorus fills me with seasonal warmth & those lyrics, oh the lyrics.

‘ you took my dreams from me

when I first found you.

I kept them with me babe

I put them with my own 

can’t make it all alone

I’ve built my dreams around you.’

They’re almost enough to make me consider kissing Shane McGowan. 

Snow is falling…

I’m diving into the festive spirit this year. Love & sparkle & food & presents are exactly what I need. I’d like to finish this dodgy year on a high point & so, I am immersing myself in all things joyous. 

First up, my nails. I don’t mind telling you my normally pretty talons have been looking a tad shabby of late. Not anymore; they are now shiny & bejewelled. How can my joy quota not be upped when I have diamontes shimmering on my fingers.

  

Unfortunately doing your nails whilst incredibly sleep deprived can sometimes make your snowflakes go a wee bit spider webby. It matters not, they’re still cute & I am one step closer to Santa. 

It’s coming on Christmas….

I’m beginning to feel quite festive. Being the superwoman that I am, I finished buying gifts weeks ago. So, now it’s time to turn my attention on myself. Beware, I’m about to get all wanty.

When buying presents this year I wanted to select really personal items & I think I’ve done well. I thought I’d use the same theory on my self & sought out some quirky trinkets. 

  
Klimt bangle – TimeMachineJewelry (Etsy)

Scarf – River Island

Gimme Brow – Benefit

  
Sampler – YesStitchYes (Etsy)

Jumper – Dorothy Perkins

Number 11 by Jonathon Coe

Intergalactic Bath Bomb – Lush
  
Pendant – HomeStudio (Etsy)

Clutch – Forever21

Notebook – JournalLandCompany (Etsy)

Flower Crown – Asos
  
Candle – The Skye Candle Company

They’re Real – Benefit

Trapper Hat – Forever21

Chocolates – Not on the high street.
I’ve gone for a number of things inspired by creatives who make my heart sing. Flung in some winter warmers with a little glamour. Added a pinch of operation pretty tools & garnished with something to make me chuckle. 

What will you be asking Santa for?

Hey baby, can you bleed like me…

So, Halloween is nearly upon us. I love a bit spooky fun, but this year I’ll be having a fairly quiet night. I have opted to watch some scary movies & hand out sweets to any wee trick or treaters that knock on my door. This means I won’t have an opportunity to dress up, but I do plan to tart my house up with creepy decorations. I also couln’f resist the temptation to give myself a seasonal manicure. 

  
It’s been a while since I’ve done any real nail art; these nails have definitely got me back in the mood. I kept it fairly simple, but I’m chuffed with the results. I hope you all have a weird & whacky Halloween. 

To me you are a work of art….

Apologies for my sporadic blogging. My body is really trolling me at the moment, which means I’ve had to be really careful how I use my spoons. this post covers a day out from weeks ago. Better late than never, eh?

Ever since the neon went up on The Gallert of Modern Art I have been dying to check out the exhibition of work from Glasgow School of Art. There were some stunning pieces. My particular favourite was this painting by Victoria Morton. 

  
I was also rather fond on the mirrored handbags in this piece. 

  
I can never visit GoMA without taking pictures in the mirrored entrance. I really love this one, even though my Dad appears to have lost his head. 

  
I’ve been searching for the right pinafore type dress for months, finally I found it. I’ll be able to style this piece a million ways, which pleases me. I foresee it being an autumn/winter favourite. 

  
  
Maxi – Asos Curve

Kimono – Alice & You

We followed up GoMA with lunch, beer & a pedicure. In my book that’s pretty perfect Saturday. 

Look how pretty my little tootsies are. 

  
 

This week I have been mostly….

Feeling sentimental. Sop has been oozing from my very pores. Who can tell what’s brought this on, but it’s certainly influenced my aural choices. 

I’m going to kick off with a tune brought to my attention by a decidedly unsoppy man. This must be the place is such a warm contented song that it always makes me feel a tad melty. Talking Heads’ grown up, understated love song is precisely the style of happily ever after that appeals to me. 

  
I stumbled upon an old Del Amitri cd last week & have been rediscovering their meloncholy magic since. One song in particular has been bringing a lump to throat ; Tell her this  brings to mind that rare moment when you feel ready to let your guard down. I’m careful with my heart and rather slow to trust. So reaching the point where I’m ready to jump is special. I love the sensation when you know you’re both really in it & ‘Tell her this’  embodies that. 

Next up is a singer who has infiltrated my dreams. Damien rice writes the most stunning lyrics. I relate to so many of his beautiful works, but one in particular keeps finding me in my sleep. Accidental Babies is about knowing with absolute certainty who you should be with despite the fact that you’re not together. It’s raw emotion & naked yearning are a punch in the gut. Rice’s description of love, both passionate & ordinary is so real. It’s strange, yet beautiful to discover that a complete stranger has captured your own experience. 

 
Gregory & the Hawk are  my penultimate purveyors of love. Boats and Birds is an ode to adoration. The classic romantic imagery of stars & seas are enchanting. As is the notion of caring for someone else’s happiness before your own. I challenge you to listen to this & not think about the most important person in your life. 
I shall leave you with a masterpiece. No one speaks my heart better than Joni Mitchell & A case of you is my soul in three verses. From the northern star to a partner flowing in your blood, it’s a work of genius. Joni has summed up the power & sadness & mystery of love. I first heard this song when I was 11years old & instantly longed for that strength of feeling. Now as an adult I know both the joys & sorrows of drenching myself in an intoxicating man. My heart remains unaltered, I am still on my feet. 

We speak in silence every time our eyes meet…

I have a new project. It’s mainly for my own amusement, but I hope it strikes a chord with some like minded strangers. 

My ‘post it’ project is inspired by the trend of people leaving positive little notes in library books or buses to bring a smile to whoever may come along next. I’ve also been influenced by the new wave of profound graffiti. I do like the sentiment behind the former, but wanted to express something more than just ‘you’re beautiful’ or ‘smile’. So, my little project was born. 

I am writing quotes that speak to me on post it notes & stick them wherever I go. Most of the quotes I select are words that have at one time been meaningful to me. I suppose I am hoping that they might have significance for others too. My other motive is simply that it would please me to find such a thing. Fingers crossed I reach others who feel the same. 

  

It would be utterly fantastic if any of my lovely readers would like to join. Give me a shout if you feel inclined to do so. 

My week in pictures… 

I’ve had a rather lovely week. It’s been filled with a beach, a birthday, some beer & a burning sky. So, I thought I’d share some of the photographs I’ve snapped along the way.

Autumn is absolutely my favourite season & an out of season beach is probably my favourite place to be. So, last Friday I combined two loves & embarked on a wee road trip with my sister (& her fur baby). I am so lucky to live in Glasgow as there is so much beautiful countryside so close by. Both my sis & I both enjoy finding new, slightly less obvious places to visit & Lauren came up trumps on this trip. We headed to Ayr, but bypassed the main beach in favour of Heads of Ayr. There we found a stunning deserted beach complete with a crumbling castle perched on a cliff. Like I said I prefer a beach outside of summer, they always feel more atmospheric with wilder weather. Aside from a little map reading bickering (my skills are poor) it was a gorgeous day. 

  

I opted for low key birthday celebrations this year. Mainly because I haven’t been terribly well, but also because I’m so bloody old. I’ll be honest the numbers are getting a little scarier every year. Having said that, the actual birthdays are always a delight. I kicked off my birthday with a family lunch. My family proved once again how much they know & love me by gifting exactly the right things. They even refrained from singing when my cake came out, which I appreciated. I followed up lunch with drinks & my favourite man. We enjoyed some delicious cherry beer & a stunning sunset. No birthday would be complete without a FaceTime with my niece, my incredible little muffin sang happy birthday & told me some very imaginative stories. Finally, my best friend rounded off my day with  another spot on present. I am a very lucky girl. 

  

I’ve also had some quiet little moments with my city & myself. Here’s a little insight into what keeps me ticking over. 

  
  
To cap things off I have received some really interesting writing offers that I can’t wait to sink my teeth into. I’ll keep you posted on where you can read the finished results.