I Love November.

As I've said many, many times before, I love summer. It's not that I hate winter, it certainly has it's good points; Christmas, New Year, central heating and jumpers, but it gets darker earlier and lighter later and I really, really love vitamin D.

And yet with all that said, November is still one of my favourite months. Bonfire Night is one of my favourite nights of the year and I like that November allows for a lead-up to Christmas without as much intensity. Like, you're allowed to start Christmas shopping but you don't have to be angsty about it.

November always feels like a decision-making month and for the last few years it's always been packed with lots of things to do, with this year being no exception as we're pretty much booked up all month!

What I'm Looking Forward to in November:

• Firework displays of all sizes
• Planning our annual Christmas get-together with our friends
• The weather finally making up its mind and knowing I can wrap up without breaking into a sweat
• Bath Christmas Market
• Making more soups and stews
• A gig on a boat in Bristol
• Frosty mornings
• Partying up with old friends
• Making the most of the darker evenings by lighting all the candles
• Blowing out the cobwebs on weekend walks

What do you like about November? I love a month that showcases the changing of the seasons, and a month with fireworks, obviously.

Smiling on Sunday :: Six

[source]
It's been a little while since I've done one of these posts but I've just been so short of time recently. Now things are looking a little more settled in my new job and we've found a better way to walk and drive in in the mornings, it feels like everything is slotting a little more neatly in to place - even if only temporarily.

I must admit, a half-hour drive followed by a mile-and-a-half walk isn't my dream commute but it does the job at freshening me up in the mornings and it's a pretty easy thing to add to my 'fitness regime' (lol).

So, after the mega-high brought by last weekend and aside from a bit of secondhand family-related stress, everything is alright.

IRL:

• Celebrating our friend's engagement - It was so sneaky for Stacy and Pip to keep something like that a secret from us but I guess, knowing that we were going to see them and being able to tell us in person made it all the more special. I know... I'll stop blabbering on about it now but being the first of anything is quite a big deal, especially in such a close group of friends and I'm just so excited about it!
• Finding a new, shorter, less boring walk to work - Sometimes it's the little things but the new walk I've been taking to and from the car this week has been so much better. The old route was one road through a council estate, this one, yeah, it's not amazing but there's a cute woodland surrounded by fields filled with horses and cows. Not a bad way to start the day at all
• Trying to be a better friend - While everything in my life right now isn't completely perfect, catching up with a couple of my oldest girlfriends and hearing that they haven't been having the best time made me feel like it was time to just be a bit more available than I have been. It's lame to say but it's hard to keep track of so many people when they're all over the place doing different things with different time tables. It's easy to get caught up in something else or just your 'own stuff' and even if just occasionally, it's pretty good to be there for someone

Must-Try Recipes:

• Toasted Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies - After discovering the delights of Ben's Cookies and finding out that actually, with the right recipe, I can make some pretty killer cookies myself, I'm into trying out a few more recipes, especially ones with contrasting flavours. Also, I recently discovered that toasted almonds might be one of the best things ever, put them in a chicken salad a few weeks ago. Try it, it will change your life
• Bacon & Egg Shengjian Bao Pan-Fried Steamed Buns - There's a stall at the Giant Market in Oxford on Wednesdays and Thursdays that does baos for £1.80. Baos are one of my favourites at dim sum but even my mum buys them frozen rather than making them. Still, it would be neat to give them a go and they don't seem too difficult
• Peach Dumplings - 2 out of 3 sweet recipes? I swear I'm not a sweet tooth, but these peach dumplings just sound like something really special. They get bonus points for being pretty quick and simple too, this will be high up on my list of things to try out in the next few weeks

Lovely Links:

• John Malkovich Recreating Iconic Photographs - I was a little annoyed when I saw this reported in the Metro that they only focused on his celebrity portrait recreations. As a Photography graduate it was much more fun to see his portraits of 'classic art school photos', the Diane Arbus one really tickled my funny bone
• Messy 3D Typography by Allison Supron - Letters made out of cheese, you say? There's something I can devote some attention to
• Lauren's Thoughts on Packing in the 9-5 - Still feeling like I'm in a bit of a transitional period myself, Lauren's post about what it's like to run away to The Dolomites and leave a 'stable career' was pretty poignant. If it's one thing I wish it's that I could be little braver. It's the danger of comparison that can be so detrimental to so many aspects of your life too so I find her sense of adventure incredibly admirable

Hope you have a fantastic Sunday, I'll be heading back to Surrey to spend the afternoon with my mum, lunch is involved ♥

How Pinteresting!

I've been using Pinterest for a little over two years now and I tend to dip in and out, pinning everything for a two week period and then ignoring it for a month or two.

I think really I'm like that with most things online, and some days computers, phones and gadgets are just not the one. That said, Pinterest can be a really great place to invigorate the mind and inspire, whether it's soothing a bit of wanderlust or finding something new to cook, there are times when it's become a bit of a go-to.

Without wanting to say similar things to what has already been said, I thought I'd just share a few of my favourite pins from August with you.

I'm still not sure where I'll be going with this but it's just some more of me trying to put some things out there and get something other than photographs of days out up here. Diary posts are nice but I always think of this place as an online scrapbook.



1 // Blue Lagoon, Iceland :: I've still got that long-lasting hankering for an Icelandic break, not sure if our money-diet will allow it as the deadline we set ourselves is drawing nearer, so beautiful photographs might have to do it for now.
2 // 'A Better 'Yes' Down the Road' :: Definitely helps with some recent uncertain feelings.
3 // Vitamin Boosting Juices :: I was big into smoothies and the like a couple of months ago, I think I want to get back into it. Changes of the season and upheavals in life usually bring illness and I'd like to prevent that, please.
4 // Silhouettes on Colourful Curtains :: Design.Love.Fest never fails to inspire when it comes to photo shoots and this is just some really lovely styling. That's the kind of thing that makes me long to 'do Photography' again.

+BONUS // Samoyed Puppy :: All the fluff.


I'm really after feedback, is this the kind of post that you enjoy reading? Should I do more of them?

Even after those 2 years I mentioned before, I feel like I'm still getting a hang of this Pinterest thing, you're welcome to follow me on the journey if you like :: http://www.pinterest.com/intoruth/

:: Have you entered my giveaway to win tickets to the Royal Berkshire County Show on the 20th September? ::

Smiling on Sunday | What a Week!

[source]
This time last week I was psyching myself up for a mini-break to Bruges after the most beautiful Saturday evening with my sweet boy at Secret Cinema's showing of Back to the Future.

Today we're having a family leaving party for my sister who is off to Hong Kong in just 10 days! After spending a lovely day and a half with our friend's Tom and Matt, this whole week will really have been a great one. Even the Thursday down time where I took the day off to get my life together post-holiday before popping out in the evening for a lovely collegue's leaving do and a pulled pork burger.

As action-packed weeks go, I think this was one of them and I feel like I'll be finishing Sunday up feeling rather blessed indeed - not a bad way to go in to my birthday week even if I do say so myself - just under 6 days until I join The 25 Club!

I'm kind of aware that I'm a bit behind on things as far as posting photos and stuff goes, I haven't even shared my Bruges photos with Moon yet, but I needed to get some words out there, you know... to let you know that I'm doing pretty darn well, actually.

Here are some other nice things from real-life and the Internet.

IRL:

• Starting a fresh, new notebook ♥ - I'm well and truly converted to bullet journalling and it's the way forward for me as far as keeping myself productive goes. This time I've gone against Moleskine for something a bit more purse-friendly but I can tell we're going to get along just fine
• The return of Great British Bake Off - I missed the first half on Wednesday as I was still on my way back from Bruges via London but was able to insta-catch up as soon as it was over. So sad that Iain isn't nearly as good a baker as he is a beard grower but I guess time will tell. Do you have a favourite yet?
  
• Seeing Moon get a bit excited about my birthday - Because we've been together since we were quite young, have been together for quite a long time and now live together, I sometimes feel like there's less room for elements of mystery and surprises - Moon has proved me wrong. I wouldn't at all call him romantic and I quite like him the way he is but to see him get all giddy about the place he's booked for us to go to dinner on my birthday and be completely schtum about what we're doing during the day does kind of set my heart into a flutter
  

Must-Try Recipes:

• Lemonade Cucumber Spa Pops - Having just discovered the delights of Qcumber water, these really sound good to me, so easy too!
• Rosie's River Cottage Soda Bread - I just picked up a new recipe book about baking bread last week - Rosie's recipe is a bit simpler than the one in the book, I can't wait to give it a go.
• Salted Caramel Rice Krispy Squares - I'm obsessed with salted caramel lately, I blame Haagen Dazs.
• Rhubarb Upside-Down Yoghurt Cake - I've never made a yoghurt cake before and I think this one would be a good one to start with, not sure I could make one quite as beautiful though.

Lovely Links:

Kaylah's birthday posts always bring a smile to my face, such beautiful bright colours.

Rosie's short but sweet post about her and her fiancé reading together is so nice. Moon and I have been reading a lot more recently so this might be something to try when we finish our current books, makes a nice change from staying up and watching TV.

I really liked Clare's golden hour photographs of her allotment, something I love about this time of year. Even as a Photography graduate though, lighting's never really been my strongest point I wouldn't say but Clare has nailed it - her blog has also had a cheeky makeover too, which is really nice to see.

50 Songs from the 2000s That Will Instantly Put You in a Good Mood - Go for it, there are some real gems there.

Hope you have a fun-filled, relaxing Sunday. x

Friday Finds.

I hadn't actually planned making this a weekly thing, but I figured I would at least do it today because it's been a little while and I have a few things to share with you. As well as winning tickets to Taste of London, this has generally been a pretty great week for food, I've cooked proper teatime food every day this week and I'm very proud to be eating so well — that being said, I have kind of being eating all round me a little too so I feel like I should probably pipe down on that front for a little bit.

I have a couple of fun things happening this weekend, we're off to see Josh Widdecombe (off the telly!) in a bit at New Greenham Arts Centre, I've seen him before and he's very funny, I'm very curious to see what the venue will look like. We're also off to see Dry the River for the ninth time tomorrow, this time with just them and a support at an apparently small venue in Reading. I'm looking forward to in generally because my ears do seem to need a regular top up of their beautiful live performances but also because it's been ages since we saw just them, with the last few times being as part of festivals, which isn't quite the same.

Slightly more mundane things that are happening this weekend include; turning the flat upside down in a cleaning frenzy, doing a test run of our new Glastonbury tent we bought last weekend and maybe going on a little walk if the weather's nice. I also plan on at least one lie-in, it's been a major struggle waking up before 7am nearly every day this week, I really need to catch some zzzs.

[Help Ink]
Reason number 1 for wanting to move, although a little unreasonable is that we've run out of wallspace for pretty things, I like the pretty art work we have but I just really need some more...



[Eightbear]
I picked up Eightbear's lovely 'Bears' print when we went to Soho Flea Market a couple of weeks ago but it was really this print that caught my eye first. The 'Bears' print is now nicely framed in our bedroom, replacing a print that I liked but Moon didn't - sometimes relationships are about compromise. Sadly when I saw this print in real life, it was just a *smidge* too big for any free frames we had, see? We need more wallspace. I think this would be lovely for a nursery, not that I'm feeling particularly broody or nesty, I just think this is cute and that I could have easily hoarded it if paper wasn't so flimsy...


[Zara Home]
How great is this cushion cover? Sometimes I really wish I was a bit more matchy-matchy when it came to my interior design choices, and I think the time is approaching where I need to at least think about some new cushion covers for the lounge, but then, I like having lots of different things and this definitely would go with my general animal/cutesy theme that I've unintentionally run throughout my home.


[From London With Love]
Although I get on much better with large bags, it is pretty handy to have a tiny one with your essentials in for a night out. This one is so cute! I love the colour but I don't think I actually own anything that is this colour at the moment. I think £25 for a real leather satchel, even if it is tiny is pretty reasonable too!


[x]


[Kinship Goods]
This is such a cute t-shirt! It would certainly make bringing Doll up with strangers a lot easier. :)
I hope you have a great weekend!

Music Monday #4.

I wanted to do something a little different today, so I thought I would start with the thing that inspired me to start doing a 'Music Monday'-style post in the first place. It may not be something I carry on until next year, or even next week, but I kind of like that I can look back on what I was listening to in the same way I can look back at what I was doing. It is something that's a little new to me, and as I'm not always listening to music, not something I feel like I can keep up with either, plus, in all honesty it's just a bit of filler before I figure out what else I want to do with my little space of Internet.

So ages ago, Terri Lowe posted a great 'tag' relating to music, sure, I wasn't tagged, but it's like Myspace, I'll just take it, credit her, and we'll move on from there, right?
I used to love doing these back in the Myspace days, as I've mentioned a few times when things like this have come up previously, so I figured I may as well give it a whirl.

---

1. What are your 5 favourite songs right now?
It's changing all the time and I can be painfully commercial but here it goes:
'Blurred Lines' - Robin Thicke – It's a song I love to hate.
'Let's Go Surfin' - The Drums – It just really makes me want to jump into my car and hit the beach.
'New Ceremony' - Dry the River – Beautiful.
'I Coulda Been Your Girl' - She & Him – The video & her voice ♥
'Diane Young' - Vampire Weekend - Baby, baby, baby!!

2. Who are your favourite bands of all time?
I'm going to go with the three that come off the top of my head...
I think:
The Maccabees
Dry the River
Mumford & Sons
Last.fm thinks:
The Maccabees
Jamie T
Mumford & Sons

3. What is the most played song in your iTunes?
'Toothpaste Kisses' by The Maccabees – it's soppy but I love it, you can blame my uni-self, I haven't used iTunes in months.

4. What was the last album you bought?
Must have been 'Beachcomber's Windowsill by Stornoway, because I became interested in them about the same time I got my car and it was suddenly really novel to play CDs again.

5. What song can you not get out of your head?
That silly 'Dear Darling' one by Olly Murs, it's so terrible, I can't.

6. What was the last single you downloaded?
I'm very, very pro-Spotify, I hate clutter, but apparently it was 'Bad Blood' by Bastille.

7. What is your favourite band right now?
Well, I guess Dry the River, because it's too easy but I've been listening to far too much She & Him, Ellie Goulding and Vampire Weekend, they make me feel sunshiney.

8. What is your favourite type of music?
I like all kinds of music, I like anything that sounds nice that I can sing along to, but I do love a good indie rock band.

9. In your 25 Most Played list, what is #10?
In the last 12 months, it's 'Love Lust' by King Charles.

10. What was the first gig you ever went to?
Guilfest 2k7 – a festival that no longer exists, oh childhood (teenagehood)

11. What was the best gig you've ever been to?
Seeing Dry the River play unplugged at Banquet Records was pretty ace and Biffy Clyro at the Apple Store in Regent's Street were also great. Glastobury in general too, if you count it as a gig?

12. And finally, if there was one band/album/song you would recommend everyone listening to RIGHT NOW, what would it be?
She & Him's 'Volume 3', Zooey's voice is probably better than you'd give her credit and it's a nice mix of contemporary and more 50s-inspired hits, it's lovely.

I'd love it if we were buds on Last.fm ♥.

Shiny Spring: A Mini Etsy Wishlist

My recent spring cleaning kick (read: never not mopping the kitchen floor and generally running up and down the flat like a mad woman) has had me really in the mood for a declutter, which in my mind kind of means a bit of a reclutter once it's all done - which means I've spent a lot of time looking around for lovely home things - I'm super into storage right now, so I can hide the stuff I wasn't feeling mean enough to get rid of.

Etsy was a pretty good place to start - and Pinterest, I've been 'pinning' a lot more than usual - and it's spring, and it's been winter forever so I figured I'd share some of my favourite Etsy spring finds with you - I realise they're not necessarily 'springy' but I love the bright pastel colourways that finally become acceptable once this lovely season arrives. I'm so looking forward to getting rid of the stuff that I never even used before I moved let alone since.


[Boy-Girl Tees]
Apart from the occassional bunch of flowers to brighten up the place, the only plant I have inside my home is one very sad looking spider plant, my mum did help me bring it back to life a bit and I'm hoping with time it will grow and now I'm hoping for more. I noticed how many lovely plants my Gran has, and I know it's my Gran and that's what old ladies do but it really lifts my mood to see greenery and I think I've learnt from my mistake.


[Handcraft Nepal]
The last piece of 'furniture' that I really want is a rug, and a nice one. This Etsy shop makes these felt ball rugs to order and I think they're so nice. I've seen a few huge ones in John Lewis but I like the idea of measuring and picking colours to match my space.


[Bluebird Lab]
I love the spring colours of this necklace, apart from my sweet Designosaur necklace I haven't really had any new jewellery for a little while and a big clear out is in order/in progress.


[Cabin + Cub Design]
Now I've gotten use to opening my sunroof, I really don't want to see the sun go again (see: this weekend's weather report), I think it's safe to say that this is a must-have mantra for anyone living in the UK - a perfect springtime piece though and great for April showers. Definitely big into wooden things at the moment, I think it's the traditional mixed with the contemporary that gets me.


[2nd Shot]
I've felt super-cool driving to work in my sunglasses all week, I love my sunglasses, but how neat are these ones? They're made from recycled skateboards and you'd never know, but now you do, I think that makes them even better!


[Julie Nolan]
I love this Leo constellation necklace, might have to put in on my birthday wishlist, such a cute idea.


[ARMINHO]
Just before Christmas I picked up similar educational fish poster, it now hangs majestically in our bathroom and I just love the style. This one would look great in our front room and I really like the original-looking holders.


[Nash Pop]
Eep! How sweet are this kitties? If it's not plants and flowers, it's nick nacks. I would really love the patience to start a collection, and the space.

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Have you been decluttering your life or at least your living space? Is getting rid of things to make room for new things something you do too? (I'm trying to get Moon to see my logic and justification, really I just think he hates me always tidying)

Tuesday Tabs #37

What with being ill last week I had a little time spend mindlessly browsing the Internet, so I have a few nice things this week. I had been wondering - as I mentioned in my last Tuesday Tabs post - whether to be a bit more festive but I think it's best to stick with it how it is and as it comes.

I've been thinking about how posting on my blog will work over Christmas while I'm away as I want to get the most out of my holiday as possible rather than spend so much time on a computer, saying that, I will probably spend a couple of hours an evening online, unless there's not Internet access at all, might be quite liberating. I'm pretty excited, it's just two weeks tomorrow until I head off and there's so much to cram in before that, I desperately hope I've shifted this cold by then, it's the worst!

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[via Buzzfeed]

This photo is from a great set by Fubirai about the feral cats of Fukuoka. It's amazing how versatile animals can be.

My Mum only came back from Hong Kong on Friday and I was missing her a lot in the last month or so. This video really made want to be over there with her, so many neat sights that I've been to and ones I've yet to see!

[Woop Studio]

I love this print from Woop Studio, it's part of an awesome A-Z 'collective term' series, which would be perfect if we hadn't basically run out of wall-space this weekend :3

[via Kate Bartolotta]

Definitely something that should be included in part of my New Year's resolutions now that I've not got much left to worry about.

[What Katie Does]

Owhh, I'd love this print to call my own - apparently I'm feeling a little more cat-crazy than usual this week, and it comes at a time when Doll's being really naughty and I have to keep telling her off.

[TUFT]


[Urban Outfitters]

We picked up a great throw from Ikea at the weekend and it's really pulled the lounge together, much more so than the old one and so much cosier, but this one was another one I had my eye on if I was feeling particularly flush on pay day.

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Mashup Illustrations by Justin Hillgrove — I've seen a lot of Justin's Where The Wild Things Are/Studio Ghibli tribute floating around for the last week or so, and it's so cute.

This Dance Routine for Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous'. — I think Dangerous is one of my favourite MJ songs, sometimes I find myself forgetting that he existed because I don't listen to him that often but then I remember and it's like tune after tune after tune! This dance routine is particularly boss too.

What Katie Does — I only discovered Katie's blog a couple of weeks ago, but you know when you find a blog and you just want to root through it? She posts great photos, lifestyle posts and has such lovely kitties, she's fast becoming my new favourite.

31 Advanced Photography Tips to Help You Advance as a Photographer — I always like to school myself up on things like this, especially in the lead-up to shooting events. It's interesting to learn to tips and see how other people do things even if they won't be something I'll eventually use.

Fro Design Co's Mythical Beasts Travel Posts — My favourite is the Big Foot one.

Tuesday Tabs #34

I'm quite happy to make this something that's every so often rather than every week. I don't usually get a lot of time to browse nowadays, let alone post about it. But here are some of my favourite finds this week. I think this will be perfect to refer back to come payday.

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[via It's Nice That]
This is from the series, 'Perhaps Finally Alone' by Photographer, Elisa Noguera, this is my favourite but I think the whole series is really neat. Plus I bet it was a great excuse to spend some time with cute critters.


[Swanky Catz Baseball Shift Dress, Drop Dead]
Definite appreciation for Drop Dead's latest cat-centric collection.


[Cat Rabbit Plush]
How sweet is this scalloped necklace?! It's really different from anything I own and perfectly represents how I think I'll be feeling as the nights draw in, it also comes as a twin brooch set, which I have my eye on too.


[Rebekka Seale]


[Stash]

I am in desperate need of a more robust, 'proper' camera bag, as I'm a terrible snapper and just pop my cameras in my handbag at the moment. I don't want to compromise to much on the look of the bag, but it will ne nice to have something that is better at protecting my cameras as autumn and wintery walks become more frequent. I still have my eyes firmly in the direction of Jo Totes, but the pattern of this pag is lovely I like that it's fabric rather than leather.

I always leave Dry the River gigs feeling overwhelmed and I know I've been talking about them a lot since forever but particularly recently, but I just think they're wonderful. Every time I've seen them, Pete's vocal on 'Weights & Measures' gets me, it's so desperate and beautiful. Obviously this isn't a recording from when I saw them at Gathering on Saturday but it's one of my favourite recordings of this song that I've heard.


[via FYeahArtStudentOwl]


[Clare Owen Illustration]
How sweet is this simple, splodgy cat illustration?!


[via This Is Colossal]

I've been dying a little over these adorable outfits worn by 'Trotter' taken by Sonya Yu. I've been even more animal-crazy than usual in the last week or so, I think mainly thanks to a short bout of cabin fever, but also thanks to Moon's, 'well I wouldn't mind a smaller dog' quip, which he probably won't ever live down now.

I can't decide if this is a good advert for this car or not, but the cat is nice.

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Link Love: ♥

The Fake Books from The Royal Tenebaums — A lovely list of large images of the books from The Royal Tenenbaums, it would be really cool to have a couple as posters, as if I haven't littered the flat with posters enough already.

Scrimshaw Dessert Plates from Supernice — I spotted these when peaking into the window of Supernice when I was in Rye the weekend before last and thought they were really pretty. A little too pretty to eat off of but we have a little thing for seaside things.

Lampshades from Laura Oakes — One of the very few downsides to our little flat is that we don't have much need for lampshades, when we finally get around to moving somewhere else or buying somewhere, these will be perfect.

Nation of Amanda's 'I Want All The Cats To Love Me The Best' T-shirt — I'm certain that I've mentioned this before but I keep coming across it and it's becoming more and more of a must-have, it's too cute.

This Dino Skirt from Drop Dead — I wish this was a midi-skirt rather than a tube skirt as I'm not 15, but I feel my wardrobe is distinctly lacking in dinosaurs.

Gemma Correll's Ampersand Print — I'm so happy to have found this again on The Curious Pancake as I thought it was gone forever when it sold out on Gemma Correll's Etsy shop.

Daily Dishonesty — A wonderful Tumblr blog filled with perfect typography and things we should perhaps be more truthful about.