Goals for October.

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September feels like it passed in a blur, it's the first time in ages that I've managed to get so many posts 'out there' though and I'm really pleased with that side of things.

Starting a new job has completely messed with my routine in the last couple of weeks though so the start of a new month, feels like as good a time as any to take stock and plan ahead.
After all, when you're staying home because you're as skint as a mint, all you can really do is make lists and plan... and do housework, too much housework.

• Be a better friend – Take more time catch up and 'be there'
• Manage time better – Spend less time vegetating on the sofa and more time doing things
• Make more me-time – It's not to push Moon away, but I think it's important we pursue our own interests from time to time
• Play with Doll more – We've noticed that Doll actually loves it if we take a few minutes out to properly play with her, with real toys as opposed to just winding her up. When we do this, she'll then sit with us and I mean with us, not near us and generally is much nicer. I know it's a silly cat-owner thing to notice, particularly after almost three years but I want a happy cat and it's such a small thing for her to ask for among the other things she needs
• Embrace the new routine – I don't like change but I didn't like where I was before everything changed so this change can only be good. It will only work if I try to slot it in around things I really want to be doing, did I say change enough?

I'm hoping to not stress myself out quite as much this month and take it all in my stride. Having realised that since my birthday I've been caught in some really unnecessary drama that doesn't concern me, what I've really been needing to do is concentrate on myself and I think sometimes that's how it needs to be.

Hope you have a relaxing, chilled out Sunday.

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? ::

Tiny Changes.

I'm so, so glad that the weather has decided to kind of start to clear up, all that gloom and drizzle was a major downer. I haven't felt so productive on a Monday in a while, and there's still so much to get done, I'm putting it down to the lovely sunlight that beamed through my bedroom window this morning, thank you, Sun. I figured I'd take a pitstop here and share some of the new additions we've made to the flat over the weekend, some more living and breathing than others.

Maybe today's productivity is an overflow from all the crazy running around we did at the weekend, felt like we didn't have two seconds to ourselves. If we weren't in the car driving somewhere, we were thinking about how to pack something, it doesn't really make for a relaxed life.

Briefly walking around Dorking on Saturday morning (before 11 o'clock!), and stopping in at my current favourite, Feather & Fern, I thought I'd give Dorking's flagship vintage shop, Shrewd, a quick nosey. Shrewd has changed a lot since it first opened up and has relocated to a much brighter, more spacious location. It has a similar feel to the upstairs of Snooper's in Brighton and I like it. Despite my current clothes-fast, I still really liked going through all the lovely one-off pieces they have to offer.


With yet more drizzle after lunch, Moon and I went over to Guildford to pick up Chris and Calvert before going over to Ikea. However, due to a badly-timed look around the shops to kill time, we (Moon) ended up picking up an armchair, something we've (any visitors) have been in need of. We got it from Sabichi, and it was half-price as it was a display model, but still in as-new condition, although Moon did break it in transit when we headed back to drop it off at my Gran's before heading back to Guildford, second time lucky, to get Chris and Calvert. After nearly two hours in Ikea and being one small sofa-bed up, poor old Chris and Calvert ended up being shoved in the boot of the car. It was a good job we did drop off the chair before, but it was still a pretty stupid idea.

After picking up Doll from 'home-home', loaded up with more cat food than I've ever seen in my life (thanks, Mum!), we brought a pretty stressed-out and sad kitty back to Newbury with us. To be fair though, if someone put you in a cage, bunged you in a car and didn't tell you where they were taking you, you'd probably be a bit anxious too. Despite that, Doll seems happy to have our flat as her new home and readily spread herself out on our bed, she's currently curled up at my feet ♥.

About two hours after we got home...


SOLSTA, £89, Ikea
The stressful sofa-bed; home of my cat cushions and sunshine-coloured knitted throw (also Ikea).


This room still feels half-empty to me, I'm trying to make the most of it as an office space and have spent a few hours in here this afternoon but I think it needs a little something extra.


We've swapped chests, I'm quite happy about this as I put work into painting my one.


The current state of the living room with red leather armchair in-tow. Keep an eye out for that box, it's my next adventure into painting.


Yep.
I think that now, minus a microwave, we have all the furniture we need, once we have a weekend that isn't spent running around, we'll be able to enjoy the work that's gone into making this place our own.

Fitting in with the staying productive, I've made a little list of future posts, and I hope to post a bit more than usual this week. I hope you're having a great start to the week and that your weekend wasn't quite so frantic.

Brighton Buys.

I just can't help it that most of my favourite shops happen to be in Brighton. So I might have picked up a few things when Moon and I were down there for his birthday yesterday. Saying that, I still have major sights set on my new fave, Porta and, I'll know I've made it once I can pick up a dress from Get Cutie and not give a damn, they're so beautiful.

I may not have splashed out in the shops mentioned above, but I'm pretty pleased with yesterday's gifts to myself, I mean I'd already bought Moon presents, so...


Cat-print canvas bag, £9.99, AHA Brighton
The shop I bought this from was great, I'd love to go back and buy so much more. It was mainly a Japanese gift shop, so I expected it to be really overpriced but it was actually really reasonable, I was pleasantly surprised. I'm so happy with this bag, I mean for obvious reasons but also because it's a great size. It seems really sturdy so far, so it will be good as either an everyday bag or for overnight.




The Art of My Neighbour Totoro, £20, Dave's Comics
Although this was pretty expensive, I feel no remorse as it's totally worth it, books are nearly always worth it. We turned the corner at the end of Dave's Comics in Sydney Street and were greeted by a whole series of similar Studio Ghibli books. I'm already hoping to grab the others and will be keeping a beady eye on Amazon in order to complete the collection. They might be a bit cheaper on Amazon but I do feel like I've done my bit to help out an independent Brighton retailer so it's not that big a deal.



So this last buy is a bit of a weird one, having semi-fallen for a bluebird print cushion in Get Cutie, I thought I may be able to pick up some cute fabric from one of the many fabric shops in Brighton and make my own animal themed cushion, and fell for this one instantly. I do in fact know how to make a cushion as it was one of the first things I ever learnt how to sew, much to Moon and his brother's surprise! I have a tendency to dip in and out of craft but I can do it. Besides, being the nerd I am, I've been tuning in regularly to Superscrimpers on Channel 4 and I'm feeling inspired. I'm not sure if I'll go for a cushion insert or wadding, but there's no doubt about it that this cushion's getting made. I'm feeling zero shame over the fact that two out of three things I bought today were cat-themed, in fact there's a cat in MY Neighbour Totoro too... haters gonna hate.

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Watch this space, it's a two-blog kind of day. I've got some photos that are actually from Brighton to show you. ♥

Boxpark, Shoreditch.

Having had my last day with Ink today and therefore the last day I will be going to Shoreditch on a regular basis, I thought I would post a blog about a site that has intrigued me for almost my entire work experience period, Boxpark.

Before starting at Ink I had read about Boxpark on a careers fair website, but, as careers fairs suck, I didn't think much of it, but then I confronted it every day for the next month.

Boxpark is a concept developed by the creator of Boxfresh, in association with real estate developers Hammerson & Ballymore. The basic idea is to strip and refit shipping containers to create affordable and unique retail space - I was quite surprised to see that there was still a unit available, I mean you'd have to get on it even if it was purely for location, surely.

Situated at the entrance to Shoreditch High Street Overground station, this ambitious shopping experiment effectively sets itself to be Shoreditch's first 'shopping mall', playing host to a number of well-loved, great brands and it looks bloody good too. On Monday evening a bit of the building work came down and the outside of Boxpark was revealed to the public and I couldn't believe how impressive the units looked. Each unit fitting into the iconography of the building but also demonstrating a great utilisation of space when reflecting each brand's varying image and statement.

I think visually my favourites so far are the Oakley and Urbanears units. I'm a big fan of their use of colour and simplicity, particularly with Urbanears, they're space looks massive.

It looked so different when put in the evening light and all the shops were so shiny and new. I'm sad I don't have enough time/money to get a proper glimpse when Boxpark officially opens at the weekend. The opening will see 20% discounts as well as special celebrity guests and DJ sets. However, from the sounds of things it looks like Boxpark will be sticking around for a bit so hopefully I'll get the chance to grab my own slice of the Shoreditch shopping centre experience when I get the time.

Boxpark officially opens on Saturday 3rd December at 1pm.
Visit boxpark.co.uk/ or email info@boxpark.co.uk for further details.
Like Boxpark on Facebook.
Follow Boxpark on Twitter.

Pelican.

One of the best things about either being a student/unemployed and correct me if I'm wrong (but I'm not), is the fact that when you're favourite band or company do something, you're right there, able to comment on it, interact and maybe even win something. It's how I've won tickets to see both Biffy Clyro and Jamie T as well as tickets to a screening of Jurassic Park and a limited edition print (more on that when I have time).


Now that I'm working, and will be for the next two weeks (yay!), I kind of feel a bit out of the loop. I'm trying to make sure that I don't ruin too much of The Maccabees new album because like a true fangirl, I've been waiting far too long.

However, I couldn't ignore the excessive amount of temptation from various platforms and had a listen to their upcoming single, 'Pelican'.

I love it, I love them, I love hearing a new song by them, I love hearing Orlando's voice singing a song that I haven't heard before, it's beaut. I'm so psyched for January, when I'll get to see them again in a venue I've never been to before. It's going to be amazing.

Without trying to seem like I'm wishing the year away, I genuinely can't wait. I'm so pleased that there's a promise of the mixture of light and dark that The Maccabees do so well, not to mention classic Maccabees imagery. Welcome back boys! ♥

The Maccabees Official Website
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The Maccabees on the road, © Tom Martin, 2011. (via The Maccabees on Tumblr)

Yes The Maccabees!

This morning The Maccabees announced both the title and the release date of their forthcoming third album as well as track titles. I must say that I am more than excited.

After being overwhelmingly disappointed that I was unable to make it to either of the record stores that were selling tickets for the London dates of their October/November tour, I would say that this may ease off my resentment towards them slightly.

They've put together an eerie teaser trailer for the album (titled, 'Given to the Wild). I'm probably going to love it regardless but I'm really banking on there being some romance and maybe even a tiny bit of whimsy on this album. The teaser is similar to the weird videos that they usually put on Tumblr, so it hasn't really thrown me, at least it does what it says.

'Given to the Wild' is set for release on 9th January 2012, with more details on pre-orders to come in the next few weeks. 'Given to the Wild' is the follow up to the 2009 album, 'Wall of Arms'.

To view the full track list, head over to The Maccabees Tumblr, don't forget to follow, like I said, they post some nice weird videos.

The Maccabees updated website.

The Maccabees official website
Like The Maccabees
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The Maccabees on Tumblr

POW! Leopard!

Here is what my nails look like today:


Sophie's Pink, Models Own
Peach Puff, Models Own
Tangerine Queen, Models Own
Models Own/WAH Nail Art Pen, Black
Models Own/WAH Nail Art Pen, White
Can we please take a moment to appreciate the ambidexterity demonstrated on my right thumb, I was pretty chuffed. Obviously basically all I do is follow what WAH Nails do as my nail inspiration (I really like their word trend at the moment), but it's not as difficult as it looks and doesn't even take much practise. I'd stay away from stripes until you're really concentrating though, I think that it's the most frustrating design to do if you get it wrong because it's difficult to hide.

Speaking of nail art!
Models Own released an image today of their new line of polishes, the Beetlejuice collection. Beautiful holographic polishes that will be great for Autumn. I'm pleased because Models Own is easily my favourite brand and with these they're now able to keep up with Nail's Inc and 17, who have brought out 3D and magnetised polish respectively. I'm not sure which one I'll get yet but Pinky Brown is seeming mighty tempting as is Aqua Violet, which ever one I choose I am placing high hopes on any being better than the incredible let-down that was GOSH's Purple Heart.

The Beetlejuice Collection:
L-R: Golden Green, Pinky Brown, Purple Blue, Aqua Blue and Emerald Black
These colour changing nail varnishes will be available exclusively from the Models Own website from early November.

Like Models Own on Facebook
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Models Own website

Videos and photographs.

Here is a video of Moon mouthing the words to whatever he was listening to on his iPod. It was recorded really late on the way back from Cornwall. I'm kind of missing Moon right now, this is the longest we've gone without seeing each other in ages, probably the whole summer holidays. It's been quite difficult to talk to him on the phone as we're both doing different things and I just miss him, but I'll probably see him on Wednesday, so it's not too far away now, and I've kept myself pretty busy.

And, here is a video of a cat I encountered on the way back from the dentist, I thought it had a weird voice, excuse the heavy breathing, I'm was/still am very much getting over this horrible cough, the medicine I was given did literally nothing and I'm taking myself to the doctors again on Tuesday.

My mum found me a Fujifilm Instax camera, the batteries for it finally arrived this morning and I took my first photograph with it, it's come out brilliantly and in focus, much better than my Polaroid 600. This camera has autofocus, so I'm anticipating good things. In fact, I think I'm going to pack in my Polaroid and stick it on eBay, along with the few films I have left. The film for this Fuj Instax is cheaper and more readily available and the photos come out nicer. With the Polaroid, I've only taken a few decent photos because I've been so aware that it - especially recently - costs over £1 a photograph, so that's what I'm going to do when I get back to Portsmouth, it should help cover my share of the TV license, plus this camera is so much more badass.