Life Lately

Today I've put together a post featuring the good things in my life of late, and also those little things which have been pleasing the senses. I've never written a post exactly like this before, so please let me know if you enjoy reading these type of posts, and if you might like to see me repeating this idea from time to time.

So, lately I've been...

Listening To...

Fall Out Boy's first album in four and a half years came out on Monday, which as a big FOB fan, is something I've been hugely excited about for the last few months. I've been playing it on repeat ever since.

I LOVE this album. I love every single song. Every song is so catchy and uptempo, the type of songs which instantly put me in a good mood; which is something Fall Out Boy's music has always had the power to do. Their music has evolved so much since Folie A Deux, yet it still has that distinctive FOB sound. The album is a real mix of genres, with collaborations from artists ranging from Courtney Love to Elton John! I keep finding myself suddenly bursting in to 'Rat a tat tat! Rat a tat tat tat hey!

Watching...

I've been having a Liam Neeson moment lately (c'mon, the man is God!); and have been watching the extremely moving Schindler's List, and the gripping action film, Unknown. Schindler's List is heartbreaking, and I always bawl at the end when Schindler cries for not saving more people.

Reading...

I recently finished reading Dean Koontz's Sole Survivor, which is a thriller about a fatal plane crash in which over three hundred people died, and a man who lost his wife and daughters in the crash trying to uncover a conspiracy others are trying to keep hidden. As a Dean Koontz fan, I enjoyed this novel a lot, and didn't want it to end.

I'm currently reading The Lifeboat which is a debut novel from Charlotte Rogan, and a book I can't put down. It's set in 1914; an ocean liner has sunk on route to New York from a mystery explosion; and a lifeboat full of survivors is left to wait for rescue. The book is about the passengers of this lifeboat, seated inches apart in a boat which is over-capacity, with limited supplies, and an uncertain fate. Initially, I likened the plot to Titanic; a disaster which has always interested me- which is probably why I was intrigued by this novel in the first place, but apart from the era, and the tragedy at sea, that's where the comparisons end. I'm not quite half way through yet, but it's a real page turner, and a book I'm loving. The plot could quite easily have been dull and boring, but the author has really made the unusual setting work perfectly.

I recommend you give both of these books a try.

I've also picked up a couple of my favourite magazines to kick back with.

(Marie Claire Magazine Freebies)...

The May edition of Marie Claire (UK) comes with a Ciate nail polish, and a Jerfens Ultra Healing Body Moisturiser! I picked up the issue with a magical gold nail polish in 'Sand Dune'. I don't actually own a gold nail polish so I'm looking forward to trying it out. There's another colour to collect (a nude, I think), and since these Ciate nail polishes retail for £9 each, they're great freebies!

Buying/New Additions...

I added a couple of nail polishes to my collection last week. I replaced one of my favourite light teal nail polishes 'Rimmel 60 Seconds in Sky High'; was given the Sally Hansen pot by my Sister who used it once and didn't like the colour; and tried my first Gelly Barry M polish in Prickly Pear.

I got hold of a copy of a nail art tutorial book I'd wanted since Christmas.

I treated myself to some Listography books to plan things I'd like to do in the future, and record a little more of who I am to look back on one day.

I got this heart shaped polka dot memo board from Sainsbury's a month or two ago. It was only £6!

And my older sister treated me to some bunting which compliments the memo board, and work well with my curtains and bed linen. They should hopefully look great in my bedroom when it eventually gets redecorated.

I also used some money from my eBay sales on some L'Occitane make up, but I didn't have a photo ready to show you today.

Loving... The lighter evenings, and the slightly mild weather which is finally setting in. I feel like I'm coming out of hibernation! I'm so much perkier when the days get longer, and the sun shines brighter. I love everything I showed you above, too.

Wanting... This lamp for beside my bed. // Some maxi skirts, like this one, this one, and this one. // More L'Occitane make up, and some of their Verbena and Cherry Blossom products. // This ring. // This dress. // 

This nail polish. // Some Dainty Doll make up. This Stila make up palette. // A hair cut. // 

Smiling... Smiling's my favourite.

Eating... I had the most delicious sweet waffle with hazelnut and Nutella chocolate gelatos and Nutella chocolate sauce yesterday afternoon. I've not been able to eat anything since, but it was so good! 

Seeing... Currently my laptop screen, and my signed Ronan Keating calendar on the wall in front of me.

Hearing... Just the sound of my laptop whirring as the cooling system is over heating. I've no music playing, nor am I watching the TV as I've got a headache, and I'm enjoying the peace.

Smelling... Right now I can smell the orange juice from the glass on my bedside table.

Touching... My laptop's keyboard, and my burgundy throw quilt.

Tasting... A mix between the morphine I just took, and the square of Malteasers chocolate I took to try to take the taste of it away. Morphine tastes like nail polish remover...

Doing... Writing this post on my laptop.

Wearing... Star print pyjama bottoms, and a sleep shirt with a bunny motif on it. Well, it is half four in the morning as I write this...

Time... 4:33am.

Temp... According to the weather forecast, eight degrees Celsius.

Sitting... I'm not sitting; I'm slumped down on my bed.

Needing... I need a new bedside lamp or lamps, since the lamp shade on my battered old one has now got holes in it, and it's all faded. I also need a hair cut, quite desperately, in fact. Apart from that, my 'needs' are mostly 'wants'.

Tabs Open... Facebook, and Blogger. Google, iTunes, Tweetdeck, and Photoscape on my desktop.