75 Things That Inspire Me

It's been a while since I last shared a list, so it's time for a new one. Here's a list of 75 little things that inspire me in life.

1. Beautiful photos.
2. Rainy days.
3. Good books.
4. Moodboards.
5. Other bloggers.
6. People with chronic illnesses, conditions, and disabilities who are going through hell on a daily basis but are still smiling and doing great things in spite of it.
7. People who have or are battling depression and anxiety- they're some of the strongest people out there.
8. Colour.
9. Concerts and gigs / live music.
10. Going to see musicals at the theatre. I love ma a good musical.
11. Nature.
12. Being out in the countryside.
13. Being on the beach, with my feet in the surf, feeling the pull of the tides, and looking out at an endless expanse of sea.
14. Being in fast-paced cities. The hustle and bustle, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the architecture, the unique people... everything's so exciting compared to my small town life.
15. Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr.
16. Articles, news, and blog posts.
17. People who fight for the rights of others.
18. Music.
19. Song lyrics.
20. Perfectly-styled flatlays.
21. Animals.
22. Life in general.
23. Art.
24. Photography.
25. History.
26. Cemeteries.
27. My family and friends.
28. The world, as a whole.
29. Documentaries about interesting things.
30. Blogging.
31. Organ donors and people who give blood and bone marrow. So selfless but so important.
32. People who do random acts of kindness for others.
33. Crafters; people who can design and make beautiful things.
34. Charities raising money for good causes.
35. Animal rescue and rehabilitation centres, shelters, and charities that save the lives of sick, injured and neglected animals and find good homes for abandoned pets.
36. Kind and caring people.
37. The night sky, looking up at the stars and contemplating existence.
38. Hard-working people.
39. Make up artists with exceptional talent.
40. Old couples holding hands and still doting on each other after a life time together.
41. Being near the sea, rivers, lakes, and streams in the great outdoors. I don't know why, but it does.
42. Pretty views.
43. Gorgeous sunsets.
44. Intelligence.
45. Creative people.
46. How amazing our world is.
47. How incredible it is that humans have created so many amazing things from scratch like cameras, computers, electricity, central heating, vehicles, rockets, bombs... It amazes me how smart our minds are and that these inventions were possible to make.
48. Pretty flowers.
49. My best friend; her strength, her positive attitude towards life, her work ethic, her drive, her support for others, her love for her son, her take-no-crap-from-anyone attitude...she's inspiring in so many ways.
50. My senses.
51. Cornwall.
52. Perranporth Beach in Cornwall. Actually, just any pretty sandy beach.
53. London.
54. New York.
55. Beautiful places.
56. Tragedy and the way people work or come together after one..
57. Sunshine.
58. Museums and galleries.
59. Writers.
60. Artists.
61. People-watching.
62. Survival in the face of adversity.
63. Light seeping through trees in the Summer.
64. Creative writing.
65. Springtime, when everything is coming back to life after a long barren Winter.
66. Old photos.
67. Movies.
68. Walks in the countryside.
69. Travelling.
70. Road trips.
71. Body positivity and people with body confidence.
72. Laughter.
73. Fashion.
74. Documenting stuff.
75. Writing lists.

What inspires you?

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Wednesday Wish List

This week's Wednesday Wish List is all about the fifties-style / rockabilly dresses (plus one top and a pair of shorts). It wasn't intentional; it just turns out some of my favourite rockabilly brands released some stunners this week, and with so many of them capturing my heart, I didn't feel the need to look elsewhere all that much. I added more than enough clothes to my wish list this week than I'll ever be able to buy.

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I adore Collectif's new Flamingo Island print, and would happily buy one of everything it's been made in to. Obviously, my favourite is the Mainline Dolores Gypsy Dress (#1). No explanation needed.

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Lady Vintage have just released their Hepburn dresses in a bunch of new prints, and they are all so beautiful. I'm particularly smitten with the lemon (#1) and mesmerising macaw (#6) print numbers, although the love birds (#2) print is adorable, too.

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Lady V's new tea dress prints are even prettier. I need the banana (#1), toucan (#2), and flamingo (#5) print versions in my life!

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For the 6592th week in a row, Lindy Bop have added a few dozen amazing new dresses and skirts to their incredible collection, and I have fallen in love with just about all of them. There are so many fantastic new pieces this week that I couldn't narrow down my favourites to less than these twenty! They're all perfect and would make one hell of a Spring / Summer wardrobe!

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And Dolly and Dotty's latest floral and polka dot 'May' v-neck swing dresses are to die for. Dresses 3, 4, and 5 are my favourites of the six.

To see more of the clothes and accessories on my wish list, check out my style wish list boards on Pinterest. You can also find all previous wish list posts here.

What's on your wish list this week?

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What I Got For Christmas Haul 2016

It's over a month after Christmas and I'm still blogging about it... that has to be a new record, even for me! This is the last one, I swear!

I had hoped to blog about the presents I was given for Christmas before the New Year, but I've not been up to taking photos lately, so this is the best I could do. Better late than never, though, right?

I know a lot of people don't like these kind of posts, but I personally love reading them on other blogs- mostly because I'm nosey- and I know some of you guys love them, too, so I'm going to blog about them anyway. I'm not here to brag, I'm just sharing and documenting a recent part of my life, and the lovely things I was so generously given by my family for Christmas. If you'd rather click the 'x' button, no hard feelings; I'll see you next time.

So, this Christmas, I was given loads of lovely and very thoughtful gifts from my family. We actually agreed to cut back on presents to ease a bit of financial strain (although, some of us still went over board because we just can't help ourselves!), but Christmas isn't about the presents, and to be honest, I still feel like I was spoiled rotten. I don't need a million gifts to feel spoilt.

The majority of the gifts I received were beauty products, and you'll never hear any complaints from me about that! I'm always happy to pamper myself with some lotions and potions. I got some great products this Christmas, too.

One of my favourite presents was a set of Tarte 'Radiance From The Rainforest' make up, given to me by my parents. I've been dying to try Tarte make up for years, but being an American brand it's difficult to find in the UK, so I've never had the chance 'til now. The set includes a small eyeshadow and blusher palette, a mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, foundation, double-ended foundation brush, and a make up bag, so I've got a good mix of products to play with, and they all look so wearable. The foundation is, sadly, too dark for my skin tone, since I'm paler than an anaemic ghost in a snow storm, but I'm hoping it might work for me as a tinted moisturiser in the Summer, if I dilute it down with moisturiser.

I was also given lots of lovely beauty products from The Body Shop, which I'm always happy to receive because you just can't fault their products. I received the Vitamin E Skincare collection, including a gentle facial wash, hydrating toner and moisture cream (best moisturiser ever!), along with the Vitamin E moisture mask, and facial mist separately. I've used some of the Vitamin E range for over a decade, but haven't tried several of the products I was given, so I'm excited to finally try more of the collection. I was spoiled further with a Satsuma soap (my fave!), Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising facial oil, Pinita Colada body scrub, Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter, and Blueberry and Frosted Berries shower gels, plus a spray on moisturising mist from Soap and Glory. They all smell soooo good!

My Mum regifted a set of Natural Extracts shower gels to me because she felt they were too young for her (result!), and Marie gave me the Philosophy 'The Cocktail Party' gift set, which included a Melon Daiquiri high gloss lip shine and the Senorita Margarita 3-in-1 shampoo/ shower gel/ bubble bath. I've never tried any of these products before, either, so I'm looking forward to trying them all.

One of my relatives gave me an M&S robin mug with a clementine and cardamon hand cream and shower cream inside. I haven't tried the creams yet, but the mug is really cute.

I also received some candles, including a Garden Collection trio of rose, lavender, and magnolia mini candles, and a small jar of Yankee Candle Festive Cocktail, which smells amaaaazing!

My parents gave me this gorgeous pair of drop earrings, although I've completely forgotten what they're made of. (I'm not much of a classic jewellery buff; I actually prefer quirky, kitsch pieces over gold, silver and jewels). I love that they can be worn as drop earrings, as they are above, or detached and worn as studs for a more understated look. They're so versatile.

Both of my sisters gave me craft kits for Christmas, which  was awesome because I'm in such a crafty mood at the moment, and one of my new year's resolutions is to try lots of new crafts this year.

Sarah gave me a 'create your own Winter world' snow globe kit, with an extra bag of artificial snow, and it looks like so much fun. I can't decide whether to make it soon or put it away until the end of the year to make over the festive season.

Marie and Steve bought me the cutest strawberry DMC Hoop It embroidery kit, and a rosette brooch craft kit from The Makery which makes five brooches. They both look like they're right up my alley, so I'm looking forward to getting stuck in to them both really soon.

I was given the creative book '104 Things To Paint', which is basically a sketch book full of blank paper with painting prompts on each page, to inspire and challenge the painter to paint a variety of different subjects in to the book. It's been on my wish list for years, and will hopefully give me the inspiration to paint, and improve my painting skills, which is something I was already planning to work on this year.

Another book I was gifted was one of the most recent books from Maggie O' Farrell called 'This Must Be The Place'. I always enjoy her novels so I'm looking forward to finding out if it's as good as her earlier work.

My little sister bought me the Little Women soundtrack on CD, because it is one of my all time favourite films. It's one of the loveliest, most heart-warming , and comforting movies I've ever seen, and the score evokes the same feelings. It's lovely. I love to listen to it while I'm blogging, drifting off to sleep, or any time I want some background noise but can't concentrate with my usual rock and indie favourites drowning out my thoughts.

Marie gave me this pretty pink and blue Provence Rose Cath Kidston wallet which had been on my wish list for so long. I was actually with her when she bought it to put away for me for Christmas, so it wasn't a surprise, but I'm excited to finally have it after such a long wait! It's so pretty!

I was given two new mini Disney Tsum Tsums to add to my ever-growing collection- Mike and Boo from Monsters Inc. Look how cute they are! (FYI, I think they still have some of the Monsters Inc Tsum Tsums available on the Clintons website).

Sarah wrapped one of my presents with this awesome fifties-style knot-wrap from Lush. I really love mid-century style Christmas designs, so I absolutely adore it! I just need to decide what to use it for. I think it would make an awesome piece of hoop art if they made craft hoops big enough, or a cool picture if I got it framed. It definitely needs to be out on display at Christmas, somehow, anyway... but it needs washing first. (Sorry about the smudge, it's just powder from a Lush bath bomb).

Of course, I also got plenty of edible goodies from the parents, and a Cadbury selection box from Marie and Steve. I may or may not have already eaten most of it.

And I was also given a £20 Amazon gift card in the cutest little cupcake tin. I was torn between spending it on make up, beauty products, books, and DVDs, but in the end I figured I already have waaay too many of each of those things (I really do!), and decided to spend it on more cross stitch kits to keep myself busy with instead. I always have to be doing something, even when I'm on bed rest, or I go stir crazy, and become bored out of my mind. I really enjoyed making a similar set in December. so I picked out the  Blue-Grey Christmas Card Kit and the Christmas Carols card kit from the same brand, so that they'll compliment the others when I eventually turn them in to Christmas decorations.

I was also sent some Christmas money from some of my relatives, which I spent on loads of (like almost two dozen) nail polishes from The Body Shop during the sales, but I forgot to take a photo of them all for this post.

I love just about everything I was given for Christmas, and I'm grateful for everything I was so generously given by my family. They did well! Thanks, family!

What did you get for Christmas?

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Wednesday Wish List

This week I'm loving...

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15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25 // 26

I'm completely smitten with Erstwilder's new nautical-themed 'Ocean Vibes' jewellery collection. The only problem is I can't decide on a favourite; they're all amazing.

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These gingham cropped cardis from Collectif would be perfect for my Spring / Summer wardrobe.  I need more gingham in my life.

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I also love these swing dresses from Collectif. Aren't they beautiful?

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I adore Lindy Bop's new purple puffin print 'Niamh' wiggle dress, and 'Anoushka' top- that puffin print is to die for! *Grabs at screen.* I also have my eye on the 'Ellamae' pink New York print top, and 'Esme' coral llama print top, which are both ridiculously cute. Lindy's prints are just incredible right now. I wish I could collect them all.

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Etsy shop 'Oh Plesiosaur' have the cutest selection of enamel pins. I think the whale and cuttlefish are my favourites, but their mermaids and other critters are amazing, too.

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These Modcloth skirts are fantastic. The rainbow striped number is probably the happiest looking skirt I've ever seen, and the sea shell print of the other is appealing to the beach bum side of me. I need them both!

ASOS Curve Valentine Kiss Me Pyjama Set

How cute are these lip print PJs from ASOS Curve? I'd wear them all year round and not just for Valentine's days spent alone  watching Netflix with pizza for one.

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And these novelty bags from LYDC are wonderfully kitsch. The shooting star has my name written all over it.

If you'd like to see more of the fashion pieces on my wish list each week, check out my style wish list boards on Pinterest. I pin clothes and accessories I like regularly, and most never make it on to the blog. You can also find all previous wish list posts here.

What's on your wish list this week?

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Photo Diary | January 2017

I can't believe we're already three days in to February! January passed by so fast, which is baffling because it always drags on and on like a road trip through purgatory, and I didn't even get up to anything exciting to help the time pass faster.

The majority of my January was spent stuck in bed because chronic pain has been kicking my ass lately, so I mostly read, cross-stitched, wrote, blogged, spent time with my dog, got back in to Swagbucks, watched movies, and wasted time pinning the shit out of Pinterest. I did manage a brief trip in to Oxford city centre (my local city) with the sis, though, and finally got myself down to Specsavers for an eye test and new glasses (which I'll be blogging about properly soon), but sadly, it was a very boring, uneventful month, and I've nothing exciting to report. I do have some snapshots to share from the month, though, and even if you follow me on Instagram, you won't have seen most of them because the app on my phone hasn't been working properly lately. So, here's January in pictures...

1. Playing Monopoly on NYE. // 2. I finished a Christmas cross stitch ornament. // 3. Cute Lindt bear. // 4. I bought the Cath Kidston Mickey Mouse brooch. // 5. Snagged a bunch of Christmas chocolate for just £1.60 in Superdrug last week! // 6. The Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette is the eye make up palette of my dreams.

1. My Mum's cheese scones FTW! // 2. Made a bunch of Xmas cross stitch cards. // 3. Thornton's chocolate Santa shortly before being murdered. // 4. Started another Christmas cross stitch sampler. // 5. Ninja bear fighting against being eaten. He lost. // 6/ Began sewing a flamingo cross stitch.

1-3. Architecture in Broad Street, Oxford. // 4. A bank on Oxford High Street. // 5-6. Broad Street Architecture.

1. Broad Street with Christmas tree still up a week in to January! // 2. Oxford Saint Mary Magdalen church and graveyard in the city centre. // 3. Christmas tree in Broad Street. // 4. Pitt Rivers museum (from the car). // 5. Oxford architecture. // 6. Boats on the river near Faringdon.

1. Lovely presents. // 2. Making progress on my flamingo cross stitch. // 3. A peacock that appeared in the road in the middle of the Cotswolds' countryside and stared us down! // 4. Rosie looking pretty. // 5. New beauty products to play with. // 6. My dog is so lady-like!

1. Amazing chocolate cake at Patisserie Valerie. // 2. Won a pin from Punky Pins. // 3. Bought some new glasses. // 4. Making progress on a festive sampler. // 5. Rosie looking all photogenic. // 6. Flamingo coming together.

And a few photos from December I never shared, as I skipped last month's photo diary post...

1. Bourton-on-the-Water's Christmas tree in the river. // 2. Swans with Santa hats. // 3. Pretty Christmas lights. // 4. Lovely Charlie Bears in a Bourton gift shop. // 5. Giant inflatable polar bear. // 6. Swans getting festive in Santa hats.

Hopefully February will be much more exciting!

What did you get up to in January?

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Wednesday Wish List

This week I've been coveting...

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It seems I can't go a week without featuring Lindy Bop in my wish lists, or from falling in love with even more of their clothes. I just can't do it. The six above are my latest favourites, but I'm particularly infatuated with the 'Bretta blue pinata print tea dress', and 'Camilla blue tea party day dress'. I very rarely wear cream or pastel pink- mostly because I'm so pale they wash me out and blend in with my skin tone- but the pieces above are so lovely, and are making me impatient for Spring.

Skinny Dip Flamingo Pool Float Bag

I need this amazing Skinny Dip 'flamingo pool float novelty bag' in my life and novelty bag collection. Isn't it awesome?!

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I'm loving these teal pieces from Lady Vintage, especially the 'cupcake print full circle swing skirt', and 'cupcake Madison top'. I'd happily buy everything in that print if my bank balance would let me.

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I wish I was able to wear heels because these 'one love' heart-print heels from Irregular Choice are absolute perfection. Damn spine. They'd be ideal for Valentine's Day outfits, too, whether you're loved up, single, or anything in between.

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These ;kitty embroidered velvet slippers' from Charlotte Olympia are adorable. The price tag not so much, but it doesn't hurt to dream.

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Look how cute these heart-shaped purses from Lulu Guinness are! If I could afford one right now, I'd probably go for the red.

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I'm completely smitten with the River Island 'embroidered duffle bag', and Skinny Dip 'crushed velvet cross body bag.'

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I adore the embroidered trend that is everywhere at the moment, so it's no surprise that I've fallen in love with the 'embroidered mesh long sleeve top' from New Look Plus, and the 'floral embroidered faux leather jacket with studs' by Alice & You. So much prettiness!

If you'd like to see more of the fashion pieces on my wish list, check out my style wish list boards on Pinterest. You can also find all previous wish list posts here.

What's on your wish list this week?

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