1. I love the colour of this Lady Voluptuous Lyra dress, and look- it has sleeves!
2. This zap gun luggage tag is so cute.
3. I'm in love with this little dusky blue satchel bag from The Cambridge Satchel Co.
4. I adore the Lyra dress in teal, too. Such a great colour for Autumn.
5. The sweetest moon shaped clutch bag from The White Pepper.
6. I may already have a million polka dot dresses, but I need this beauty in my life!
7. I'd happily make some room in my novelty bag collection for this popcorn bag from Betsey Johnson.
8. This Christmas tree bag from Skinnydip needs to be mine, so I can use it to death this Christmas.
9. I'm smitten with the vintage-style Christmas print on this gorgeous red dress from Modcloth. Need!
10. I need to buy more clothes with collars so I can wear these squirrel and nut collar studs.
11. I don't need a new purse, but this planet one from Skinnydip is ridiculously cute.
12. These snowman PJs from ASOS Curve would be perfect to wear on Christmas Eve night.
13. I really like this suede A-line dress from ASOS Curve. Great for casual days.
14. I bloody love this dress, especially its lovely woodland print and peter pan collar.
15. This midnight rose hair garland would look amazing with the woodland print dress (no 14).
16. The embroidery on this Boohoo shift dress is so beautiful.
17. I adore this stunning maxi dress from ASOS Curve. I just wish I had somewhere to wear it!
18. This shearling fur gilet from Elvi looks so warm and cosy.
19. A cat-shaped doughnut purse! That is all.
20. This metallic rose gold skater dress from Simply Be would be perfect for party season.
21. Who doesn't need a pepperoni pizza shaped bag in their life?
22. And I'm loving the planet print on this Skinnydip make up bag.
If you'd like to see more of the clothes and accessories I'm coveting each week, check out my style wish list boards over on Pinterest. You'll find loads more pieces that never make it on to these wish list posts.
How's your week going so far? Mine's been quiet and uneventful. I've had a nasty cold for the last week, so I've been hibernating, and working on some Christmas craft projects whenever I've felt up to it. I've also been playing a lot of Fall Out Boy tunes, remembering how great they were live a couple of weeks ago.
Yes, I admit it; I'm a total fan-girl!
I went to see them live at Wembley Arena with my sister, Marie, on the 12th, and it was the most fun I've had in ages. I don't think I've enjoyed myself that much since I went to see Linkin Park live last November.
My sister drove the hour and a half in to London for the first time, which went really well until we got grid-locked in traffic in a really rough neighbourhood just a couple of miles from the arena. It was getting dark and we didn't know the area, so being great big wimps, we were on edge the entire time. (What can I say? We're used to small-town life). The wailing sirens and police riot vans in the street just ahead didn't exactly help to reassure us! It took us almost an hour to inch along a mile of road and get moving again, but we eventually made it in to the arena in one piece in time to catch a few songs from the first support act.
The support acts weren't great. The first was an American duo called Matt and Kim, who couldn't even keep the beat in time with the music. The second was Professor Green, who sounded like Eminem on helium, and danced like someone's Dad trying to do the Hokey Cokey at a wedding. Not my thing! Fall Out Boy, on the other hand were fucking incredible!
The show was amazing, easily one of the best I've ever seen- and I've been to a lot of gigs over the years. It was even better than the first time I saw them live last year! They were on fire!
The set list was fantastic. They belted out so many great tunes; old favourites like Sugar, We're Goin' Down, Dance, Dance, A Little Less Sixteen Candles, and I Don't Care; some awesome old album songs like Thriller and Hum Hallelujah (which I bloody loved- it's one of my faves); and loads of newer material, like Young Volcanoes, Alone Together, and most of the songs from American Beauty / American Psycho. God, it was amazing!
I still can't decide on which songs I enjoyed best because I enjoyed every last one of them, but I was ridiculously excited to hear Hum Hallelujah, Fourth of July, Uma Thurman, and The Kids Aren't Alright live for the first time. The latter three are three of my favourites from American Beauty/ American Psycho, and they all sounded phenomenal live. I loved hearing all the old classics again, too, especially Dance, Dance, Sugar, We're Goin' Down, and A Little Less Sixteen Candles which made me feel about twenty again. Those songs never get old!
What I love about Fall out Boy is that they can actually sing and play their instruments. I personally think they're even better live than they are on their albums, and you can't say that about a lot of bands these days. They also know how to put on a good show, without needing to build a ridiculously OTT, elaborate set to impress the crowds. There was fog, fire, and fireworks this time, but it was still very much about the music.
We both spent most of the show transfixed by Andy Hurley's drumming skills. He was beating the shit out of those drums throughout the show, and didn't miss a beat. Fuck me, that little tattooed bearded man has stamina. If you watch the next video from 2:50, you'll see what I mean!
I don't know what it is about drummers, but whenever I'm at a gig, I can't stop watching them play.
The magical levitating Wentz!
We had a great view from our seats in one of the nearest tiers to the stage. It was side on but unrestricted, and I was even able to sit down for most of the show as there was the perfect-sized gap in front of me when everyone stood up to dance! I tried to stay on my feet but I was in so much pain I had to admit defeat after just two songs. It didn't spoil any of my fun, though; I didn't miss a moment of it, and I still had a blast watching the show from my seat. It was exactly what I needed to put the smile back on my face. It left me smiling for days.
Here are a few of the videos I took that night, if you're interested. Make sure to turn the volume down first because they're pretty loud! (It was so loud my hearing is only just getting back to normal 3 weeks later!) Also, apologies for the shaky footage, I have the shakiest hands ever.
I felt more like myself that night than I've felt in a really long time. I started to feel like the old me again as soon as I heard that first note of music, and felt the base pulsing through my veins. It awakened something in me, and helped me to remember the person I used to be. The girl who was never happier than when she was watching her favourite bands perform live with friends. The girl who sometimes queued all day to get as near to the stage as possible, and once travelled all the way up to Inverness (from Oxford) for a gig, just because she wanted to go; just because it made her happy. For a couple of hours, I was able to pretend I was still that strong, healthy, impulsive, fun, and slightly crazy girl who always found happiness in live music, even during those years when depression gave her no other reason to smile. Live music helped her through a lot, and it still helps me today.
I used to go to gigs all the time before I got ill four years ago, and chronic pain started spoiling my fun. (Or at least it tries to). I usually had at least a couple booked at any given time, and loved hopping on a train to go on another concert adventure. (My nearest arena is 80-100 miles away in any direction, so concerts always turn in to mini adventures). I always had a blast and made some amazing memories with friends that I wouldn't trade for anything.
Sometimes it amazes me to remember how I used to go gallivanting off to gigs all the time without suffering any pain or fatigue. I can barely remember what it feels like to spend an entire day out of bed having fun pain-free, with enough energy left over to go on for days. I'm just glad I made the most of it while I could, and allowed myself to live a little before everything changed.
These days, I can't make it to gigs often because I just can't cope with the amount of pain that travelling and being up and about all day inflicts on me, on a regular basis. It takes me a couple of weeks to recover from each one, so I have to be sensible, and put my health first. I genuinely miss having the freedom to go to all the shows I want to see, and it's the only thing I truly begrudge about my health conditions. I hate not being able to enjoy my favourite pastime like I used to. Although, now I can only manage one or two a year, I definitely appreciate them a lot more. I know I'll never be able to give them up entirely just because of a week or two of intense pain. If I did, I'd be losing a big part of who I am, and I'm not ready to say goodbye to that side of me just yet.
It's the one part of me I hope I'll always get to keep.
What was the last band you went to see live? Do you enjoy going to them, or is it not your thing?
How's your week going so far? I hope you're all having a good one.
I've been full of cold for the last couple of days, so I've been curled up under my duvet watching movies, and working on some Christmas crafts. Looking at the laptop screen is hurting my eyes, so I'm only managing to come online in small doses, and this blog is getting more neglected by the day. I've got plenty of posts to finish and blog, which I'll bring you really soon, including a beauty advent calendar round up, a trip to the zoo, a Fall Out Boy gig, Lush eyeshadows, a Hobbycraft haul, and a post of my favourite creative books, if you'd like to see them.
For now, I've got a new Wednesday Wish List for you, which is full of Lindy Bop clothes for the second week running (sorry, not sorry), and also some fantastic novelty bags.
I'm sure you can now understand why so many Lindy Bop clothes made it in to my wish list post for a second week running. Just look at all these gorgeous clothes! Their latest drop includes dozens of amazing new dresses and tops, and I'm in love with almost all of them. Every piece is to die for. I'm particularly obsessed with the four heart print Matilda swing shirt dresses (numbers 1, 5, 9, and 12), which I would add to my wardrobe in a heart beat if I could. The heart print makes a fun alternative to the classic polka dot, and they have personality without being too in your face. I think the red and the green are my favourites, but I'll be adding them all to my Christmas list along with so many others; let's hope I'm on the nice list!
If you're looking for a great Christmas dress, all of the red and green dresses above would be perfect for the festive season. You could wear most of them dressed down for the day time, and dressed up for the Christmas party.
As you can see, I'm also coveting plenty of novelty bags this week. Nothing new there, then! There are so many brilliant designs out there at the moment, and the trend shows no sign of dying down. I seem to find another to love in almost every (fashion) shop I visit. This week I'm mad about the glittery purple crescent moon clutch from The White Pepper, the scallop shell bags from Skinnydip, the penguin from TU at Sainsburys (did you know they have an online shop now??), and the gift box bag from Monki.
If you'd like to see more of the clothes and accessories I've been coveting lately, you'll find heaps more pieces pinned to my style boards on Pinterest. The following links will lead you to the boards:
It's been a while since my last haul post, so I think it's time for a new one. I do love a good haul! I love reading them on other blogs even more. (I guess that's because I'm just plain nosey!) Instead of doing a fashion and beauty haul, I'm going to share some of the random bits and bobs I've been buying lately. So, I give you my haul of randomness...
I've been looking forward to showing you these awesome brooches for ages because I know some of you would love them as much as I do. Aren't they amazing? I bought them about a month ago from a little shop in Cheltenham's Regent Arcade called the Cheltenham Collective, which sells homeware, accessories, and art from local artists and small businesses. I wandered in for a browse with the sister, and got a little over-excited when I discovered a basket full of these quirky brooches. I had to buy these five immediately, although I would've happily bought one of each design if money grew on trees. They were all amazing. I think my favourite is the bespectacled French bulldog, closely followed by the deer, but I'm smitten with all of them. They're hand crafted from acrylic and wood, and I'm impressed with how well made and sturdy they are; the quality is fantastic! The best part is they were only £6.50 each, (except for the deer which was only £5), which is very reasonable, and far more affordable than the similar Erstwilder brooches every fashion blogger seems to be wearing or coveting right now. I'm hoping to pick up some more designs if they're still available next time I'm in Cheltenham, and I want to find out who made them because the packaging doesn't reveal a thing. I was hoping there would be info to lead me to an online shop, but even after a few Google and Etsy searches I got nothing. If I do find out, I'll let you know, but if you're in Cheltenham, you should still be able to find them in the Cheltenham Collective opposite The Body Shop in the arcade. It's well worth a visit!
I also picked up a couple of small votive Yankee Candles in Sweet Strawberry and Pain Au Raisin to make those cold, dark Autumn evenings a bit cosier. And yes, they both smell as good as they sound! The scents are pretty spot on, too.
I bought this lovely box of Nordic Nights sticky notes from Paperchase last month, which will come in handy for jotting down blog ideas, journaling, and writing notes. I have a real weakness for pretty stationery, and Paperchase is one of my favourite places to find it. At the moment, I'm loving the entire Nordic Nights collection, which features lots of cute woodland critters, brown paper packaging, and a good dose of colour.
One of my favourite purchases of late is this metal Alice in Wonderland sign, which I found on Truffle Shuffle here. Alice in Wonderland has been my favourite Disney film since I was little, so I just had to have it. It's not often that I come across Wonderland things from the Disney cartoon, so finding it made my day. Yeah... I don't get out much!
I also came across this vintage (reproduction) movie poster (here) on Amazon the day I found the metal sign. I wasn't sure if the quality would be any good, but I decided to chance it, and just ordered it in A4 to be safe. I think that was for the best, as the saturation of the picture isn't quite right, but you win some, you lose some. I don't think I'll ever get it framed and hung up on the wall, but I still think it's kinda awesome.
And the final thing in my haul of randomness? This lovely cross stitch kit from Riverdrift House. I've never seen such a pretty, colourful 'Home Sweet Home' sampler before; they're usually so ugly and frumpy. I love its modern spin on a classic craft that people have been making for generations; centuries, even. I won't be embarrassed to hang it on my wall when it's done. I'm working on a Christmas sampler from the same company (this one), so I probably won't start it until the new year, but I'm looking forward to getting started- if only to play with all of those colourful threads!
This week's wish list is dedicated entirely to Lindy Bop, since I've fallen in love with so many of their new pieces over the last few days. Nothing new there, then!
Just look at all those beautiful clothes and collars! I'm loving all the different styles, cuts, patterns, fabrics, and colours in their latest drop.
My favourites are the 'Lamour red polka dot swing dress' (#1), which would be the perfect Christmas dress, being red and white, and all . I'm very tempted to snap one up, and put it aside to wear on Christmas Day at home with my family. I'm also smitten with the 'Emmy black and red swing dress' (#3), which looks absolutely gorgeous. I love the bold red and white polka dot skirt, navy chiffon top, and white peter pan collar, and how together it makes an effortless put-together outfit.
You can find more of the Lindy Bop clothes I'm coveting on my Style Wish List board on Pinterest, along with dozens of other clothes that have caught my eye this week.
