21.5.12

(OLD) YORK

Me, my mum and dad went to York this afternoon on a jolly. It's only about an hour and fifteen minutes away by car, which is good, considering I wasn't ready until about half ten (mother wasn't happy). I first went to York on a work trip around Christmas time a couple of years ago, and it's a very pretty place to visit. The old cobbled streets, little jittys and tea shops. My favourite part of York is probably the Shambles, is a tiny little street that has a great number of quaint shops and a really interesting history (read more) I took some photos of the Shambles below, pictures 3 to 6. It is definitely a place you need to visit.


Before we left, we stopped in Patisserie Valerie for a cake and a drink. I had this beauty below, the 
chocolate mousse slice. It was like heaven in cake form. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny.

Check them out: 5 Feasegate, York, YO1 8SH or online

20.5.12

LIL' BIT IN LOVE

Phillip Phillips. So good they named him twice. I've been a big, big fan since bootcamp, due to his incredible voice. Seriously, he opens his mouth and you can't help but smile. If you haven't been watching American Idol, he's just got into the final, which is this coming week. I'm not sure what time its on in America, but if you're in the UK:: Thursday at 8pm and Friday at 9pm on ITV2. You will not regret watching, I guarantee.


U Got It Bad



Volcano



We've Got Tonight


CHANEL S/S 2012

So I was in New Look earlier and was casually looking through a leaflet they had instore, when I came across this Chanel outfit (top row, left). I loved it at first sight, and as soon as I got home, I Googled the latest Chanel collection to have a better look. S/S 2012 is insane! So many gorgeous pieces, colours, fabrics.

These were some of my favourites:


View the full collection here
.

19.5.12

S A K E


Last nights beverage of choice ~ sake.
It was well worth the nasty taste for such an awesome night out.

RECENT PURCHASES 5.

When there's a birthday meal looming, you always need a new outfit, right? Well, I saw this jacket yesterday morning when I was shopping in Mansfield, and fell in love. Its a little too big, for a tenner, I couldn't say no. I'm going to Lanzarote in August, and I've already started holiday shopping! The bikini looks lovely on, and the colours really pop too. I've just gone on the Debenhams website to check the price to write on here, and it turns out the bikini set is reduced online! Just my luck.

Crafted printed blazer - £10, Republic / Navy floral bikini - £10 bottoms and £12 bandeau, Red Herring at Debenhams.

15.5.12

KEEP GOING!


"Don’t give up. Keep going. 
There is always a chance that you stumble onto something terrific. 
I have never heard of anyone stumbling over anything while he was sitting down."
- Ann Landers

13.5.12

THAT SUNDAY I WENT TO MEADOWHALL AND WANTED EVERYTHING...

... and its always the really expensive stuff too! Meadowhall probably isn't the best place to go shopping period, because it's full of lovely shops with not so lovely price tags! All Saints is like heaven and hell all rolled into one for me. It has my dream clothes, my kind of style, but I'd have to take out a bank loan to afford anything. I saw this beautiful printed floor length dress, and it was touching £300. I wish I had that kind of money to spend on a dress! Zara is another shop I adore. I almost bought the snake print skirt from the Derby store after trying it on, but it was the price that put me off. Such a shame too, because it was a beauty on and the material is an absolute dream. French Connection is a shop I've always loved, ever since I was in secondary school and everyone had an obsession with FCUK (I think that was mainly due to the word that it is very similar in spelling to, but you've got to love a brand that runs with that acronym!) It's since gone on to produce such style driven, beautiful clothes. Some of the items I saw, and loved, I've put below, as a kind of wishlist I guess. If I happen to become wealthy anytime soon, this will be a good place to start!


ALL SAINTS


temple dress - £195, ikat owl dress - £85



ZARA


combined t-shirt with zip - £15.99, floral print dress - £49.99
fringe studio dress - £99.99, ripped denim - £39.99
long snake print skirt - £39.99, printed jogging blazer - £49.99



FRENCH CONNECTION



electric circus strappy dress - £195, shelly sequins dress - £260
san martin suede bag - £150, texas tassel cowel top - £125


11.5.12

RECENT PURCHASES 4.

I went shopping for my mums birthday this morning in sunny Chesterfield. I won't say what I've got her in case she somehow stumbles across this blog (hi mum if you're reading this!) Obviously I couldn't go shopping without getting myself something.

Print bandeau playsuit - £14.99, New Look / Company - £2, WHSmith.

9.5.12

ICKY THUMP THANKS

I found this on tumblr, and I'm so in love with it. It's a shame more bands and artists aren't this dedicated to their thank you's! God bless The White Stripes (via deadleaves-dirtyground/ihatejackwhite)

“AFTER TEN WONDERFUL, FORTUNATE, AND TUMULTUOUS YEARS, THE WHITE STRIPES WOULD LOVE TO THANK;
GOD, ELECTRA, TARA AND STAR, JASPER, ELROY AND PIGEON, AND ALL THE SAINTS AT THE BAR,
TO MEXICAN TOWN IN THE SOUTHWEST, AND ANYWHERE ELSE WE CALLED HOME,
IN FACT, TO THE WORDS HOME, AND BONE, NOT TO MENTION TELEPHONE,
AND TO THE SOUNDS OF THE AIRLINE, AND THE KAY, AND OF COURSE SILVERTONE,
TO MULDOON FOR THE TUNES, AND FOR DOMINIC IN THE ROOM,
AND TO CHLOE, COLLEEN, JODIE, SARAH, AND RICH, FOR HANDLING ALL OF THE PRESS FOR US TWO,
TO BAKA, AND BUTCH WHO WAS FAR PAST THE NORM,
WHO MADE THREE FORTUNES IN HIS LIFE, BUT NEVER SAW US PERFORM,
TO HEATHER FOR SCOOTING OVER, AND PLANET ANT FOR BEING OPEN,
SWANK AND WALKER FOR ROCKING, AND ALL OF THE TEURS FOR ROLLING,
TO BLACKWELL IN THE BACK OF THE VAN, AND BAKER IN THE FRONT,
AND TO IAN AT THE HELM OF THIS BEAUTIFUL BUS,
TO DECISIONS, AND PLANNING, AND MINUTIA, AND LUCK,
AND TO TIFF FOR THE THINGS THAT WENT UNNOTICED BY US,
ROB JONES WITH THE TONES, AND MICHELE WITH THE PHONES,
WEISE, DAVIDIAN, AND RANDY FOR THEIR LOW-INTEREST LOANS,
TO ANYONE WHO HAD TO ENDURE HEARING US MOAN,
AND OF COURSE KAPLAN AND WARBY, FOR BOOKING US SHOWS,
TO MISS STACY FASS, JUST FOR BEING BAD ASS,
AND NO THANKS TO THE LAWYERS WHO WERE SHIFTY AND CRASS,
TO PETER, AND MATTHEW, AND JAMES, AND MARY,
AND ALL THE OTHER APOSTLES THAT MADE THE ROAD LESS SCARY,
TO RUSSELL, AND GERSHON, AND WHALLEY, AND MILLS,
AND TO ALL THE INDIE LABELS AND THEIR THREE DOLLAR BILLS,
TO TERESA, THERESA, CICILEY, CATHY, KATHY AND KELLIE,
AND ALL OF THE OTHER MOTHERS AND HANDMAIDENS WHO PUT FOOD IN OUR BELLIES,
TO FROZEN FOR TAKING THE PICTURES THAT MOVE,
TO THE HEAT FOR WARMING US UP WITH THEIR GROOVE,
TO EVERY BROTHER AND SISTER WE COULD MUSTER TO MENTION,
FOR EVERY PIECE OF ADVICE THAT WE TRULY NEEDED,
AND TO NEED, THE MOTHER OF ALL INVENTION,
TO MO, ANNE, RAY, STEPHEN, JOE, BARB, LEO, EDDIE, AND ALAN,
FOR SUPPORT BY THE TRUCKLOAD, AND LOVE BY THE GALLONS,
AGAIN DON’T FORGET YOUR MOTHERS, TURNS OUT THEY HAVE FEELINGS TOO,
AND FATHERS OF ALL KINDS, TEACHING US TO BE TRUE,
TO THOSE WHO STAYED HOME AND BLESSED WHERE WE’D ROAM,
TO MATT POLLACK FOR NOT RESTING UNTIL SPEAKERS WERE BLOWN,
TO LIAM, AND STEWART, AND TO KETTLE, AND JOE,
THE ENGINEERS THAT COMPRESSED US, AND TOLD THE SOUND WHERE TO GO,
TO ALL WE HAVE LOVED, AND ALL WE HAVE LOST,
TO THOSE WHO STOOD BY US AND NEVER THOUGHT OF THE COST,
TO KRUPA, AND MITCHELL, BUDDY, BONHAM, AND BELLSON,
TO THE SCARLETT WHITE HEARTED LITTLE QUEENIE MISS ELSON,
TO THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THE RECORDS, AND DIDN’T LET OTHERS’ THOUGHTS CONCERN IT,
YOU ARE THE ONES WHO DESERVE YOUR MONEY BACK, IF ANYONE, YOU’VE EARNED IT,
WE’RE SORRY THAT WE’RE NEVER THANKFUL ENOUGH FOR OUR DAILY BREAD,
AND SO SORRY TO ANYONE WE DIDN’T MENTION, OR ANYONE ELSE WE’VE MISLED,
AND LASTLY YOU’RE WELCOME,
TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT’VE THANKED US INSTEAD,
YOU’RE WELCOME TO ANYTHING WE’VE GOT LEFT IN OUR HEAD,
IT’S MORE YOURS THAN OURS, BE IT WHITE, BLACK, OR RED,
IF IT CHOOSES TO COME OUT,
FROM NOW ‘TIL WE’RE DEAD.”

6.5.12

JESSIE B


If you don't know who this woman is, you really need to wrap your ears around her new album 'Little Spark.' It's an extraordinary album from a super talented lady. I've just come across a review I did for a fansite ran by the fab Liz (www.jessiebaylin.co.uk) when Jessie's new album was just released. Have a little read if you fancy...

--------------------------------------------

I can't remember when I first heard of Jessie Baylin, or even any of her songs. I just remember that when I eventually did, I fell madly, stupidly in love.
I managed to get a copy of ‘Firesight’ from a very good friend, and it is, still to this today, one of only a handful of albums I can listen to from beginning to end. She wrote about things I could connect with, and made songs I couldn't stop listening to.
That album was with me for most of my university years, and was a soundtrack to many summer nights out and about. I couldn't wait for the next one.
I'm writing this review, at quarter to midnight, on a cold January night. My little record player is spinning it's way through yet another vinyl. Arguably the best one in my collection so far. It bought a massive grin to my face when it came in the post this morning;
Little Spark.
Little Spark by name, little spark by nature. At this point, I'm still on Side A, and I'm already crazy about it. It's so calming, and honest, and authentic, and everything you want a record to be.
It's so very different to ‘Firesight’, and that's a beautiful thing.
I've always loved Jessie's voice, and this album shows it off. Hurry Hurry reminds me of Christmas time, especially the first couple of seconds of the song. Loved it when I first heard it, love it even more now. Love Is Wasted On Lovers and Star Cannon are immediate favourites, as is Dancer. The latter is possibly my favourite on the album. A nice beat, wonderful instrumentation, and vocals that make my hair stand on end (I'm such a sucker for killer background vocals too, and the 'ohh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh's did the trick) I had a big smile on my face throughout. I couldn't think of a better closing track to the album than Little Spark. It wraps up the whole album perfectly.
I wish I could go into more detail, but I don't have the words. I think that's when you know you have a special album in your hands; when you don't even know where to start when it comes to describing it.
Side B has been and gone, and I'm already back on I Feel That Too !!
The lady is a genius. She should be immensely proud of Little Spark. It's a little gem!



Check her out! I'll guarantee you'll fall head over heels.

Official site: www.jessiebaylin.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jessiebaylin
Tumblr: www.jessiebaylin.tumblr.com
MySpacewww.myspace.com/jessiebaylin

LOSE YOUR MIND AND COME TO YOUR SENSES


Bits and bobs to keep my eyes entertained and interested.
'Eyes can only capture objects that already seen in mind, and mind can only see things that already written in heart' - Toba Beta.

MOON SIREN


If you only ever follow one blog, make it this one. Even if you don't have a blog, just check this one out. It's beautiful: www.moonsiren.tumblr.com