Flossy Blossom

A Different Kind Of Acne

2012-01-29T17:00:00.000Z

I wish Acne would appear in my wardrobe instead of on my face. When I saw the new collection (is it new? I don't even care!) I knew immediatley that it was just ME. That leather jacket. That one-shouldered dress. Those black boots. So right it's almost sickening!

However sensible shoulders will prevail as acquiring the following items would probably bankrupt me for life.

Jacket £1620 // Dress £270 // Boots £204

Striped Skirt £72 // Floral Skirt £320 // Heel £148 // Boot £360
Still in the big city! Having such a laugh and the weather has been grand for a change! Can't wait to post all these wonderful pictures! What have you guys been up to this weekend?

The Beach

2012-01-28T15:00:00.000Z

Right now I am having a fabulous time in Edinburgh with my boyfriend! I'll share pictures when I return, but first - here is a book I just finished.

From here.

I first heard about this book (don't laugh) in the film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Bridget's friend, who joins her on a trip to Thailand, sits next to the sexy guy on the plane and they happen to have brought the same book with them: The Beach by Alex Garland. I had vaguely heard of the film, but you will know by now that I love to read a book before I watch the film. The film can spoil the book for me as I know the general plot already.

The Beach by Alex Garland follows a young man, Richard, on his travels around Thailand. A chance encounter with a strange man in a Bangkok hostel shows him the way to a mythical island deep inside the marine park. The island is a legend among travellers where you can live in Eden away from the needs and desires of the rest of the world. Richard sets out to find this modern day Eden, but paradise can be costly.

I loved the way this book was written. Richard tells the story and it is filled with the funny little observations that make it real. After a few pages I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The ending was pretty gory, but I don't particularly mind this in a book compared with in a film. The themes within the plot were pretty interesting: self sufficiency, happiness without desire, love between friends, the dictatorship and denial after a traumatic event. I'm sure there are many more but these were the themes that stuck in the mind and made me reflect on the story most.

My boyfriend had seen the film and from our comparisons I can see that the film writers took some major liberties with the plot. Hollywood tends to inject gore and sex into stories that weren't there or necessary to begin with. I haven't seen the film adaptation but from what I have heard I'm not sure I want to ruin my experience of the book if the plot isn't even the same!

I'm always looking for recommendations for things to read! My Christmas book list is 3/4 finished. Right now I am reading The Passage by Justin Cronin and after I plan to read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Swiftly followed by The Dress by Sophie Nicholls.

Break For The City

2012-01-26T10:20:00.001Z

Today me and the guy are setting off for the big city! Our capital city: Edinburgh. My Greek boyfriend has been living in Scotland on and off for nearly a year and a half and I have not taken him there yet. Shame on me! So, we booked some last minute tickets in a dirt-cheap hotel, which kind of resembles student accommodation - but got 4 stars on Trip Advisor, so can't be all bad! We aren't too fussed because we won't be spending too much time in the room anyway. There will be too many exciting things to see and do!

Booking a room the night before for a spontaneous trip really is brilliant. The night before last we were sitting up in bed discussing that our life was a little dull and that we didn't do enough during our time off. I get in these ruts sometimes and the best thing is to get up, shake it off and do something about it. Last time we did something like this we had such a fantastic weekend!

I also hope to meet up with my best friend for coffee or drinks, and catch up on some gossip. She is studying in the city so it will be nice to have a local to potentially show us some hidden gems. It is horrendous the amount of times we actually get to see each other during the year... 2012 will hopefully be different.

Any surprise weekends you guys have been on recently?

From here.

Weekend Tribal Rave

2012-01-25T15:37:00.001Z

Last weekend we hopped in the car with only a change of underwear, sleeping bag and toothbrush (the man forgot his toothbrush...) for a tribal rave in the forest. About 30 of us rented some heated wigwam chalets for the night and rocked out under the stars (and torrential rain) around a camp fire. One guy brought his decks and as we are so far from civilisation we could blast it as loud as we liked and nobody would complain - and it was loud!

I sloped off to sleep at about 1.30am (I know I'm lame, right?) and didn't drink much. The upside of this when I got up people were sounding very worse for wear - one person actually in the foetal position. Oh how I love not drinking sometimes!

The little huts were so cute. This was ours (above) and it slept 4 people at a squeeze. Thankfully only 3 people stayed in this one so there was some space left for our bags. The mattresses were pretty comfy and there is a stream rushing past a few metres behind so we woke up to hear the running water. It was pretty magical! I would drive up here by myself for a weekend of (almost) no electricity and reading almost solidly.

I liked the fact that it was camping but you didn't have to rough it. The huts were warmed with little radiators, had sockets for charging mobiles or using a hardryer, hot showers in the communal block, a small kitchen to make dinner in and bacon rolls were served up in the morning from the campsite reception.

Definitely a fun weekend with nature!

Pop Pop Popping!

2012-01-23T15:03:00.000Z

Me and the guy are big movie buffs. We generally watch around 3-4 movies per week and run out of things to watch fairly quickly. Last week I managed to find seasons 1 and 2 of Battlestar Galactica (fantastic series by the way) for under £15 so we are swiftly working our way through those - safe to say we are hooked!

I don't really snack on anything when watching films usually but last week I thought we should try and make our own popcorn. After several attempts (the temperature of the pan turns out to be very important!) we had enough to fill an American supersize popcorn bucket, most of which was slightly over-toasted... On our third attempt, however, we got perfect puffs which grew out of the pan like a possessed beast!! They just wouldn't stop popping! Safe to say we will be using a slightly smaller handful next time....

Find the recipe on one of my favourite health and fitness blogs - Fit Foodie Finds.

All images by me

Kitchen SPACE!

2012-01-20T10:43:00.000Z

Following on from my previous recipe post (North-African Chicken - yum!).... let's talk kitchens!

When I can afford it and I move into my own small flat I shall relish having a kitchen all to myself. Sharing with 6 other students started as a novelty, but now.... well let's say I'm over sticky worktops and a seemingly constant overflowing bin. For now I can't afford the move (and I have to admit that where I am living now is worth me staying on an extra 1 and 1/2 years), but when I have to move out after graduation - I'll make the most of that extra control over my living space!

From here, and here.

Cooking is a pleasure for me, but the stress of untouched piles of washing up and someone's cheesy milk in the fridge does taint it for me somewhat. I tend to do my cooking quickly and get out of there as quick as possible. I would like my kitchen to be somewhere to linger, have conversations and maybe to sit on the worktop in my PJs on Sunday mornings drinking tea whilst listening to the radio.

Mostly I like plain colours - whites, grays, and exposed wood. But I do like a pop of colour or an interesting pattern here and there. Overall though - I think that your utensils and cookbooks should make the space! For example: I think the kitchen 3 is too plain so I would install a Moroccan-esque textile roller-blind, vase of flowers, and maybe a fruit bowl filled with in-season produce. Cheap but stylish - the kitchen will always look slightly different but reassuringly the same depending on which fruit and flowers you buy that week!

What does your kitchen look like? What essential elements should your kitchen have?

From here, and here.

On a more upbeat note I am going to put a lot of effort into making the student accommodation nicer for everyone who is living here. I don't want people to start moving out so I have to give them a reason to stay, yes? I bought a new bin, hung some new pictures in the living room and am in the process of ordering new plates and a chef's knife set (complete with magnetic strip to go above the kitchen sink). I'm excited to see the new additions and to be talking over the planned refurbishment designs... Exciting stuff!

North-African Chicken

2012-01-18T12:50:00.002Z

This was so yum! Great for just sticking everything in 1 pot and letting it stew away :)

You will need:

Chicken or turkey breasts
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 pint Chicken stock
1 can Chickpeas
2 Courgettes
1 tablespoon curry paste of your choice
2 Onions
2 cloves Garlic
Basil
Cumin
1 tablespoon Honey
Oregano
Curry powder (your desired spiciness)

Firstly brown off the chicken with onions (but don't cook completely) then pour over the stock, oil, honey, herbs and spices. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the pan to the boil and cover. Cook with a gentle boil for 25 minutes - check the chicken is cooked through. Put on a pan of rice while this is cooking.

Tip in the courgettes and chickpeas and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Stir in a spoon of curry paste for that wonderful Moroccan colour. Add the parsley and lemon juice, then serve!

Contagious

2012-01-17T10:09:00.001Z

Weapons at my disposal...

I've been feeling this cold brewing for the past few days but today I really feel as if someone has filled my head with packing foam. These tissues will probably only last until tomorrow! Seems like my Friday 13th quip (about it not being an unlucky day) has caught up with me - how can I get sick on the day of the only meeting I have booked with my supervisor for around a month?

Any home-tested cold remedies for blocked noses and ticklish coughs?

Garden Party

2012-01-16T12:44:00.000Z

To get out of the house on Friday me and the guy went to a local garden centre, just 5 minutes away from where we work (I live very close by so we can meet up at lunch even though I'm off at the moment). I need a decent cup of coffee every so often - really, I should invest in a cafetiere at some point and ditch the instant!

The weather was stunning, if bitterly cold! I couldn't resist snapping some pictures before we left (but before long my fingers started to go numb and it was time to head home).

The perfect frothy cappuccino with chocolate sprinkles!

Bacon, goat's cheese and black pudding panini with salad - so good.

A Snow White hot chocolate - melted white chocolate milk with caramel sauce, marshmallows, cream and chocolate shavings. Wonderful, but far too sweet for my sensitive teeth (It kept the man happy though)!

Delicious chicken and mushroom soup and a warm crusty roll. I always crave soup on a cold winters day. Ultimate comfort food!

Winter sunshine on a fresh day is always so beautiful. Not a breath of wind makes the water look wonderfully glassy.

Frozen compost anyone?

And an Empire biscuit to take home for an afternoon snack - could it get any more cute?

This weekend I went on a forest walk (surprisingly the weather stayed well behaved!). Getting outside more often if one of my life aims. The time in the fresh air makes me feel more alive and helps me sleep better at night. Plus driving somewhere a little distance away charges the car battery so it will continue to start on chilly mornings like today! What did you guys do this weekend?

DIY: The Scarf-Blanket-Jumper-Jacket

2012-01-15T11:30:00.000Z

I love knitwear. It's my ultimate weakness. There's something so chic about oversized soft jumpers and cardigans knitted in large wools. When I saw this cardigan/ jacket by Wood Wood my heart skipped a beat - especially when I realised I could easily make it myself! I plan to raid my local charity shop for a woollen yellow and black tartan blanket (hopefully with fringing) so I can cut some armholes in and belt it around me! Who says you can't wear a blanket to work when it's cold?

Wood Wood Rachel Scarf (80 Euro)

From here.

The Calm After The Storm

2012-01-13T16:00:00.002Z

Today didn't seem at all unlucky... (not my famous last words I hope!)

Hot soup and crusty roll with hot coffee seemed like the perfect solution to an icy cold day. It feels like I haven't seen the sun in weeks - literally! (Check the last photo on the linked reel - spectacular!). Today is a welcome top-up for my vitamin D intake. Glorious.

Glitterpuss

2012-01-12T13:19:00.003Z

Before the festive season I purchased these beauties to wear to the Christmas party. They make me want to dance and twirl around and went down a storm! A lady pointed and whispered to her daughter "Look! That girl has princess shoes!". That must be the nicest compliment I have ever had!

I'll not post pictures of me wearing them because I had a bit of an accident with a cup of tea over my foot at 4am on New Years Day (after too many glasses of Prosecco)... Nothing serious but the scabs are a little less than pretty!

:: Shoes - New Look ::

Inspirational Juices

2012-01-11T14:01:00.000Z

Shini over at Park & Cube never fails to inspire me to further my photography. When I bought my DSLR I was determined to work my way through the instruction manual and make my photos magical. Sadly I only had time to get through half of the book which covered the basic camera functions before I had to go back to university and the weather closed in for weeks upon weeks of rainy weather. But now 2012 has just begun (and I have some time off) I can begin the exciting new chapter 'Taking Creative Control'.

Of course Shini uses Canon equipment with various professional lenses, but when I look in the information for each image I see that she generally just carries a 50mm lens with her when she is out and about. Surely I can achieve this quality of image with my Olympus EPL-1 14-42mm lens? I'll give it a go anyway! (And hopefully be able to find subjects which are even nearly as divine as these!)

Any tips from experienced photographers to the fledgling amateurs amongst us?

All images Shini -- Park & Cube

Promises and Celebrations

2012-01-09T11:53:00.001Z

After the whirlwind of Christmas and New Year, followed by a work conference on the 3rd, I now have 3 weeks off spend exactly as I please. This New Year passed a little quickly and before I knew what happened, it was already 2012 and everyone's back at work! Where did the time go? Well, my course doesn't begin properly until the 30th of the month so my days will be filled with more winter walks, reading lots of good books, taking a ski break with my boyfriend (snow dependant) and prepping for my new modules.

I utterly failed to make any New Year resolutions but if pressed I suppose these would be listed:

Read more books
Cook more (Nigella, I love you)
Watch more foreign films
Study more
Get fit again before summer
Get outside
Live life to the full!

Also I thought I would include in this post that my blog is now 3 years (and 1 day) old. It seems like this blog has become a constant source of comfort for me. And although I may neglect it and be naughty about not posting, I do love it dearly and would hate myself if I let it fall by the wayside. So, another resolution to be added to the list above would surely be something along the lines of...

Blog more and take photographs of outings to post

I hope you all had a fantastic New Year and have kept to your resolutions so far - it's only day 9! ;) I'm planning some new posts for January to get this blog back on track!

Christmas-time

2012-01-02T16:02:00.000Z

Riding Home

2011-12-27T15:56:00.000Z

While riding home for Christmas I snapped these pictures as I was taking a break from driving. It quickly got dark after this but a brief break in the clouds let the sun shine through the murkiness in the distance. I've been neglecting my blog (a reoccurring occurrence) the past few weeks but I hope that everyone enjoyed their Christmas as much as I have. Spending time with family and old friends has been wonderful after the busy semester.

I am back to the grind straight after New Year but there are days out and parties to attend before that comes along. I just have my points to review and some business cards to print up.

Winter Walks

2011-12-17T15:45:00.000Z

Before my exams we headed out for a nice walk through a local forest next to a loch. It was really nice to get away from the computer for a while and out in the fresh air. It was forecast for heavy rain but it luckily stayed off until we drove home.

Christmas has snuck up on me so quickly this year however I managed to get all my shopping done this weekend! I'm driving home for the holidays on Monday but before that there is the student Christmas party and a snowboarding excursion to those snowy mountains with a friend I haven't seen in months. I just hope the rain will stay off and the wind down so the chair lifts will stay open.

The exams went pretty well, however I still think I could have worked harder (as always). I have no idea when the marks will come through yet but I don't expect it to be until after Christmas now. Last night we went out to celebrate over a glass of wine in the pub it was really nice to see everyone out without the cloud of deadlines lingering. Its the first year where the exams are BEFORE Christmas (they are usually in the first week of January) which means I can actually enjoy my holiday for once. I plan to read a million books, research courses in Scientific Illustration and make a gingerbread house; plus I'm meeting the girls for festive drinks! I think that is enough to keep me occupied for the coming 2 weeks!

How are you spending your holidays?

Emily is Well Read

2011-12-12T11:20:00.000Z

Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere, always has the best taste in style. This outfit she posted today is so simple yet works so well. Perfectly elegant look for any Christmas party.

Reminds me of look I created when I had just purchased by first maxi. I still love this! Do you wear maxis? How do you style them?

Violet Maxi Outfit Idea by flossyp featuring statement necklaces

Revitalise

2011-12-09T15:27:00.001Z

Over the past few days I have been working on a re-design for this blog and I am happy to say that it is finally complete! I've gone for a very clean look using one of my favourite drawings from my sketchbook - I posted about it here over 1 year ago. I keep coming back to this image and it remains one of my favourites.

I've kept some pink accents for a splash of colour and I think my personal images in the side bar work well so they are staying too. I have however removed all unessential clutter from my sidebar - including followers boxes and links to my Polyvore (I'll just link to this page when required, like for outfit breakdown posts). Please feel free to offer feedback and tell me if something isn't displaying properly or if you have any requests for additional features.

I have held off on linking my blog up to a Twitter account - which I know many of you have done already. I'm not sure if I have enough interesting tidbits to add to such a site to make my blog any more interesting... Anyway I hope you like the new look, and I'm preparing some nice posts for you in the future. Hopefully I will be able to air out my camera a bit more over the Christmas period!

Happy Friday! Ruth xx

Twinkle In His Eye

2011-12-08T16:16:00.001Z

I eventually got around to hanging my fairy lights this week (I've been here almost 2 years). I had them wrapped around my wooden headboard in my previous flat but here there isn't anywhere to hang them. So we made a trip to the DIY shop to buy some hooks so I could hang my lights. It gives the room a magical feel and makes me feel peaceful. They also make terrific reading lights and don't reflect off my tv screen; which makes watching Sex and the City whilst eating chocolate ice cream in bed a snap.

My Latest Reads

2011-12-05T12:50:00.001Z

Since getting my new Android phone I have been able to read more whilst still being relatively busy. The Kindle App allows me to carry books with me stored in my phone so I can read a quick chapter almost anywhere! Its fantastic but seriously drains my phone battery, however its worth it to pass the time when waiting for a bus or in the doctor's surgery when you didn't think to bring a book and nobody has replaced the magazines since you were there last year.

So these are the books I have been reading and are planning to read over the holiday period. The first book I downloaded was a cheap one that Amazon recommended to me (only 99p) just to check out how I would like the whole 'reading digitally' thing. It was called Not What She Seems and follows a woman and her son trying to escape their past. She has been accused of killing her husband, who abused her while they were married. It descends into a twisted tale of lies and secrets - a bit soap opera at times. I thought it was a good plot but needed a good edit to make it more punchy, however it would translate into a fantastic film script (maybe that was the intent?).

After I inhaled this in only a few days I moved onto Into the Darkest Corner - also an Amazon recommendation - and with a full 5 star rating by 455 people I thought I should give it a go. I wasn't disappointed! It continues my emerging theme of domestic violence with 2 parallel stories about a women trapped in fear of her past and a woman falling in love with the seemingly perfect guy. The stories slowly converge and leave you guessing right until the end. I hate it when I can guess the end of a story (maybe I'm too smart for my own good) but with this one there were always so many scenarios for me to make sense of. Fantastic storytelling!

The next book I have lined up is Water For Elephants, which has also been an Amazon book triumph (4.5 star rating by 223 people) and recently a major movie. I've heard so many things about this book and I can't wait to read it. After that I'll by indulging in some cheesy Christmas chick lit. Christmas at Tiffany's is the story of one girl trying to 'find herself' by visiting friends in three major cities around the world and living the life she has always wanted and deserved - sounds like perfect eyeball chewing-gum for Christmas day in front of a log fire with a box of Ferrero Rocher in my lap.

Also on my TO READ NEXT list:

Before I go to Sleep, SJ Watson
The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro
The Sense of an Ending, Julian Barnes
Secret of the Sands, Sara Sheridan
Sister, Rosamund Lupton
The Odyssey, Homer and Alexander Pope

What are you bloggies reading right now? Any recommendations?

Flakes Between Naked Branches

2011-12-05T12:20:00.001Z

This weekend has been magical. All my coursework was handed in on Friday so I took the weekend to recuperate spend some time with my boyfriend. We did Christmas presents on Saturday as we are both going home for the holidays; a little early but I found something completely at random whilst waiting for my car to be finished in the garage. I knew right away he would love it! I wrapped it on a friend's floor before I drove home to give it to him - he was trilled :) That evening he took me to the jewellery shop and we chose the most perfect necklace together. That evening we curled up on the sofa to watch Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and didn't set an alarm for the next morning.

On Sunday we drove up a nearby sealoch and went for 2 short walks to various viewpoints. As soon as we got out of the car the clouds closed in and it started snowing heavily. It was magical walking through the woodland path with the snow silently falling. Everything was white and the naked trees made me think of the coming holidays. As we reached the viewpoint the clouds broke slightly and we could see the hills in the distance before closing in again and snowing even more heavily. As we drove to the next walk the weather blew over and we climbed 2km to see a stunning pink and orange sunset over a winter wonderland.

Driving home we tried to find somewhere to stop for a hot chocolate and dinner but all the signs I followed reached hotels that were closed for the season or nothing at all. Eventually we decided to go into our local hotel and sat next to the log fire eating steaks and hot soup.

From here

We are planning another walk for next weekend - I think I need to get out in the fresh air more often and clear my head before the week begins again.

Winter Uniforms

2011-12-02T12:00:00.000Z

My Autumn Uniform by flossyp featuring ski gloves

This week I'm finishing up with assignments and I can get back to real life. Its easier to stick to some tried and trusted basics. My tan skinnies; blue puffed gilet; zara leather and patent handbag; and new flannel peg leg trousers which I blogged about before are not leaving my side. The guy is buying me fluffy waterproof snowboots for Christmas (:D) so I'm craving those to keep to toes warm before the snow begins to fall. From the recent chill in the air - I feel it will be soon!

What are you living in during the autumn-winter transition?

Uni Uniform by flossyp featuring patent leather bags

Snowy Christmas by flossyp featuring dark blue skinny jeans

Charity Buckets

2011-12-01T10:09:00.001Z

This month has been all about fundraising at our university. The boys (and some adventurous girls) have been sporting moustaches for Movember - the charity who raise money for prostate and testicular cancer. Its a fantastic cause and this year's team managed to raise over £2000 in a multitude of bake sales, slave auctions, festive calendars and jogging around the high street with a bucket dressed as 118 118 characters. Globally the charity have raised over £64.7 million this month!

Plus today is World Aids Day, so every get donating and generate some good karma before the Christmas period!

Blogging From A Mobile Phone?

2011-11-29T23:01:00.001Z

From being a complete technophobe to getting an android phone and considering investing in a Kindle in the space of about 2 weeks, I'm not entirely sure how this is going to look when I'm done...

Anyhow these past few months have been a real strain for me and I'm sorry to say that Blogging was one of the things that got thrown out first. Its hard just keeping up with life, let alone recording it afterwards! I hope that the rest of my life won't simply carry on like this. I'm not sure how well my body copes with 13 week blocks of studying almost 80 hours a week (if I was to hazard a guess) then having 2-3 months holiday where I actually have to earn some money to see my through the next 13 week block. That's not to say I don't like what I'm doing -- I LOVE it! But sometimes I need a break.

In 4 days all my coursework will be handed in and 10 more days following that all the exams will be over and I can relax into the holiday season! I have so many friends and family to catch up with who I haven't seen in months and lots of books I want to cram in (that aren't textbooks!) before we go back at the end of the first month.

All that is left to do is my christmas present shopping and to choose my christmas party dress. I'll be flying solo at New Year as the guy is away home to see his family so I'll need to think about if I'll bother dressing up at all. Usually jeans and a sequin top will suffice!

P.S. I would like these in every colour! I bought the green pair for £14.99 in New Look last week and they are soo insanely comfy and beautiful that I had to catch myself before sleeping in them! Fleecy trousers that look like office wear anyone..? Paired with an orange floral blouse and I am good to go!