earworm and plum pudding

not that word

2015-01-24T02:17:00.000+00:00

Even though it's been 9 months I haven't updated this blog, there's hardly been a day I haven't thought about it. Countless posts have been drafted and I still write down ideas in my notebook. This little online diary started one day back in February in 2008 when I was feeling hopeful for the first time in a long while, when I was preparing my move to London after feeling paralysed and stuck at home. It saw me moving from one country to the other and through changes I somehow stuck to it (albeit not very regularly). In the end of 2013, I started feeling weird towards this place, I felt like I lost my voice. It's hard to put it into words but I felt like I was using 'blog speak' instead of my own words. Too many superlatives got in the way. This is not a rant against the blogging world and its success, and the money and all that by the way. I just felt like I was following some word formula and got frustrated. I mean what is the point to have an anonymous diary online if you can't be true to your own voice? So I stopped writing here and I stopped reading blogs.

I didn't stop writing online though. I started a travel blog and kept taking pictures, which has become my favourite thing about blogging. It didn't matter that much in that context if my voice didn't feel totally mine as the blog was about places, not my dinky little life.

I think I got the control back on my own voice today and I always thought that it would be the time then to come back here. The desire is definitely there but I have to be honest with myself right now, I find it difficult to find the energy to dedicate to two blogs.

A couple of you have got in touch to ask me if I would write again on here, it touched me so much but also baffled me that anyone would care. My answer then was yes definitely, I feel like answering that today too I love this space and I love the freedom that comes with writing under a nickname and above all I love the little group of like-minded girls that would often pop by and tell me what they think in the comment section.

I miss all that but I'm not strong enough (yet) to take on 2 blogs and make a good job of it. So this is not goodbye but au revoir, with the hope that 2015 will make me a better person xx

reads #20: december 2013

2014-03-21T17:09:00.000+00:00

It (Alexa Chung, 2013)

For someone who expressed her disdain for blogs, Alexa Chung's book certainly reads like one. She takes us through the evolution of her style with a collage of personal pictures, photos of musicians and films and anecdotes of horse-riding and discovering the Spice Girls. Clothes, hair, make-up, she analyses all the aspects of her signature look we've come to know and love.

She also gives music recs and tips on how to take a selfie, improve your karaoke skills or what to pack for a festival. I enjoyed this visual diary but I think my favourite part was when she lets her 'British guard' down for a bit and writes about heartbreaks (not surprising as she wrote this while recovering from her break-up with Alex Turner).

I feel like you should get acquainted with the character before delving into It as her infamous self-deprecating humour can sometimes leave you confused as to what she's trying to convey. One passage in particular kind of rubbed me the wrong way where she rants at social networks while confessing uncontrollably indulging in them. She seems to try to hide her fondness for them behind some sociological platitudes like she doesn't know what to actually think or is worried about looking uncool?

But I guess that makes her more relatable in a way. If you enjoy reading blogs full of inspiration and moodboards, I've no doubt you will enjoy It.

Favourite quote: I have googled 'how long does heartbreak last?' The result more popular than that was 'how long does heartburn last?' This implies people suffer from heartburn more than they do heartbreak which is a good thing because heartbreak sucks way fucking more than acid reflux ever could.

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Pictured: Ikea candle, Dior Lipstick in 476 Plaza, Dior nail polish dior in Incognito, Topshop Evil Eye and Triangle rings (old), jade ring from Morocco, Moonchild necklace from Nina Mantra, vintage plate)

saturday: spring, mendl's pastry boxes & black forest

2014-03-11T20:36:00.002+00:00

On Saturday, I started the day by making a bottle of lemonwater for the week. I get a bit lazy with these things so making a bottle keeps me on track as I know that the benefits of drinking a glass of lemon water first thing in the morning, are numerous and valuable (excuse the mess by the way, I was in the middle of cleaning candle jars as I want to make some homemade spring scented candles).

Pictured: Zara White Jasmine Perfume - Wet'n'wild H20 Proof Eyeliner in Ultra Black - Topshop Neon Rose Blush - Essence Black is Back Nail Polish - Sally Hansen Mega Shine Top Coat - Real Techniques Stippling Brush - Real Techniques Brow Brush - H&M Eyelash Curlers - Maybelline 24H Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze - Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Bright Blue - Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer 51 - L'Oréal False Lash Telescopic Waterproof - Maybelline Colorsensational Shine Gloss in Cashmere Rose

I then got ready to get out. Lately, I've been enjoying putting blue in my waterline, I think I've been inspired by my trip in Lisbon and all the blue tiles (azulejos) there, as before, electric blue didn't really appeal to me. I'm looking for a blue varnish (something like Nails Inc's Baker Street maybe) but I haven't found anything I liked so far on the highstreet. Do you have any recs?

Just checking that Spring is here :)

Smithfield's Market Place under the glorious blue sky. It felt almost a shame to go to the cinema on such a beautiful day...

Almost! As I couldn't have been more excited that day to watch the new Wes Anderson's release: The Grand Budapest Hotel! (it was sooo good).

After the film, I had a mosey around the Light House Cinema to look at the aftermath of the previous night's party, themed after Wes Anderson's characters. There was a tent in the middle of the room just like in The Royal Tenenbaums and a wall full of drawings of Margot.

We then made our way to the cinema's café as something quite magical was set up at the back of it. Two glass displays holding some real props from The Grand Budapest Hotel!

Turns out that the film's lead designer is Annie Atkins a Welsh graphic designer based in Dublin. She worked on the look of all the paper-related items in the film (passports, labels, letters, correspondence, etc..) and she kindly loaned all her copies to the cinema. It was a truly amazing experience to stand a few inches away from all the beautiful objects she created and that contributed to make Grand Budapest so special.

If you want to see more pictures of the exhibition, hop over to my travel blog, I dedicated a whole post to it.

I then crossed back to the city centre to take the bus to Magda's. It was nice to see daffodils everywhere on my way and I also spotted that interesting sign on Capel Street. Might have bothered with the theory test if the signs were all looking as pretty.

Magda greeted me with a scrumptious looking black forest. Food blogger friends are awesome, don't you think?

I was experiencing major cat withdrawals after babysitting her cats for 3 weeks last month so it was nice to see their little whiskers again.

We sat down and chatted about finding your passion, boyfriends vs. tidiness & the Polish bra revolution.

It was then time for me to go home and crash into bed in a cake-induced coma. Though not before quickly framing my new postcard!

reads #19: november 2013

2014-02-16T20:13:00.000+00:00

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters/Seymour: An Introduction (J.D. Salinger, 1955)

I was a bit hesitant to pick this one up from my to-read stash. I had kept it for bleak days like a long-saved, fancy chocolate in a tin box. Bleak month, November was; so I treated myself to my last J.D. Salinger. Well, it isn't exactly the truth, there is the short story Hapworth 16 1924 floating somewhere on the interweb and revelations were made following the recent biography/biopic on Salinger that he had planned 5 publications to be scheduled between 2015 and 2020 (among which some new stories featuring the Glass family!).

I'm glad I read these two novellas last as I feel they hold the key to who Seymour Glass really was. He's always been depicted through his younger brother Buddy's eyes, and I feel that the latter had not been entirely straight with us, readers. It took a few pages of Seymour's diary to realise how fragile he actually was, and this lifted the veil of mystery surrounding his suicide and turned it into something 'real' for me. Buddy clearly put his brother on a pedestal and the traits of a jaded, unflinchable, zen figure were probably more his than Seymour's. He finally makes sense and he feels so tangible to me now that I feel physically unable to shine an unflattering light on him, but he had his flaws and Buddy refused to see them.

The first novella Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters follows Buddy as he goes to New York during a military leave to attend Seymour's wedding. But this one doesn't show up. Ensue awkward conversations with the bride's family members and friends. This is where Buddy will stumble upon Seymour's diary, possibly the most important moment in the Glass stories.

Second novella, Seymour: An Introduction, is Buddy attempting to write about Seymour and his loss. It is written in a stream of consciousness style, probably to reflect that Buddy is as honest as he can be, but it is not a genre I enjoy so some sections were more arduous than others. For me, the easiest, more enjoyable ones were about Seymour.

Other J.D. Salinger books I reviewed: Franny and Zooey | Nine Stories

One Day (David Nicholls, 2009)

I was keeping this book for a beach kind of holiday, hoping for a fast-paced read to get me through lazy days. Well, the beach holiday never came but I was in dire need of an easy read after going through a classic and still struggling with Martin Amis' London Fields.
I think it is more of a summer book (as the book takes place every 15th of July between 1988 and 2007) but even though I picked it up in the midst of Winter, it filled its purpose nicely. Plus I was in that weird mood in the run up to Christmas of watching English romcoms (blame it on Love Actually) and I was eyeing up the film adaptation with Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway.

It is a bit of surprising book choice for me I guess but it was a spontaneous charity shop purchase spurred by the soon-to-be released adaptation and a vague recollection of Sandra Beijer writing about her being touched by the story (and I trust her).

I actually enjoyed this read. It is not mind-blowing but it is moving. The story follows the relationship of Dexter and Emma, starting with the very night of their university graduation, when life in all its possibilities vertiginously pans out before them. Then for the next 20 years, we meet them again every 15th of July. David Nicholls admirably used this storyline device without falling into the trap set by fastforwards and flashbacks, there were no clumsy catch-up paragraphs. Everything flows perfectly and it's a hard one to put down.

It actually reminded me of Nick Hornby, it is full of pop culture and that sort of 90's-00's English sense of humour. It did linger in my mind for a while after I read the last page as it made me think of my own temporality and stuff like that.

I've read complaints online about the extra chapters after the story's actual resolution, that they were a bit pointless, but in my opinion they were what made the book. I thought that the parallel the author builds between Dexter's daughter and Emma was actually quite special. Also you get to witness the core of their special bond, which I thought gave more substance to this love story.

I enjoyed the movie for what it was too, the storyline device didn't work as well and the meaning conveyed in the extra chapters of the book didn't come as striking. But still, a nice romcom, alright!

**Special thanks to Magda for letting me play with her props & cats for the pictures.**

My goodreads profile.

happy valentine's day

2014-02-14T18:02:00.000+00:00

{Pictures collected on my pinterest, click through the pictures to find the sources}

Lisbon Day #2: pastries in bed, pink fish & a platter of cheese

2014-02-09T17:33:00.001+00:00

Day 2 started slow, with pastries in bed. Although, it was nice outside, it felt like an indoors kind of day to me, so we headed to the Lisbon Oceanarium, one of the biggest in Europe.

It is a bit out of the way but it was the perfect occasion to try out the metro, which I'm happy to report is really easy to use, as well as cheap!

A great array of species were represented, we spent hours inside... although I think it has more to do with the fact that I really enjoy taking pictures of wildlife in general, and especially sea creatures. The highlight for me were the playful otters, the puffins, the vibrant pink fish and the fascinating jellyfish.

After all this underwater exploring, we sure worked up an appetite so we set up on finding a place to eat. But first we sat down at the sea front as we couldn't pass up on the amazing view: the night falling on the giant suspended bridge where cars were twinkling brighter and brighter as the night was falling.

My guidebook recommended a pizza place just a few steps from where we were sitting so we checked it out but it turned out to be closed...well the door was technically open and someone was sleeping under a table but we weren't sure what was going on there so we decided to head back to the city centre, more precisely in the Bairro Alto. We climbed up Montmartre-like stairs to access the Santa Catarina miradouro which is home to a concept restaurant I had read rave reviews about online.

The Pharmacia restaurant is part of the old pharmacy museum and in the spirit of the place, has a wonderful medical theme going on. Boxes of pills are stacked on the shelves, the water is served in brown medicine bottles, meals are layed on surgical dish and the bill comes in a prescription tub. So delightful! And to top it all, the food is actually delicious! We ordered way too much cheese, but hey, that's what holidays are for, right?!

We meant to end the night on the miradouro, sipping on something nice while looking at Lisbon by night but the cafe was closed and there was some tension on the esplanade as some people were fighting. So we just headed back to the hostel instead. It was just as well as the cheese was sending us into sleep mode and a full day of sightseeing was awaiting us in the morn.

You can read our first day in Lisbon here

Lisbon Day #1: falling in love, tropical plants & broken dolls

2014-01-29T09:00:00.000+00:00

Is it too late to wish you all a happy new year? I think technically I'm allowed until the month of January ends so may 2014 bring you joy and love, keep you prosperous and in good health.

My 2014 started rather lovely with a trip to Portugal which was a belated gift for my 30th birthday from my very thoughtful boyfriend.

Let me get this question that has been nagging me out first? Why the heck are people banging on about Paris when there's such a city as Lisbon? It has to be one of the most romantic places I've ever been, it is quite difficult not to walk your nose in the air with all the buildings being so beautiful and intricate, and the atmosphere is so relax and friendly... Can you tell I fell in love already?

If I had to use two words to describe Lisbon, apart from romantic, it would be 'hills' and 'pastries', which I think is a great combination as you sure don't feel guilty stuffing your face with those famous pasteis de nata (custard pies) after you've climbed steep hills all day, errday.

On our first day (it was actually the 2nd day but as we arrived on a rainy evening, nothing much happened), we decided to check out the area where our accommodation was located, in order to get our bearings. I noticed in my guide that some glasshouses were a few minutes away, taking it as a sign of fate, I decided this would be our first port of call (after sampling our first pasteis de nata in a local pastelaria, bakery, of course!). It looked a little like this:

We then walked down the Avenida da Liberdade, which is one of the main arteries of the city of Lisbon. It looked so atmospheric through the smoke coming from dozens of street stalls roasting chestnuts. From there, we climbed up to the neighbourhood Bairro Alto. There, we stopped to admire the view from Sao Pedro de Alcantara Miradouro (one of the city's viewpoints) and smelt the heady cedar tree in the Principe Real park. It totally inspired me to try and recreate the smell with essential oils (possibly a future perfume diy for the #acleanerlife series?).

One thing I'll say that it's not an easy city for vegetarians (I can't even imagine how painful it must be for a Vegan) as fish and meat are heavily featured in the local gastronomy. For lunch, I had bookmarked a Tibetan vegetarian restaurant in my travel guide but looking at the menu, I felt underwhelmed by the plat du jour of brown rice and veg (although the rose petal ice cream was kind of calling my name).

We decided instead to walk down to the sea front, to the infamous Praça de Commeirco. We had a cheeky falafel kebab and explored the city centre.

We then went back a bit northwards to Praça da Figueira where I was keen on visiting the Doll Hospital. Super creepy but also super amazing, our guide was so very nice! As the dusk was engulfing the city, we felt it was time to start our journey back to the hotel so we walked up the hill, passing through the saddest 'West-End', empty theatres and restaurants, even the neon signs were turned off, there was literally not a soul about (probably because it was winter time) and went grocery shopping for dinner. We found ketchup crisps, which is my favourite ever flavour, so all in all I'd say the day was a tremendous success!

reads #18: October 2013

2013-12-30T10:00:00.000+00:00

I slacked on my reading between July and October and I think it's down to two things. First, I just wasn't in the mood, my mind felt very fidgety. And secondly, I had started London Fields by Martin Amis after going to London and it just wasn't happening. It is still not, to be fair, I'm still trying, but it is just a very confusing book and I think it makes me angry too. I don't like unfinished books so I'll power through and hopefully write up a review in the coming year... In the meantime, if you can handle the unbearable suspense, you can follow my slow progress on my very mount everest of a book on goodreads.

Dracula (Bram Stoker, 1897)

I had to whip my mind back into reading shape and put Martin Amis aside, at the start of October, as I needed to get ready for the Bram Stoker Festival here in Dublin. I wanted to cover it for my travel blog and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to finally read the infamous vampire classic.
I was astonished how much of this book has seeped into the general conscience, to the point where when I was reading it, I felt like I had read it all before.
Something I didn't know was that Dracula was actually an anglophile and his dream was to colonise England. The story starts in Romania, where Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor travels to meet the Count in his isolated castle, to hand him the title of his property recently purchased in Essex.
Dracula proceeds to orchestrate his transit to England, where weird happenings ensue. Jonathan Harker and his friends realise the danger England is facing and they gather their forces to put a stop to his evil masterplan.
I hadn't read horror ever since my Stephen King phase as a teenager, and I had forgotten how wonderful it is sometimes to give oneself the heebie-jeebies, especially in the weeks running up to Halloween, when it's cold and windy outside and you're all bundled up in a duvet and a onesie, your book in one hand and a cup of hot beverage in the other. Pure shivering bliss.
One thing I'd like to add though, is I wasn't on board with the treatment of women in this particular read, and I strongly winced several times at their portrayals. It's the old good women versus bad women, the fragile hopeless species versus the evil sensual temptresses thing. Like they could be one thing or the other. Bram Stoker describes his women as something not quite on par with men, 'things' that should be kept away like delicate glass figures, very pretty but generally useless. And when a female protagonist display initiative and courage, they're perceived as extroardinary as if they're owning traits usually belonging to men. Heavy sigh.
I have to say I hadn't read pre-1920s literature in a long long time so my annoyance probably results from my lack of contact with Victorian culture. But if you can go past that, I think it's a fantastic read, if only for its iconic status as a foundation of the horror genre.

Favourite quote: These friends - and he [Dracula, ed.] laid his hand on some of the books - have been good friends to me, and for some years past, ever since I had the idea of going to London, have given me many, many hours of pleasure. Through them I have come to know your great England; and to know her is to love her. I long to go through the crowded streets of your mighty London, to be in the midst of the whirl and rush of humanity, to share its life, its change, its death, and all that makes it what it is.

Samsa in Love (Haruki Murakami, 2013)

I think I let a little squeal of excitement out when Katie tweeted about the new Murakami's short story published online in The New Yorker, last October. I dropped any responsibilities and proceeded to read these 8 pages of joy immediately.

I didn't read Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis but from what I can gather this short story is its plot in reverse. George Samsa, formerly a cockroach, wakes up one morning as a human. He is lying on his back, in a bedroom he doesn't recognise. We then follow him for the duration of day, discovering his own new body and his surroundings. It all happens inside a house, during Prague Spring. We know that thanks to a little hunchback lady who came to repair a door's lock in the house. Through this encounter, George will make the most important discovery about being human...

This is a wonderful little read that will put chirpy cheers inside your ticker. Go read it!

Favourite quote: He was glad to be human. For sure, it was a great inconvenience to have to walk on two legs and wear clothes. There were so many things he didn’t know. Yet had he been a fish or a sunflower, and not a human being, he might never have experienced this emotion.

a Christmas DIY

2013-12-25T21:14:00.000+00:00

I thought I would bring you a little DIY on Christmas day. Probably too late for a gift, but I think it would make for a nice afternoon of crafting if you want to entertain the kids during the holiday. The snow globe DIYs have been mushrooming all over the interweb the past couple of winters. But I thought I would post about mine and share my tips, in case it can help anyone. The best I've seen so far is the one from Cat from Take Courage (check out her Christmas diys, the girl has been on a roll). She very cleverly used glycerine so the snow is slow in its fall. Also, I love her idea of using a polymer clay mount so the figurines are on better display.

Here is what you'll need to make your very own snow globe:

- an empty jar
- figurine(s) of your choice (I went for a tree and a bunny as it was intended for my friend who is quite the rabbit lady)
- glitter (white, holographic or silver are classic options but go for a colourful one to add your personal touch)
- strong glue
- glycerine (optional)

1. First you need to glue your figurine inside the top of the jar (or as mentioned above, use a polymer clay mount to stick your figurines to). I used super glue and it worked fine. You might need to sand the surface first so there's a better grip for the glue. I'd then advise to leave it overnight to dry, but if you're impatient like me, 2 hours seems to have done the trick.

2. Now here comes the 'tricky' bit. Something I haven't seen mentioned in any of the DIYs I've stumbled upon is that the type of glitter you go for is of vital importance. I'm not sure you'll be able to make it out from my pictures, but the glitter I have is of the flat kind. Very pretty, but troublesome when added to water as they tend to stay on the surface of the water and cluster if you add just a smidgeon over.

If this is the only glitter you can get your hands on (as it was in my case), you'd best skip the glycerine altogether. I did several tests with it and found that the best results are achieved when you add a tiny splash of glycerine to warm water, stir well, let the concoction cool down then add 7 to 15 pinches of glitter. But it's risky business and the difference is honestly not noticeable as the glitter is too light for the water anyway (for the same reason fake snow, which is even lighter, won't work too well for this DIY).

The ideal glitter you should be looking for is of the sandy, gritty texture. It is much heavier and that's where a spoonful of glycerin comes handy.

4. Fill the jar to the very brim over a sink and screw the top back on. And voila, your very own handmade snow globe!

I hope you're all having a lovely christmas day surrounded by loved ones and filled with good food. I have been missing this space and reading you all. Weirdly enough, I have kept drafting posts and taking pictures, but I didn't feel like putting myself out here for some reason. Maybe I'll try to schedule some catch-up posts, but I don't know if they'll feel offensively irrelevant. Not that I ever write anything relevant…

Is anyone watching Downton Abbey tonight? I'm quite excited although I have to say Julian Fellowes makes me nervous with his taste for tragedies.

natural skincare | #acleanerlife

2013-09-25T19:20:00.000+01:00

holland & barrett aloe vera gel - atlantic aromatics rosewater - dr. organic rose otto eye serum - trilogy lipgloss - dr. organic rose otto night cream - so'bio étic floressance huile universelle - chemins du nil masque visage au lait d'anesse

I started getting into skincare about 5 years ago, which coincided with my arrival in Ireland, and the fact that I got into the 'late twenties' bracket. Any girl living in Ireland will know that the constant change of weather/temperature, coupled with the hard water is rather tough on the skin. I had been pretty careless with my skincare previously due to its oily nature, I rarely felt the need to moisturise and such. Some people might scream in horror after the last statement, but I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't try to substitute to your body's natural functions with artificial ones. I strongly disagree with so called 'skincare gurus' who make it sound like skincare is the be-all and end-all of good skin. Following a good diet should be the top priority, hydration should come from what we eat and drink. That is in an ideal world! We all have dehydrating habits, be it wild week-ends, too much cereal, not drinking enough water, etc, etc... So it's good to rely on a proper skincare when you know you've been a bit on the naughty side. Especially as, when water is distributed throughout our body, vital organs come first, skin comes last.

So during these last 5 years, there had been loads of trialling and erroring in my skincare routine. I knew I wanted to go down the natural route; but some brands' greenwashing marketing techniques often got me astray (I'm looking at you Body Shop and Boots botanics). I was about to either throw the towel or sell a kidney to afford organic luxury brands, when I stumbled upon the brand Dr. Organic in Holland & Barrett and fell in love.

Morning Skincare

To be honest, my morning routine is pretty much the same as my nightly one, but for the sake of precision, I'll detail it anyway.

Atlantic Aromatics Rosewater (7.50€) - this is the very first thing I do in the morning: a good spray of rosewater all over my face. Not only it is incredibly refreshing and helps me to wake up, but rosewater has great properties for the skin. It is moisturising, toning, antibacterial and it is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. If there is one thing I would recommend from this post is to include rosewater (organic if you can) in your skincare regime. First time, I tried it I couldn't believe how smooth my skin felt.

I use it again just after my shower to get rid of any water scale.

Dr. Organic Rose Otto Eye Serum (10.29€) - I apply this eye cream both in the morning and before going to bed as the gel texture penetrates the skin really quickly. It doesn't dirsupt the makeup application whatsoever.

Aloe Vera Gel (8.49€) (+ night cream) - Aloe Vera Gel is one of those multitasking products that everybody'd find some benefit in having around. Its soothing properties make it a great treatment for irritations and (sun)burns. But it is also moisturising and its vitamins and antioxidants can slow down the ageing process.

It has the side effect to mattify, and the gel texture is pleasant on oily skins. During the summer I generally use it on its own, but when comes the colder months I mix it with my nightcream. It is a brilliant trick if you can't invest in a day cream, especially as you can adapt the parts according to your skin's needs (hydration vs. nourishment).

Do be careful when applying aloe vera gel near your eyes, the 'fumes' can be irritating.

Trilogy Lipgloss - I got this lipgloss free with the purchase of Trilogy Rosehip Oil. It acts brilliantly as a balm as the rosehip oil it contains is nourishing, repairing and hydrating. And it's not sticky!

Evening Skincare

So'bio étic huile universelle - this is the oil I use for cleansing. It is a mix of sunflower seed oil, sesame seed oil, argan oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil and apricot kernel oil. I originally bought it for my hair, but it turned out to be too rich to use it on my ends. It is probably too rich for my oily skin too, but I don't see it as a problem. It's great to take off all make-up (waterproof mascara included) and it nourishes the skin at the same time. I then remove the oil with a flannel soaked in hot water. It cleans the pores and gives a light manual exfoliation.

Once this bottle is done, I think I'll be making an oil concoction better suited for my skin type (or maybe a balm, if it's not too taxing) so keep your eyes peeled for that DIY coming soon.

Atlantics Aromatics Rosewater - A spray of rosewater all over my face to get rid of any water, oil and makeup traces. It also acts as a toner.

Dr. Organic Rose Otto Eye Serum - See above

Dr. Organic Rose Otto Night Cream (9.79€) - Can I say how much I love the Dr. Organic brand? I think it's amazing that there's such an affordable, organic offering available. There is so much choice as well, creams, lotions, deodorants, shampoos, bodywashes, everything you could think of really. And so many ranges! Lavendar, Honey, Vitamin C, Olive Oil, etc... I've tried several products and I've never been disappointed. The only negative point for me is the packaging of the face creams. Because the jar is made of clear glass I found that the active ingredients lose their properties quicker than they should. But considering their low price, I don't think it's too bad.

I picked up the nightcream from the Rose Otto range (is it obvious yet that I have an obsession with rose?). The cream claims to be anti-ageing, moisturising and rejuvenating, which are known benefits of roses.
By consequence, rose-based products are a good fit for older skin types. Another reason I picked it up is that it contains rosehip oil. I had recently finished my bottle of Trilogy Rosehip Oil and I'd been so impressed with its effect on my skin, I knew that I wanted to keep some form of the oil in my routine.

Trilogy Lipgloss - See above

Once a week

Chemins du Nil masque au lait d'anesse (5.90€) - it is not the perfect mask (it contains some fragrance), but I like the fact that it performs the double duty of moisturising (thanks the asses' milk) and cleansing/shrinking my pores (thanks to the kaolin clay).
I don't know which mask I should go for next, so if you have any good recommendation for a natural mask, I'm all ears! Or maybe I could whip up some DIY mask for this series, if you're interested?

Well for a simple skincare regime, that was a long post! I try to keep everything easy and if there's something I don't understand on the label, I tend to skip the product altogether. I quite like the 'if you can't eat it, don't put it on your skin' motto.
What about you? Do you mind the presence of parabens in your cosmetics? Do you find natural products disappointing? I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject as well as any recommendations!

Trim Castle

2013-09-18T21:27:00.000+01:00

A couple of week-ends ago, I went on a little secret adventure with Emily from From China Village and Julie from Half a Dream Away. One of our destinations was Trim, a town located a mere 45 minute car journey from Dublin. Trim is mostly known for its very imposing castle, which gained some international fame after being the shooting location for Braveheart.

But, it is also the largest Norman castle in Ireland, it was built in the 12th century (say what?!) and served as a bastion during their invasion of Ireland.

Pretty impressive stuff, right? The town next to the castle is also worth a wander, if only for its charming quaintness, the pastel façades and the flowery pubs.

Oh and don't forget to visit the donkeys on your way out! You won't have trouble finding them, just follow the heehaws.

diy: homemade deodorant | #acleanerlife

2013-09-11T18:00:00.000+01:00

Today is the first post of a series I've been wanting to do for a long time*. As this is the year of my 30th birthday, I felt it was about time I tried more consistently to live a cleaner life. It's not a thought that came out of nowhere as I was raised by a green-minded mother, but you know how life goes, those issues sort of took a backseat while I was a teenager/young adult trying to find a place in society, earn a living, etc.

Trying to live a cleaner life can sometimes get quite expensive, especially when it comes to buying organic food. But it can also lead to a more thrifty and crafty way of going about things, such as beauty and household products. I thought I would share with you some changes I've made in my life. I also created the hashtag #acleanerlife in case any of yous would like to share green tips, natural skincare brands you like, clean recipes or any changes you made you're proud of really.

One of the most daunting changes for me was to go from drugstore deodorant to a natural one. It certainly can go all kinds of wrong! I've learned to rely on chemicals to stop/reduce the sweat process ever since I'm a teenager. After reading about body functions and stuff, I came to the realisation that blocking my pores with aluminium and, by consequence, stopping my body from getting rid of toxins, didn't seem like such a good idea after all. And of course, we all heard by now of different studies linking aluminium with Alzheimer's or parabens with breast cancer. While it is never claimed as a definite thing, it does seem to me that you put your body to a lot of extra work by stopping the sweating. If you have a good metabolism, it is probably fine, but what happens to these toxins if you can't get rid of them in another way? Where do they get stuck? And where all the chemicals go? Kind of worrying since the chest area is so close to our armpits. But again, it is very much dependant of the performance of all your body regulations.

Because I'm getting to a certain age, I feel like I should be more careful with what goes into my body, I don't have the fast metabolism of a 15 year old anymore.

So just before this summer I started using a natural deodorant from the brand Dr. Organic (the range is sold in Holland & Barrett for those who live in Eire/UK). The whole experience was less traumatic than I thought (although it did prove to be challenging during the heatwave). But I wasn't totally satisfied, I didn't really like the fact that I sometimes had to reapply during the day (it could be a good winter deodorant though) and the roll-on cap unscrewed itself while I was using it. I felt like there should be a better alternative so I started scouring the net for natural recipes. I stumbled upon this one and gave it a go. Well, let me tell you after trialling it for nearly 3 weeks, I can vow never to go back to classic deodorants. I wasn't prepared to be so impressed, it really works and this is coming from someone who sweats a lot! #glamour

Not only it is effective but also it is incredibly easy to make, you can watch my video for the recipe:

*edit: The soundtrack of the video is Melancholly Hill by Gorillaz (BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge version)

List of ingredients:

- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (preferably raw, extra virgin and organic)

- 1/4 of a cup of baking soda

- 1/4 of a cup of arrowroot powder (I found mine in the baking section of Tesco's, so it was very easy to get hold of. If for some reason you can't locate it, use instead corn starch or more baking soda)

- 7-10 drops of good quality essential oils (I only have grapefruit oil at home which is great but you can use any smells you like or take advantage of some essential oil properties, for instance tea tree oil is a good fit for a deodorant as it is antibacterial)

Additional comments:

- This deodorant applies like a paste that melts with the contact of the skin. It might seem awkward at first but it is no less annoying than applying body moisturiser right after the shower. Once you get into the habit, you don't really think about it anymore.
- You can adapt the texture according to your preference, add more or less powder (baking soda and arrowroot powder in equal amount) whether you want a thick paste or something a bit oilier and moisturising.

- As far as I'm concerned, there is no need to reapply during the day, this stuff is amazing!

- Aluminium is pretty much the only anti-perspirant. This deodorant is not going to stop you from sweating but the baking soda and arrowroot powder make a mighty good job at keeping you relatively dry and 100% smell-free.

- Some people can develop a sensitivity to baking soda so test it out inside your arm first and keep an eye for any redness while using this deodorant. If something happens, try replacing the baking soda by an equal amount of arrowroot powder.

- This deodorant can be kept for 4 to 5 months. Don't forget to write the date your batch was made on the label.
- Some essential oils can turn your skin photosensitive, so be careful with sun exposition.

Right, I hope you don't think I went all 'hippie' on you, but I felt like sharing this recipe first for this new series as I'm still amazed that something as effective could be created with my own hands and made with so few basic ingredients. If you do end up giving it a go, let me know what you think! Or if you want to share your favourite natural deodorants, please do so in the comments or tweet at me (@earwormplum) with the hashtag #acleanerlife. I'd love to hear your recommendations.

In the next installment, I'll show you my all natural skincare!

*I kept postponing doing the #acleanerlife series as I feel it is a touchy subject (especially when it comes to food), I feel like the whole topic can come across as moralising. This is in no way my intention, everyone is free to live their life the way they want, it is not for me to judge, especially as I have some horrendously bad habits. I thought this would be a good way for me to keep track of my progress and stay motivated. Also ideally, I'd like it to be a place where people can share their tips to live a 'cleaner' life. I am kind of nervous as to how this post will be received so any feedback would be greatly welcome, please do let me know if you would be interested in this series being continued or if you just think it's just a load of bollix :)

birthday wishlist 2013

2013-08-28T08:06:00.000+01:00

1. Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Riviera, Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+, Mac Lady Danger, Tangle Teezer - 2. Canon 40mm Lens, Guitar Tuner, Tripod, Rayman Origins for PS3 - 3. May Bouquet by Anna Emilia, Ikea Emmie Land Duvet Set, Giraffes by Janet Hill, Ikea Socker Greenhouse - 4. Zara Mini Office City Bag, It by Alexa Chung.

reads #17: July 2013

2013-08-21T08:30:00.000+01:00

The Diamond as Big as The Ritz and other stories (F. Scott Fitzgerlad, 1922)

I picked up this book just before Baz Luhrmann's latest release. It put me in the mood of reading more F. Scott Fitzgerald, but I didn't feel like doing a reread of The Great Gatsby. Initially, I was looking for This Side of Paradise, after reading about it in Louise Brooks' biography. The book was described as one of the setting stones of the flapper movement. I couldn't find it and I thought that short stories weren't a bad idea for a further introduction to Fitzgerald's style.

For someone who is often proclaimed as the epitomizing writer of the twenties, I thought it was peculiar how often he liked to write about epic 'losers' (judging solely from The Great Gatsby and this collection, I have no idea what his other works are about). It sometimes made me wonder if he actually felt any tenderness towards his contemporaries. I guess that the fact he makes them the leads of his stories is some sort of proof of endearment but I'm undecided. Is it empathy or misanthropy? What do you think?

From the first couple of short stories in this collection, I thought his intention was to portray the effect of the twenties on different kind of people according to their age or their socio-economic status but then it all went a bit science-fiction-y and pretty mad, I stopped thinking and just enjoyed the ride.

My copy comprises of the following short stories: The Cut-Glass Bowl, May Day, The Diamond as Big as The Ritz, The Rich Boy, Crazy Sunday, An Alcoholic Case, The Lees of Happiness and The Lost Decade.

Favourite quote: It is youth's felicity as well as its insufficiency that it can never live in the present, but must always be measuring up the day against its own radiantly imagined future - flowers and gold, girls and stars, they are only prefigurations and prophecies of that incomparable, unattainable young dream.

(from the short story The Diamond as Big as The Ritz)

in London: Hackney City Farm

2013-08-15T19:10:00.000+01:00

For our last day in London, we decided to go to the Hackney City Farm. It is the perfect location if you need a break from the constant urban noise. Once inside, it is easy to forget that you're standing in the heart of one of the busiest cities in the world.

Hackney City Farm has been on my 'to-see list' for the longest time, and since I was staying in the area, it was the perfect opportunity. I just can't resist the idea of hanging out with animals.

They have a good selection of them, in the little field at the back of the farm you'll get to see pigs, donkeys, goats and sheep. In the courtyard, there is the poultry scurrying around, hens and roosters, geese but also a funny-looking, straight-walking breed of ducks called 'Indian Runners' (see picture below).

Inside one of the building, cages hold cute guinea pigs and extremely shy rabbits. And as for the garden, it is the domain of a very angry cat (you'll be warned by a sign at the entrance of the garden).

Other features of the place are a shop where the farm produce is sold, and a cute cafe which I didn't get to try but I'll make it my mission next time I'm in London.

in London: Horniman museum & gardens

2013-07-31T13:33:00.000+01:00

One day, we decided to venture out of the borough of Hackney and use the good ol' Overground. Am I being crazy saying I'm in love with the London transport system? It can be hell during peak hours (I nearly had a stroke one morning on the tube) but overall, I just love everything about it, even the smell of the tube halls (I know, I'm gross!).

We made our way to South London, in the lovely borough of Lewisham, more precisely in the aptly-named Forest Hill. This little trip was prompted by this post on Junkaholique about the Horniman Museum. Artemis' atmospheric pictures made me feel that it would be my kind of place.

And it totally was, give me some creepy stuffed animals and I'm buzzing! I also liked the fact that the museum is surrounded by a beautiful garden (from which you can see an impressive view of the London skyline), it felt great lounging about during that amazing, sunny day.

The only blackspot on this memorable day was that I really wanted to see the museum's mascot, the giant overstuffed Walrus, but the fecker had moved to Margate for Summer. Bummer.

in London: V&A Museum of Childhood

2013-07-28T14:00:00.000+01:00

As I mentioned in my previous London post, money was a bit of an issue, so we needed to find a source of entertainment that was cheap and close to our abode. I had a little looky on the internet and stumbled upon the V&A Museum of Childhood. I always love checking toy museums, plus its admission is free and its location in Bethnal Green made it an obvious choice!

I checked a few childhood museums in my travellings (I still haven't visited the Irish one, located in Powerscourt, though): the one in Edinburgh which is brilliant, full of old creepy toys (check Hannah Hayes' beautiful blog for photographic evidence). I remember being impressed by one of the doll's houses, the quantity of tiny objects collected over the years by its owner was mesmerizing. She even managed to get hold of miniature toilet paper.

The other museum I visited was in Malmö, but it was a bit on the rubbish side unless you get excited about vintage Happy Meal toys. And then when I was small, I adored the Children's Museum in Brussels. It is a must-see if you have a family, your kids will love it as it is very interactive.

The V&A Museum of Childhood did not disappoint, it was the perfect balance between vintage and modern toys, coming from different horizons and cultures.

My favourite part was the windows dedicated to mechanical toys although it was kind of frustrating not being able to witness all their little stunts and tricks.

I examined the doll house on the ground floor of the exhibiton for ages as it's gigornomous, it even has its own water and power supply. Look below for all the amazing little details, like the rocking horse and the vacuum!

I was told that there were more doll stuff on the 1st floor, but unfortunately, I didn't make it before closing time. Hopefully, there will be a next trip!

in London: our surroundings

2013-07-24T08:00:00.000+01:00

Some people are living for the weekend, me, I sometimes feel like I'm living for the few days a year I spent in London. I always look forward to a city break there, planning and plotting and day-dreaming. It finally happened a couple of weeks ago!

We stayed in the East End with my friend's Mom who was the best host one could hope for. She just opened an Etsy shop, where she sells her patchwork creations. At the moment, she has beautiful pot holders and pin cushions, but she plans to put up some cushion covers in the near future. Her shop is called PatchworkThings, do check it out if you're looking for pretty presents for your friends or family or even for yourself (UK deliveries only).

As we were all broke, we mostly stuck to the area, but it was not a problem, there are so many things to do in East London. Although many hours were spent being indoors knocked down by the heat wave or recuperating from the previous night's activities and generally chilling; so not the most productive city-break, but here's what we got up to in between!

We stayed just next to London Fields which was just perfect as I've been dying to explore the neighbourhood. You may remember last year, I ended up just sitting in the park as I didn't have any precise directions for the places I actually wanted to check out there. It turns out it is much easier when you're hanging out with locals. I finally got to go to Broadway Market (which is just East of the park if you're wondering) and checked Susie Bubble's bookshop recommendations (Artwords Bookshop and Broadway Bookshop which were both amazing!).

There are many places in Hackney where it feels good walking around when the weather is glorious.

We strolled along the Regent's canal which was so pleasant and when we got tired, we hopped over in Victoria Park and sat in the shade to take a breather.

Summers in London are magical, and just wandering on its streets looking for watermelons and figs felt pretty special already.

We visited some cool places, but I'll need to make a few more posts dedicated to them, so I hope y'all can bear with me.

Reads #16: June 2013

2013-07-04T09:13:00.000+01:00

Dance Dance Dance (Haruki Murakami, 1988)

Oh dear, another laborious read I'm afraid, but for completely different reasons than I Capture the Castle. I kept getting distracted by pesky flash-backs from the previous book in the Trilogy of the Rat, A Wild Sheep Chase. I just couldn't place them back in the context of the story, I have such a bad memory and kind of regret I didn't bother a re-read.

With that being said, I feel it's no way vital to read it to enjoy Dance Dance Dance to the fullest as Murakami skillfully places plot reminders when the story calls for them (nothing as heavy as 1Q84 thank God for that).

I had been keeping Dance Dance Dance in my towering 'to-read' pile for a good while now as I was getting anxious with my running low on Murakami material. And as the famous Japanese author released his latest offering this April (Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage's translation is due in 2014), I felt at peace to finally pick it up.

My own goldfish struggles aside, Dance Dance Dance is a thrilling read, but I can't help feeling that I benefited from leaving such a long lapse before opening another Murakami's book (I read 1Q84 in April last year), it probably saved me from an overdose.

It was a bit like watching a renowned magician whose tricks I already knew. The element of surprise and wonderment receded, but my admiration for the author was left intact.

Dance Dance Dance picks up 5 years after The Wild Sheep Chase ended. Our narrator, who seems to be leading a meaningless life, is troubled by vivid dreams calling him back to the Dolphin Hotel, the location of his previous adventures. There, his former girlfriend suddenly disappeared and he now intends to find her again.

This quest takes him through a series of weird events and encounters, and I found it serves as an exhilarating parable for the search of self-discovery and the eternal pursuit of happiness.

Favourite quote: As time goes on, you'll understand. What lasts, lasts; what doesn't, doesn't. Time solves most things. And what time can't solve, you have to solve yourself.

L'Écume des jours (Boris Vian, 1947)

Since stumbling upon the trailer of Michel Gondry's adaptation of this book last April, I've been obsessed with the idea of reading L'Écume des Jours (it might be another reason why it was so hard for me to get into Dance Dance Dance).

Looking back to my highschool years, I find it weird that I actually never read Vian before. His songs were played in an obsessive loop at my best friend's and I remember class mates reading him on several occasions, but they didn't seem very enthusiastic (side remark: don't you hate when people are tepid about what they like?). I even had a short-lived passion for Jean-Paul Sartre. Weird.

Anyways, let's go back to the actual book and its plot. The protagonist is called Colin, he's rich, he has a talented cook, Nicolas, and lives in a house worthy of Inspector Gadget. Colin seems pretty happy until his best friend, Chick, falls in love. This makes Colin terribly jealous and he decides to find the girl of his dreams too. He won't have to wait long as she will appear in the person of Chloe at a dinner party where they were both invited.

You could say that Colin is the male Amelie Poulain, but the book has a definite dark side.
While it is incredibly playful with surrealistic situations and puns and fantastic machines, the most striking absurdities are inspired from our very own lives: death is nearly always portrayed as faceless and inconsequential, mirroring our news reports, the hilarious catch-22 of job interviews, people spending most of their life on jobs they don't give two damns about, etc...
As you can see, beyond the whimsical love story, this book is in fact a real satire.
My heart was completely taken away by this story and L'Écume des jours has now become one of my favourite book of all time.
One regret I have though is that there's absolutely no secret on the outcome of this book: I was spoilt just looking at the back of my book or watching Gondry's trailer. I guess that's not what the book is ultimately about, but I feel I would have connected more with the characters had I not known their fate.
Don't worry you're safe here and if you want to keep it that way, I'd recommend not to read or watch anything before opening this book.

Which is a bit of a pity because the trailer looks totally epic, I feel there couldn't have been a better fit than Michel Gondry for this adaptation. I did read though that he got a few bad reviews, critics accused him of overloading the story with special effects. It made me wonder if those journalists actually read the book because there's something magical happening at literally every line.
With that being said, I can't wait to make my own judgement. While it's been released this spring in French-speaking countries, no date has been announced for the UK/US, but it looks like the film will be called Mood Indigo.

Here are a couple of screenshots I took from the trailer in case you want to avoid being spoilt:

Bloom 2013

2013-06-26T08:15:00.000+01:00

At the start of this month, I went to Bloom, a gardening and food festival taking place in Phoenix Park, Dublin. I was mostly interested in vegetables seeds, as I want to start growing my own stuff, but my search was fruitless.
In place, I admired a garden designing contest, sampled fancy jams, walked on the yellow brickroad in Oz, feasted on organic cherry tomatoes, aaawwed at the sight of fluffy lamb, walked in a huge kitchen garden and inhaled many a flower. Bloom is a lovely event to attend, especially if it's sunny and you're looking for a family-friendly activity.

To be honest, I wasn't going to post this video below as I messed up my camera settings (I thought the sky had a weird lighting that day, God forbid I actually check my ISO...) but I decided to give it a go at learning colour correction on my editing software, instead of throwing the footage in the bin. Please excuse the shoddy result.

a little update of sorts

2013-06-18T22:10:00.000+01:00

I just spent a week or so at my friend's (she has a yummy food blog, check it out!). She needed someone to baby-sit her two little kittens while she was away on holidays and being the animal-obsessive I am (I'm the mad person who points out at e-ver-y dogs on the street and then squeal), I was super happy to oblige.

It actually felt a bit like holidays for me too, it was dead nice to enjoy her balcony during the short-lived Irish Summer. Also, she lives in a very different area from where I reside and it was very refreshing to see and experience Dublin from another angle.

I jumped on the opportunity to explore my new surroundings and upon Magda's recommendations my first port of call was the Merchants Market, the biggest indoor market in Dublin. I was pleasantly surprised, it is actually brilliant. Loads and loads of second-hand furniture, bric-à-brac, clothes and cheap fruits and vegs. I'll definitely come back! I got some lucky finds too (see picture below): a couple of books and the prettiest tray (remember my obsession for beauty trays?!) for a mere fiver... Bargain!

I know things got a bit quiet around here, but my head was all over the place the past weeks (hell the past year) and after months of running in hopeless circles, I feel like I found the energy and faith to settle down on a project. I'm not going into specifics yet but I'll be sure to let you know when things are up and running. In the meantime, forgive me if I accidently disappear again but I need to focus on that other thing for a little while. I'm going to do my best to be more regular here though and buy a weekly planner because I do have many posts in my draft section, I think I need some structure and organisation.

Also, I'd like to remind all you Google Friends Connect followers that GFC is going to shut down in less than two weeks so if you still want to follow this blog, make sure to make the switch to a new reader (I can heartily recommend Bloglovin but you can find out about alternatives here)

le temps des tulipes

2013-05-29T19:19:00.000+01:00

I hope it doesn't get too ridiculously repetitive around here but I went to the National Botanic Gardens for the third time, a couple of weeks ago. I took my Mum, who was visiting for a few days. It was uncharacteristically sunny and the tulips, magnolias, bluebells and azaleas were out. It made for a delightful, colourful walk!

my visit to the Dublin Botanic Gardens in 2011 | in 2012

Something I didn't know prior to this visit is that this place is linked with one of the darkest period in Irish history. It was here that the infection responsible for the dreadful potato famine was indentified and research labs were laid on the very same ground.

Also, I found out that some of the glasshouses were built with some extra ironwork coming from one of my favourite places in London, the Kew Gardens. I think I may be even more in love with the National Botanic Gardens now!

Check out those crazy-looking flowers! They're called Protea Eximia and are from South Africa.

On a unrelated note, I got sucked in by the new flickr look as well as the free Terabyte (!) available and just opened a flickr account. Are any of yous on it?

the lovebird chronicle

2013-05-27T18:21:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago, I opened my window to attend to my sorry plants and noticed something moving in the heart of the palm tree in front of me. They had come back! My wood pigeons! Well, I'd like to think they were the same pigeons who chose this very same tree as a romantic spot last year. This time, they chose to build their nest right next to my window and I couldn't hide my excitement when I noticed two tiny little eggs under their feathers. "We're going to have babies" I said to whoever wanted to hear.

I started reading about pigeons behaviour, hatching time and such. I learnt that during most of the day it is the male that protects the eggs while the female eats to her heart content to produce her crop milk. I never witnessed the switch so I just assumed it happened at night while I was sleeping.

Woodland pigeon eggs take about 17 days to hatch and I effervescently started counting the days... Until this weekend. I woke up on Saturday, opened the window as usual to check upon my little friends and plants and here's what I saw...

An empty nest.

No pigeons, no eggs, no leaving note. They had disappeared! Gone! I am probably feeling more upset than I should, but I feel like I have been robbed of a happy moment, that I could have helped if something terrible happened while I was sleeping. My boyfriend reckons the magpies are the culprit.

I think our daily noise in the kitchen and living room may have disturbed them.

Or the female never came back and lonely and angry, the male gobbled his eggs, left without a warning and moved on. Those are certainly easier to consider than monster magpies to me.

<\3

reads #15: april 2013

2013-05-21T22:56:00.000+01:00

I Capture the Castle (Dodie Smith, 1948)

I have to be honest and tell you that this book drove me into a bit of a reading slump.

I picked it up cos one of my favourite blogs is named after it. Maybe I needed something more caustic at the time, after reading J.D. Salinger. Something less 'consciously naive'.

Dont get me wrong, I liked it, I want to say that the tone is kind of like the Famous Five series, but for little rosebuds, full of wonderment typical of young teenager; and flourish language. It's extremely well written and compelling. But ultimately, it made mee feel old and jaded. I feel like it's the kind of book that should be read at a younger age, round 14 maybe, when you feel trapped by your pretty bedroom walls during Summer vacation, and longing for escapades... and a little bit of flirting.

Reading this book reminded me of the joy I felt while reading Enid Blyton as a kid. I was in awe with those clever, eloquent children in search of adventure.

In place of adventures, Cassandra the 17-year-old narrator and her sister Rose are experiencing the discovery of love. It got a bit too Mills & Boon-ey for my own taste, with all the romantic chassé-croisé but what I really loved is the description of the English country side that transpired. It is a truly beautiful ode to its greenery and magic. Dodie Smith wrote this novel, her first, when she moved to California and deeply missed the United Kingdom. Between the lines, you could almost hear her heart weeping.

It is a brilliant Summer, or even Spring, read (check out my other book recommendations for Summer: Bonjour Tristesse and Brideshead Revisited)

Favourite quote: Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.

The 2003 film adaptation is a very good one, so do watch it if you can't be bothered with reading the book. The visuals are sublime and the actors are spot on: Romola Garai, Rose Byrne... and Bill Nighy *heart-shaped eyes*.

Follow me on Goodreads.

earworms: summer anticipation

2013-05-09T10:30:00.000+01:00

source

A rare fact to be highlighted, this playlist mainly comprises of new(ish) music save for two oldie bonuses.

I am really excited for the new album of Daft Punk, the single Get Lucky sounds like the summer of my 18th. And while on the funk subject, why not pop a bit of Sister Sledge on the spinning table?

I think the debut album of Haim has the potential to be the perfect companion for sunny weather, judging by the few songs I chanced upon listening.

Jagwar Ma's Save Me (which I used as a soundtrack in my last video) sounds incredibly fresh and like a total summer hymn.

The Allah-Las have been around for a little while but as soon as I play their songs and close my eyes, I feel like I'm standing in Joshua Tree.

As for Cool Cats by Squeeze, I recently discovered it and what's there not to like?! Choon!

summer anticipation by moira on Grooveshark