LIFE LATELY: AUTUMN

Remember a few years ago when I had this blog and totally loved it and updated all the time? Me too. Sadface. Where did that go? I don't know how it happened, it feels like it was one of those things that come about of their own accord I guess, like outgrowing shoes or losing touch with old school friends. I still follow all my old blogging buddies and read about what they're all up to and fawn over awesome OOTDs and make lists of new beauty products to try on the back of rave reviews...but I don't often feel inspired to write blogs about that stuff any more.

There was a time over the summer that I really panicked about letting myself and my blogging pals down by hardly posting, but I'm cool with it now. I never started FFS for anyone but myself, and throughout the three years I've been doing this I always posted whatever the hell I liked, regardless of convention or external pressures to always be talking about the NEXT BIG AWESOME THING or WHAT I'M WEARING THIS WEEK, or LATEST AMAZING GLASGOW DESIGNER or FABULOUS BLOGGER EVENT or whatever. These posts have their place, and I read them, and sometimes I DO write them, but it's not always the content I want to create. And that's OK. It's not a competition, or at least it shouldn't be.

I've been a scatty, rambley navel-gazer from the start. If you go back to the beginning, which I sometimes do because I'm SAD, after you've finished cringing you'll see that FFS has never been particularly COOL or Zeitgeistey, and I'm glad I can remind myself of this and that it's OK to be a bit weird, and stop giving myself a hard time for forgetting to post about relevant fashiony things... and basically quit feeling BAD.

So what have I been doing when I've not been blogging? Well, living my life. Obvz.

Did I mention I bought a flat? Oh, ONLY ABOUT 10,000 TIMES. Well, I did, and over the last few weeks I finally got the keys and started the long process of doing it up.

Paint was NUMBER ONE priority. The bay-windowed living room was originally a gross brown biscuity-beige which, with the dark floors, made it look dindgy. I covered it with two coats of a lighter, yellow-cream called Soft Linen from Crown and it's much fresher. Once I have all my crap moved in I might want to go for a bolder colour, but for the moment the brighter tone is working out fine. In the bedroom I went for a nice pale icy blue. My pal kindly pointed out it's "a bit NEW BABY BOY" but whatever! I've bought up practically all of Ikea's Hemnes bedroom furniture and assembled it all, so that room's almost done. I'll tell you what though, I'm a bit lazy and would have probably got painters and decorators in to paint both rooms in the past, but my Dad egged me on to do it myself (two coats each!) and I'm pure proud of myself that I did - up a wobbly ladder, rollers, dust-sheets and all. You can do it guys! Just wear boggin old stuff and a hat if you can - paint in your hair is no fun.

Next up I bought a turquoise sofa. Sorry, TWO turquoise sofas, from Made.com. I figured WHY NOT man, and I was scared the room would look too wishy-washy without a bit of colour. The sofas are from Made's Orson range and one is arriving at the weekend, so I'll be able to tell if it's comfy or not come Sunday. I'm in love with how they look online though! Gorgeous.

Thanks to a headsup from the lovely Ruth I got this adorbs cat coffee table, customised by Treemendous, from The Magpie's Eye in Govan. LOOK AT IT! So cute! There seems to be a bit of an animal/cat theme happening so far with the accessories I've bought, but I'm more than OK with that. (See rabbit night light!)

Added to my awesome bit of ATTITUDE ART from Etsy and my wee cat cushion from a few months ago, I'm pleased with how it's shaping up. Still LOADS to do, but I'm getting there.

Next up, I went blonde. SHUT UP. No, really. I just took a mad idea one day and booked myself in to my hairdressers, and BOOM. That was that. I'd had it pre-lightened with lots of foils in the weeks before, but I wanted more of an all-over bleached look. Which is what I got! It's so blonde now that I'm heading back in tomorrow to sort my roots out - my hair grows SCARY quick.

I also experimented with Bleach London's new range of wash-out pastel dyes. I got the Awkward Peach shade and was a bit MEH about it if I'm honest. The colour wasn't all that striking, and I KNOW it's pastel, but I expected to be able to notice it! Instead I found that all it really did was change the tone of the blonde a bit to a warmer, more yellowy hue. Which was OK but not really what I was after. I tried the L'Oreal Feria pastel tonight conditioner in Peach Punch and I definitely preferred the colour. Again, the payoff wasn't great (hint in the word PASTEL), but the actual tone of the colour was a nice corally peachy-pink, and if I had to decide between the two this is the one I'd go for.

And what else? Oh, yi know, just living life. Work has been mental busy with presentations, conferences and travel galore, but in a really good way. I mean, the soggy Midlands might not be the most glam of places to be constantly jetting to, but I can't complain really. Things are going well, my wee team is great and I'm working really hard. I enjoy what I do and I wake up motivated to start the day and tick things off my massive Monday Morning To-Do List. It could be worse.

I also recently spent some time in my beloved Edinburgh where I totally GORGED myself at the Hard Rock Cafe (did you hear about the one in Buchanan St? I believe it's open now - yuss!) and the Chocolate Lounge at Harvey Nicks, dahling! Both places to tick off if you find yourself in Edinburgh. OK, so Hard Rock isn't exactly fine dining, but their Twisted Mac and Cheese is positively ORGASMIC and it's good for a LOL. Also, quaffed myself some cocktails in Le Monde on George St which I do love when I'm pretending to be a little more glam than I am.

What else? Um, I tried to eat healthy but it only lasted about three days. One thing that stuck though was yummy Overnight Oats which I now take to work most days for breakfast. My fave is with chocolate almond milk, mashed banana and flaked almonds on top. SCRUM. More deetz here...

ALSO, can I just take a minute to talk about how awesome the Itison Drive-In for Halloween was?! A massive screen in Victoria Park, 300 cars, street food, guys dressed up as Michael from my FAVE scary movie (maybe) ever - the classic John Carpenter's Halloween. Pure hilarious spooky awesomeness! The best bit were all the Michael's cutting about scaring everyone silly - totally, totally loved it. Itison is running their massively successful Drive In series again over Christmas, this time at Loch Lomond Shores, WITH SANTA and Christmas Carol Car-eoke etc. so have a look. I've booked up for It's a Wonderful Life on the 23rd of December. Heart-warming festive perfection!

Anyway, that's what I've been doing with my life. I'm going to make a concerted effort to blog more regularly, and not box myself into a certain style. I'll just talk rubbish about whatever I want, whenever I want, and that's that. Thanks for sticking with me, those that have.

(By the by, these pics are from my Instagram, and if you find yourself desperately intrigued as to my comings and goings you can follow me on Twitter anaw. @kirsty44sunsets everywhere. ROFFLE.)



LIFE LATELY

It's not often I post personal blogs on here, but I'm becoming more and more aware that I'm letting my 'VOICE' slip away a little in the midst of sparse collection reviews and magazine editorials and the like. Don't get me wrong, I've never been one for A GREAT BIG COSY CHINWAG on FFS, and letting you guys in on the details of my boring THRILLING private life has never massively appealed (I'm an awkward orange in person too, and opening up in general can be an issue for a Cringemonster like me!) but neither do I want to lose touch with you guys, because I honestly consider y'all my actual pals. Really really! So, for a wee while I've been feeling like getting a bit more INTIMATE... Lucky you!

What's been happening? Well, loads.

Firstly, I got a new job. I mentioned it a few posts back and if you follow me on Twitter you'll probably know already since it seems I can't shut up about it! That's right, no longer a Subtitler, it's Communications Executive now! To be honest, I was really proud of myself for landing the position. I felt I'd floundered after my Undergrad and then again after my Postgrad and Masters. I did LOADS of work experience and internships in media, journalism, PR and communications along with lots of other random stuff (freelance filming, styling and events etc) off my own back. But despite my degrees and experience, applying frantically for any and all relevant jobs proved fruitless for over a year - a depressingly familiar story to loads of you I'm sure.

*sadface*

Anyway, I feel very fortunate to have been given a chance to do what I love (communicating, yo) for a company that's recently been bought by a huge international brand, and where I'll get the chance to test myself and stretch my legs properly. Staying stagnant does NOT sit well with me and I'd much rather be thrown in at the deep end, albeit a little out of my depth, and have to work extra hard to get up to speed, than coast along in a job which was going nowhere and doing nothing for me or my career.

The last couple of weeks have been spent preparing for starting i.e. buying a whole new working wardrobe, OBVIOUSLY, trying to find my way in the car (it's a wee bit outside Glasgow, although I can do it in under half an hour if I beast it) and settling in. Learning the ropes at a new job can be totes overwhelming, and for the first few days I didn't remember anyone's name, let alone get to grips with what I'd actually be doing day to day!

Thankfully I feel like it's all beginning to come together now and after a wee business trip this week, hopefully I'll start to feel more confident in my own abilities in the role. As my first proper PROPER job after uni, I think it would be unusual NOT to feel a bit anxious that it'll all work out... RIGHT?! Honestly though, everyone in my team and beyond has been so lovely and welcoming, I'm not sure I could ask for more. GROSS, RIGHT?!!

Aside from all this, I've been doing the usual - hanging out with my awesome pals, who've had a couple of occasions over the last few months to prove their worth in shitty situations and have MORE than stepped up to the mark. Totally cliche and BOKE but I don't know what I'd do without them and that's the truth.

Without wanting to sound like a PURE CHEESEBALL, things have been a bit up and down in other areas (use your imagination!) but I'm finally in a happy situation. It's been a bit of a struggle, but I'm genuinely trying hard to let myself trust and accept the things I'm told, let go of some of my hang-ups and just have fun. I'm also learning about when to go with my gut, compromise and what's worth it and what totally isn't. I'd like to be less vague but basically, although it's been a bumpy road, I'm really happy just now :) VOM!

I've been staying at a family friend's flat for the past few weeks looking after her adorable kittens while she's away on business, and it's TOTALLY given me the bug for living alone. I'm an only child with a small family so I've come to cherish my privacy and solitude. At home, although we usually eat dinner together, we all have our own space and I genuinely enjoy my own company (WEIRD?). I know there's OODLES of fun to be had in living with flatmates and I guess I'm a bit bummed I've missed out on that experience, but to be honest the thought of having my own place to come and go as I please and make my own really excites me. It's kind of my dream!

So yeah, buying my own place is my number one goal for this year. I’m about two thirds of the way there, which is terrifying and exciting in equal measure, but fingers crossed I'll be in my very own home by autumn – can’t even believe I’m saying that! Other goals for this year are to stay happy, NOT CRASH MY CAR (one accident a year since I passed my test is NOT a trend I want to continue), and generally KICK ASS in work.

Sorry this has been such a rambly  mess of a post but I know I like it when my favourite bloggers do a wee life update now and again (cos I'm pure nosy) and I like to feel like we're all pals here :)

Finshing with a few Instagram photatoes of life lately...

1. Royal Exchange Sq for a wee Crimbo night

2. Best suit jacket in the world from Zara - leather sleeves yo!

3. I went swimming a few times last month and loved it. MUST get back into it!

4. Should I buy this bowler hat from Topshop? #hairyhatman

5. Pasta with pals

6. Boozin with pals

7. Polka dots at work

8. Origins Out of Trouble mask - still my fave

9. Tasty caprese salad at a work dinner in town

10. Awesome Sunday morning scran

11. Tuesday treat at a pal's house where I've been staying looking after her kittens

12 . Nancy, said Kitten x1

13. Chilling with a kitten

14. More kitten love. Maybe a bit obsessed...

15. Trip down to Shropshire with work on one of the most horrific days ever!

16. Bed at the lovely Goldstone Inn near Market Drayton

 

17. A bit drunk after a three courser and two bottles of red...

18. Stunning sunrise

ALICIA HANNAH NAOMI

Reason I love Instagram number 1 million: It introduced me to the beautiful jewellery of Australian designer and badass silversmith Alicia Hannah Naomi.

(HAUD ON, didn't I just do a post about rings n stuff? Yes, yes I did, but the more finger bling the better, I ALWAYS SAY.)

Check out these awesome shots for her first official collection available to buy on her website. Pretty banging...

Alicia describes the collection: Deeply moved by the subtle and the intimate, the asymmetrical and the austere; the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes. Believing in the poetry within things that carry this hallmark. Endeavoring to create beautiful, wearable objects that transcend our mainstream binge-and-purge lifestyles. Embracing precious, organic materials, and not compromising on quality.

Discovering beauty in imperfection and the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. Underplayed and modest; the kind of quiet, undeclared beauty that waits patiently to be discovered. Appreciating that all things in nature are transient, and taking pleasure from the aesthetic elegance in objects that carry the burden of their years with dignity and grace.


I'm not sure about all that, BUT LOOK HOW PRETTY! I'll have one of each please.

  

  

Threw in wee pendant for good measure. Seriously, I love these so much. Totally feeding my current obsession for stacking chunky rings. This is my favourite ring of hers though - not up on the website as I think it was a custom order. Smoky quartz perfection!

 

Urgh! I need! And that manicure as well please.

You can follow Alicia on Instagram @aliciahannahnaomi

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL TIMES

Last weekend my Mindtwin Carlin and I headed off to Edinburgh for some boozy Fringe Festival fun in the sun :)

It didn't start off particularly sunny though, check out this OH SO ARTISTIC shot taken on my iPhone with one of those new-fangled fish-eye lenses...

Dreich is the word! Once we got past Hearthill though, the sun broke through and it turned out to be a glorious day. We started off with a wee wander up the Royal Mile to get our tickets to see Tony Law, the most REDONK-A-DONK comedian I've ever seen! He ended his set with a song about how he didn't know how to end his set, and plucked small, suspended elephants out of the rafters. Yes. That's what I said.

Again, what an amazing photo, right? In my defence you weren't allowed to take photos during the show and last time I defied that rule I got kicked out so I wasn't taking my chances. But yeah, he was hilarious. SCOOP MUD!

After that we hung about the Grassmarket for a bit where I stood in the longest queue for wine I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE and we got kinda drunk to forget about how frustrated and angry it had made me. Carlin spotted Claire Sweeney (so she claims) but I missed her and was, NATURALLY, pretty gutted. But I cheered myself up with some more wine and a chicken burger. It was ace.

Check me trying to get to grips with the fish-eye. LOLZ. A photographer I am not.

See what I mean about the boobs? Channelling the busty-oldentimes-wench look. Not my usual style...

These FOOLS thought it was a good idea to DRIVE DOWN THE ROYAL MILE in the middle of the Festival? Pfft.

Greyfriars' Boaby

Voluminous Brad Pitt

After chillin, getting boozed up and taking lots of close-up self shots for Instagram (duh) we wandered/stumbled through the crazy tourists, touts and jolly miscreants up to Bristo Square, the heart of the festival, where the Udder Belly blow up cow thing is anchored and they charge £4 for a gin. Outrageous!

Udderly huge.

Carlin's pal. I think her name was Michelle. Randomly, we met like 10 Michelles...

Several expensive gins later (I stopped a woman in a very plain dress and told her I thought she looked FAB-U-LOUS for no particular reason. Hello, drunk) we headed over to our favourite haunt of old, my beloved Peartree to meet up with my pal David and his girlfriend Fiona. Whenever I would come through to visit Kirsten (which was A LOT in the last four years) we would always hang out here and you could even see it from her last flat - it was right across the road. When I stayed through in Edinburgh last year I practically lived here. *SNIFF* Basically, it's pretty and has an immense beer garden.

See?

After that Carlin convinced me there was some kind of rave happening back at the Book Festival venue over in the new town but when we got there it was kinda... NOT. So we stumbled along the length of George St (almost crashed right into Scott from Frightened Rabbit but then ruined our beautiful moment by loudly announcing to Carlin "Ah hink thats Scott from Frrrrrrabbits. AYE, AYE IT IS!" He wasn't impressed) and ended up in the swanky Voodoo Rooms for a cocktail before a cheeky Maccy Dees and the bus home.  

Overall pretty much an EPIC DAY OUT. I'm actually a tad bit depressed the Festival's not on every weekend. Such a cliche but the atmosphere is really something else and if you get the chance you absolutely must go. You don't even need to go see hunners of shows, just do what we did - see one and spend the rest of the day chugging wine and gin :) I'm kinda biased cos I love Edinburgh anyway, but never more so than in August.

By the way, I was sent the fish-eye lens for free. Just for clarity innit.