sunflowers, a symbol of summer

I <3 SUNFLOWERS

I love sunflowers, i remember as kid growing them in the back garden (or at least trying too)
and being overwhelmed at how tall they grew, mine were not so successful, but a friends always grew really tall. I clearly don't have green fingers.
For me, these are a true sign of summer and i really love them, work is metal at the moment and is a testing time. Working long days, missing the boy, and this lovely British summer (too much rain) I spotted these beauties on a barrow on my way home from town and had to buy them.
I love the colours of the yellow against the blue and they have really cheered me, and my room up.
I also think i have discovered a new obsession .. another i hear you say .. yes another creative craft to get my teeth into.
I was baffled at how blue these flowers were and how the middles remained white and as if the colour had bled onto the petals ... and as if by magic this is exactly what has happened. Apparently if you pop a wee bit of food colouring in the water the plant soaks in the colour along with water and slowly this can become visible on the petals. NOTE: i really should have listened more in biology at school to understand this more!
So i guess i need to buy some white flowers, food colouring and see what i can come up with.

xxxx

This girl sure loves her gin

The Gal loves Hendricks Gin

its no secret this gal loves her gin, and after acquiring friends in the cocktail business my love for it has grown and iv become more and more fascinated with what can be done with it.
A few weeks ago i stumbled across a blog and had a jaw dropping moment!
There is all its glory was a Hendricks gin, limited edition bottle and tea cup set.
A DEFINITE MUST HAVE ITEM FOR FEE

Many a email and text sent i set to work to try and locate one of these beauties for myself... no such luck. I found out it was limited edition and just accepted i was not quick enough to jump on this band wagon and get myself one.
Then .. my luck changed ... a wee trip north of the boarder to my beloved Edinburgh, a few cocktails in Browns with a friend and happened to mention he had seen something in Harvey nics that screamed my name ... yes my pals know me well, he had seen said tea cup and gin bottle and thought of me. So off we skipped (more like walked super fast) along to Harvey's and to my delight managed to get one.
I love it and so pleased i managed to get one, now the hard decision...do i leave it boxed? or open it and enjoy it? hmmmm...

xxxx

my love for dallas green

So its no lie, i love this man. He has one of the most beautiful voices iv ever heard and an amazingly talented singer/song writer.
I was devastated when i missed him play Newcastle last October with his band ''alexisonfire'' however iv always been a 'city and colour'' (his other band) fan more so i like to think i must have meant to miss seeing him last year ... as this year is more special as iv managed to get tickets to say said beautiful man play Newcastle's city hall on October 14th
with the rest of City and Colour.
I get to see this beautiful man sing all my favs songs including The Girl , as linked above , and even more exciting i get to go see him with my new beautiful man <3 and my lovely ladies.
I cannot wait!! - happy birthday to meeeee

xxxx

another candle to blow out birthday girl

So last week i turned 24 on the 24th. Another year older another year wise apparently and one more candle on the cake to blow out.
What way would a girl like me celebrate, cocktails i hear you say? ... oh yes!
You could find me on home turf in Popolos Newcastle with my nearest and dearest thumbing our way through the menu .. or at least pretending like we don't know what everyone on the list tastes like. Snuggling down in a booth with a Bellini in hand I felt quite content as my friends started to arrive. I'm not one of these gals that expects everyone to be in attendance because its my birthday but it was nice that everyone came and i was spoilt with gifts.

Now it made me chuckle as almost everything was cake or gin themed ... am i this predictable? or do they just know me so well. I like to think its the latter. From cath kidston sewing tins, to cupcake smelling wipes and cases to a new book to add to the baking shelf and a new thing for me to obsess over ... Cakepops ( this discovery calls for a blog entry to itself)
As much as i loved all my gifts there was one that was a big surprise and a one i shall cherish.

I love a good handmade treat, i think the thought and effort that goes into it makes it more special than how many pennies it has cost. DIY all the way in my eyes.
The lovely talented miss Louise drew me up a sugar skull inspired pin up girl.
I blooming love it!!! and as soon as i got home decided i had to put it on the wall instantly.
however cocktail influences were apparent the next morning when it was hung not so straight haha : )

If you would like to know a little more about this amazing friend and artist look under fabulous friends up at the top there and click on Jeez Louise.
This young missy will go far ... you seen her here first.

So that's me done for another year.
xxxx

i wonder ...

I wonder ... is the sky this pretty where you are?

FATE ... believer? or non believer?

Fate :

Noun: The development of events outside a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power.

Verb: Be destined to happen, turn out, or act in a particular way

Fate can often be discarded as being a silly notion, but for myself its something i strongly believe in. It often baffles me to think ... what if i had walked a different way to work and didn't bump into you, would i have ever found that out? orrr if i hadn't gone for a drink in that bar and gone to my usual would we have ever met?

I really do believe things are planned and that decisions are thrown at us but the outcome is already expected.
I have recently had reason to question fate again, but for wonderful warming reasons.
What would have happened if i had gone out that night as planned, and not stayed at home. I wouldn't have been on my laptop, sat online, and wouldn't have sent that email.
however i did stay at home and did send that email .. and now? now the result of my actions has me cast into a lovely little dream world of smiles and butterflies.

love and life works in mysterious ways ... and i wouldn't want it any other way

xxx

music to feed the soul

'' you'll find me in the morning, hidden within the rose ''

Music is like any other art form, a very opinionated subject. I like a whole mix up of styles and i think that's healthy. However i do love acoustic music and id say that's whats closest to my heart.
Its what i turn to when i need relaxing, having some time to myself or even just fancy a good old sing along. Having some time to myself lately was a rare treat and i decided to do a bit of music finding to update my ipod and stumbled across this guy.
Matthew and the Atlas - i have totally fallen in love with this mans voice, and his style of music gives me goosebumps.
I totally adore this song and cannot stop listening to it, now admittedly for other reasons that just liking it, people connect to music and it in turn adapts its own memory.
This song now holds happy thoughts for me, and promise of a happy road ahead.
Have a listen ... see what excitement it might bring you.

xxx