To Consider:

"The worst thing in the world can happen, but the next day the sun will come up. And you will eat your toast. And drink your tea."

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Links Love #2

// Tools and tips for travelling.

// Rejection letters suck, but even the famous get them.

// Sophie Ward's story on finding self-love after becoming a model.

// Need a little background noise while you work? Try this.

// Still the cutest vine I've ever seen.

// A site where people anonymously post their secrets and confessions - we're all human, right?

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Links Love #1

// In recent months I've been attempting to create an 'investment wardrobe' and I've just about got these classics.

// The architecture of this Church in Copenhagen still has me in complete awe!

// I've been using this recipe to satisfy my cravings for sweet potatoes recently - blimey it's a good 'un!

// Take 2 minutes to watch this video, you won't regret it.

// Audi teamed up with Leica and created this beauty.

// Inspiration for your quiet place - I am hooked!

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Madre

Carol was fire the circulating in your veins. Fury, passion and pure intentions. She was a breath of fresh air - accepted, protected. 

A soft side graced her too. Lonely nights and time spent staring out windows. She was everything and anything. She was dusk and dawn.

Enough laughter lines graced her face to hide the tired ones. Soft and gentle. She was an earthquake, unsettling and cleansing. 

She hid in the middle of the spectrum, introvert and extrovert. Black and white. Absent and present.

A dove in a world of crows.

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This Week #1

This week has been a real mixed bag. I've been everything and nothing. Introvert and extrovert. 

Monday through Wednesday was great, my head was full with new ideas, goals and desires. I was able to accomplish a lot - my writing progressed immensely! I clear my head and even spent an evening with some friends. All of which felt great!

Towards the second half of the week I think I lost my footing a little. My judgement became clouded and my self awareness wasn't what I hoped it would be. A few lousy nights of little sleep didn't aid me, at all.

Sometimes, my perfectionism is detrimental and becomes a more self destructive than anything else.

Now, that's not to say the end of this week was a total flop. I spent Friday in Leeds with my younger sister. I'm glad she's got her priorities right, she's smart and has the whole world ready for her, just as she is.

In a little under two weeks my Dad and I are taking the weekend to visit some family in Italy. I'm hopeful this will be a chance for me to gain a little headspace and surround myself with humbling souls.

This week's teaching: "Are you scared? Or are you not ready? There's a difference."

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Pick Me Ups

A list of things that feel good:

• Having your class cancelled on a beautiful day. 
• Laughing so hard your face hurts. 
• Watching a child do something for the first time. 
• A great idea. 
• Getting mail. 
• Walking out of your last exam. 
• Seeing hard work pay off. 
• Your favourite lunch.
• Clean laundry.
• Being told you did an excellent job.
• A care package. 
• Student discount. 
• A crisp white shirt.
• Seeing how happy your dog is when you take him for a walk.
• An unexpected gift. 
• Walking barefoot in the sand. 
• Taking uncomfortable shoes off.
• Singing in public and hearing a stranger say “You *GO* girl!” 
•  Landing on the runway after a long flight. 
• An almost dangerous sense of determination. 
• Feeling needed.
• The ability to listen.
• Compassion. 
• Travelling.
• Writing something you're proud of.
• Smiling at strangers and getting smiles in return.
• Wide open spaces.
• Knowing that we live in a world where most things are just a phone call away.
• Snacking when you get home late. 
• Latte art.
• Being with someone you love when you need each other.
• The smell of the first bbq of summer.
• A sleep in the afternoon after a big meal. 
• Making use of the whole day. 
• Watching a black and white film.
• Eating food you grew yourself. 
• The first warm summer days.
• Being brave enough to stand by your decisions.
• Waking up next to someone you love. 
• The smell of freshly cut grass.
• Knowing that all is well.
• Finding a starfish at the beach. 
• The sound of wind in the trees. 
• The sound of the ocean at high tide.
• Meeting new people and having them become good friends faster than you thought possible. 
• Finding common ground with someone you were unsure about.
• Knowing and feeling that some person really likes you as you are.
• When the weather is just warm enough for you to eat outside.
• Listening to the falling rain drops. 
• Watching the dew drops on flower petals early in the morning. 

Keep a look out for Pt. 2!

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Travel: London

The day started with an early - surprisingly busy - train from York to Kings' Cross.

We headed to the market not long after arriving. Picking up doughnuts and becoming intoxicated by the smell of fresh bread and spices.

The view from Bankside was incredible! Pretty much clear blue skies and boats passing through every few minutes. 

I may have developed a slight infatuation with Soho. It was completely my kind of thing, interesting shops, eateries, buildings. I could have happily wandered around there all day.

I got a little snap happy!

The sandwiches were to die for! Full of quality ingredients and sold by the chattiest fellow.

Freshly squeezed blood orange juice reminded me of being home in Bari (Italy). Packed with flavour, made from oranges straight from Sicily - I can assure you it was worth the £3.50 it cost.

The three images above are all from Fernandez and Wells. A small but well utilised space. It was packed with locals and the staff were more than helpful - willing to chat and advise, ideal!

The view from the front window of Fernandez and Wells.

In the end, we calculated that our feet travelled around 14km, it was killer and I'm a little achey as I write this but it was so worth it!

One of the many amusing A-boards we passed on our journey. Spotted another that said 'Topless baristas here..." - cheeky, but I'm not sure it would go down too well in Harrogate!

Labour and Wait  - Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to take a peak inside but with all the commotion seen from inside and out it looked pretty cool.

Coffee beans from Nude Espresso.

Everything in London looked stunning! So well thought out and it really felt like people wanted to be there, selling their products.

The versatility of the art and graffiti that stretched throughout London was astounding!

Much to my dismay I did have to return to the North that night. It reiterated just what you can do 24 hours.

I am completely besotted with London. The amount of culture, fashion and food inspiration, coffee, art, writing (and all the rest!) that I absorbed in that one day is beyond measure.

A trip that was more than worth the 5:30am wake up.

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Monday Musings

Excited for: Lots of laughing. I'm going to see Russell Howard this Sunday and excitement is definitely taking over!

Listening to: Ben L'Oncle Soul. A soulful, French singer songwriter?! Well damn, I am sold. After being introduced to his music by my older brother around a year ago I'm still loving it. Perfect on a warm summer evening or even as a winter pick me up.

Planning: A whole heap of journeys I want to take... providing I pass my driving test. There's a lot of places I want to see, explore, wander through and passing my driving test later in the month would really help me along with this. Motivation to pass: check!

Writing: Stacks of notes/revision. I say revision but it's more doodles, musings, thoughts, brainstorms, peculiar facts I'm unlikely to ever need. 

Wishing for: Just a little more sunshine. Brighter, longer days have been very appealing lately.

Loving: The beautiful sunsets that grace the sky each evening.

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