Life Post // Everything and Anything

 So it’s early, 6:30 pm early, and I’m ready to throw on the fluffy socks and pile my hair up high. I’m also ready to open up Spotify and spend an age digging through playlists full of deep emotional music and think about nothing in particular. Stress? Probably. Tiredness? Definitely.
 It seems a lot of people around me are finding this February an emotional one, perhaps it’s the exams looming in the distance for the lucky selection of us battling with A levels. Or just the grey English weather taking it’s toll. My question is how to over come these feelings without taking days off and letting work pile up around me?
 Part of me says stick with it;  like those exams I have to take, in order to get where I want. The other more impatient side of me has this urgent need to travel, to stop staring at beautiful views through my laptop wallpaper but see them with my own eyes. Perhaps this is impractical, as it is for almost anyone and everyone I know.
 I’m not really sure where I’m going with this post, it seems to be just a collection of thoughts.. whether I’ll even post this I’m not sure yet. Sometimes it’s nice though to have no direction, just to open up a smidge and share some thoughts.
 I’ve been finding the free app Omvana amazing for when I just need five minutes out. It’s full of meditation tracks and calming sounds - when I tell people I love to meditate they look at me like I’m some strange hippy, but trust me.. it works!
 I also bought a small book full of poems by EE Cummings not long ago on a whim and as well and feeling pretty pretentious (haha) I have loved just skimming through it, folding over pages and highlighting my favourite lines (yup I’m one of those ‘book destroying’ people, sorry). 

“with a swoop and a dart  
out flew his wish  
(it dived like a fish  
but climbed like a dream)  
throbbing like a heart  
singing like a flame"  
     - EE Cummings 

Georgina 
Shoutout to Darcey for taking this beautiful photo. 

Polaroids, Beaches and Bomber Jackets

 Half term came around this week and what better way to celebrate than a trip to the beach? It was colder, much colder than expected, I had wrapped myself up in a bomber jacket that you can see in the top Polaroid but the wind still seemed to get in - damn you English weather! 
 My friend the lovely Ciara took these on her whopping great Polaroid camera, my mini instax is tiny in comparison! But the Polaroids you get after lugging it around for the day are beautiful and carry such a vintage, summer memories kinda vibe. 
 I'm going to try and go on more of these day trips, for the views, time spent with friends and copious cups of tea in an attempt to keep my fingers warm. It makes a change from bustling lunch dates and commercial shopping trips. Plus going back to the beach digs up a pile of memories from last summer; a solid reminder this winter won't be forever. 

Sunnies - NewLook 
Bomber jacket - TK Maxx 

-Georgina-

Mid-Month Motivation || February

  I found this gem-of-a-quote whilst scrolling through one of my boards on Pinterest. February is a dark and cold month lots of us here in England, plenty of rain and days inside. I thought this quote was perfect, just a little reminder that spring is just around the corner...
-Georgina- 

Things To Do When Your Feeling Blue

  February not only brings clouds and chilly weather, but it seems to also come loaded with plenty of colds and sniffles too. When I'm not feeling so great, I love to fill my days with plenty of relaxed routines that will guarantee to distract me from my what seems to be a never ending snuffly nose. 

Lose Yourself In A Book 

Whether it's a cheesy easy-read book or a serious non-fiction,  what better way to forget about your cold than to lose yourself in a book? 

Try A New Type Of Tea

I find myself getting stuck in a rut sometimes, drinking the same types of tea and becoming a bit bored with it. Why not pop down to the shops (or get someone to go for you!) and try out some unusual tea. I have been loving peppermint and liquorice tea, I find it helps to soothe a sore throat.  

Have A Mega Netflix Streaming Session

What better time to stay in bed and become engrossed in a few films or an addictive TV series. 

Do A Pamper Session 

Slap on a deep cleansing clay mask and paint your nails a bright and chirpy colour. I find if my face feels clean, I feel a little less groggy. 

Meditate 

Have some 'me time' and meditate to some calming music. This one works for me in the evenings so I can doze off to sleep, instead of staying up half the night with a box of tissues. 

Go On A Long Walk 

You may be thinking going out of the house is the worst idea, but I find if my nose is clogged, the fresh air helps to clear it. I also feel a little more in touch with the outside world after being holed up inside for a while. 

Take A Bath

Drop in a bath bomb from lush and light a ton of candles.. I will say no more. 

Make A Smoothie 

I always feel like gorging on chocolate and ice-cream when I'm ill, but after a huge glass of green juice I feel super healthy and full of goodness. 

Visit The Beach 

If your lucky enough to live near the beach, wrapping yourself up and making a visit for an hour or two can relax and calm me. Especially if it's a super windy day, a hot drink and layers of coats is all you need. 

I hope that's helped anyone feeling as fuzzy and snuffled as I am..

-Georgina-

Tips For Getting Stuff Done

 When you've got piles high of tasks to get done, it helps if you know when you need them done by and what you actually have to do. Sometimes I get people telling me that I'm one of those annoying friends that seems to get everything done and in on time, and so I thought I'd share a few items that make staying on top of things that little bit easier. 

I think my main saviour is my Dodo Pad, I literally write everything down in here. The left hand page  is blank, I normally use it to write down everything I have to get done and the right hand page is this grid shape where I write down what I have planned and when. I don't think I've seen any other planner / diary with this layout, and love how much room I have for all my frantic scribbles and doodles. Plus the cute page designs and just a bonus.

One thing that really helps me de-stress is writing down everything I have to do, for some reason seeing it all on the page makes it look clearer (what can I say, I'm weird?!). This notebook from The Happy Jackson Company (I swoon every time I look at their stationary) seems to have become glued to my desk. I'm a frantic list maker and so everything goes in here, from what I have to do to today to ideas and plans for a blog post. 

The apple reminders app on my phone is also really handy. My memory is really not that great so a quick notification here and there reminds me of what I've got to do. 

I hope these small tips helped with anyone that is just too good at procrastinating. Sometimes a good ol' stationary haul is what gets me in the mood to actually do some work!

-Georgina-

Chilled Music For Quiet Moments

 Music is so powerful, it can take you back to a moment in time or drastically change your current mood. When I'm in need of some peace and quiet I love plugging in and hitting shuffle on an album or two. When I say calming music, chimes and Ben Howard spring to mind - I mean who doesn't love Ben Howard and a good Himalayan chime from time to time?! I thought I'd dig a little deeper here though and search for more, some would say, alternative music that you might not normally think of, yet really work for me. 

Heza // Generationals 

This album is packed with steady beats and dreamy voices. I love the slight references to 60s and 70s music, the song Awake is one of my favourites. It's easy to get lost in the low base notes and repetitive melodies. 

Long Way Down // Tom Odell 

An honest, raw and quiet album very different to the album Heza. Each song tells its own story, it's one of those 'alone time' albums where you feel you feel you have to sit down and give all your attention to his voice and the lyrics. My favourite is Supposed To Be for it's lyrics and slow beat in the background. 

For Emma, Forever Ago and Bon Iver // Bon Iver 

I couldn't pick one album for this artist, pretty much all of his albums are so chilled I thought one wasn't enough. Listening to his music makes me want to curl up with a book and mug of tea, it's perfect for a lazy Sunday.

Happy listening.. 

-Georgina- 

The Want For Yet More New Tech

As I sat today surrounded by a bunch of friends, it occurred to me that pretty much all of us had an iPhone. I piped up with this thought and before long we all had them on show, mocking my poor iPhone 4s, how small and slow it is compared to the brand-spanking-new 6 and 6plus. 

It seems there is always some big release going on for a gadget, unveiling yet another phone or laptop or TV. One that is always bigger, thinner and better than the previous. I only know of these big releases through advertising and as much as I want to deny it, the advertising works. Every time. As it did for most of the people I was sitting with at lunch today.

I must be feeling pretty observant today, which isn't normally the case, because looking back at our conversation we sounded so ungrateful. Waving these pieces of technology round in our hands only thinking about what we wanted to buy next.

As much as I want a new phone with a ginormous screen and a fancy finger ID button, I think it's healthy sometimes to take a step back from all the comparisons and pressures to need and want yet more things in our life, and realise what we have currently is just fine. Why not spend the money on something less irreplaceable?

Deep and meaningful ramblings complete.

-Georgina-

The Laser Cut Out Purse

I don't normally go to such extents talking about something I keep my cards and change in, but this purse from Topshop is so delicious I thought it deserved a whole post to itself. The cut out detailing on the front and back adds a delicate touch to an otherwise plain black purse. And the colour, well, it goes with every bag.
This cut out pattern is something I want to find more of, whether it's in this satchel from asos or in these cute pumps from Topshop.