read // one.

one of my aspirations for twenty fourteen was to read ten books, nearly one book a month. during january, i read stoner by john williams (technically started in twenty thirteen) but considering i had only read a couple of chapters, i think this should qualify as book one.
i felt really weird about stoner. it was a novel about a man's life. that was it. no climax, no mystery, nothing that would make you want to keep reading until the early hours. yet, i couldn't put it down. if i were reading an excerpt, i would have thought it was the most boring book ever writen (apart from 'a handful of dust') but by the time he meets his wife, you feel a connection to william stoner, you feel empathy and really just want well for the chap.
i've recommended the book to pretty much all of my friends, none of whom really seem captivated by the plot, but i know if they read it, they'd understand why i loved it.
i'm a little disappointed with how much i read during january & hope february will be better - i say that, but it's now the second week in and i've barely touched a book.

WISHLIST.

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight 

recently, i've been in one of those 'i'll keep the tab open just in case' moods meaning i now have three different browser pages open with way to many tabs in each. instead of collecting so many tabs i can't tell which is which, i thought i'd share some of the things that i have open in my tabs. it seems terrariums and embroidery hoops are my new "thing".

32-38/365

thirty two // i'm starting to think of lie ins as major day wasters. does that mean i'm getting old? please, no.
thirty three // daffodils & white tulips; two of my favourites. note to self, daffodils will make your tulips wither & die.
thirty four // i love mail days, especially when they come with pretty little trinket boxes.
thirty five // "borrowed" an aloe plant from my mum's collection at home. it's now differing between my string shelf & the windowsill in the kitchen.
thirty six // my favourite dog. he never lets me take pictures of him anymore, it's like he's become a teenager, so i was so happy when he let me get a few snaps of him all sleepy on the couch on my phone & my big camera. he is a stud.
thirty seven // i haven't woken up until i've had my coffee.
thirty eight // i love this quote from william morris. i hate clutter and constantly want to purge, so this is a great reminder not to let it get on top of me. you can get a poster here.

diamonds on the soles.

what!? a post on thursday!? don't worry,  just this once. okay, so there are no diamonds affixed anywhere on them, but i'm currently trying to sell my dr martens 1461 shoes. i bought them a couple of years ago & they've been sat in my wardrobe because they're a size too small for me. i've only worn them out of the house once & apart from minimal creases where i've atempted to wear them in, there's not a problem with them.
they're UK size seven & £70 at buy now // from £50 bidding. online, they're £90, so these really are a steal. if you would like to buy them (or know someone who would) you can find them here.

life is outside your door.

last tuesday, i saw city & colour live. it's something i've wanted for years, but for some reason, i've always been too late to buy tickets. as soon as his uk/europe 2014 tour was announced, i bought tickets, i didn't ask who wanted to come, i just bought two and decided to figure it out later.
it was magical. it was everything i wanted it to be and more. he may have outgrown a small academy venue, but he still had the ability to silence a room with his voice.
2010-2012 were the hardest years of my short life and while it was happening, i felt like the whole world was crashing on top of me and i'd never be able to get out. looking back on it i never really understood how bad my anxiety & paranoia were. i'd ignore attacks as me being stupid. i'd constantly be worried and reverted back to being a five year old, not being able to go anywhere without someone.
thankfully, i'm so much better now. my anxiety is still there, but it's nowhere near as severe as it was. i'm hardly having panic attacks anymore, in the past few months i've had under five. i hate talking about it & i'm so glad i'm not riddled with anxiety when i'm about to go somewhere; i still get a bit nervous and my stomach is full of butterflies, but it doesn't stop me from doing most things.
this year, i want to do more. i want to go to places and see things and be with people (but not for too long at one time). this summer i want to go to a couple of places and hopefully i'll be able to save up to go. i'm excited for 2014, the year i'm going to ignore my anxiety and walk out of the door.

twenty six images representing me // 14-26.

here's the second half of my recent assignment. i'm currently in the middle of writing a 1500 word essay and it's making me miss darkrooms and photoshop.

25-31/365

twenty five // trip to the seaside for assignment images. it was so windy i could lean into the wind and it held me up, my hat blew off my head & my mascara ran off with the water streaming from my eyes, hawt.
twenty six // my mum is so beautiful.
twenty seven // books, books, books. my house felt so empty & bare without my books. i still have so many at my parent's, but i have most (including my HP series) of my favourites with me. yay!
twenty eight // i finally saw city & colour after years of just missing him and dang it was amazing. dallas green is something else.
twenty nine // managed to hand my assignment in on time without stressing/getting anxious/panicking for the first time. it's progress.
thirty // constantly changing what's on my shelf & how it's arranged. i don't think i'll ever be happy.
thirty one // i've either forgotten how to take a decent photograph, my camera hates me, or it's so outdated it's refusing to take a picture in focus. i'm hoping it's option three.


happy february, everyone!