Week One: Playlist

Here's to something new.

Everyday I walk roughly one and a half miles to work and from work. Spotify is my saviour, the journey is also a great chance to unwind from work and look forward to being in the comfort of my own home.

This week i've been channeling some "First Aid Kit" vibes, I rediscovered "Stay Gold' after a few months. It's a seventies romantic folk rock sound, if you haven't heard them before "My Silver Lining" is a good place to begin.

With a little touch of The Decemberists and Fruit Bats alongside this playlist is guaranteed to cheer you up and get you moving.

1. The Decemberists - Make You Better

2. Gavin Mikhail - I Will Wait

3. Fruit Bats - When U Love Somebody

4. Desert Noises - I Won't See You

5. Purple Ferdinand - In My Dreams

6. First Aid Kit - Master Pretender

7. The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers

8. Alt J - Something Good

9. Fossil Collective - Rivers Edge

Let yourself be the person you’ve secretly always wanted to be.

I love growing up. Defeating expectations and the brilliant realisation that expectations are zilch. When you are a kid things are so easy, I always imagined by 25 i'd have a perfect little house. Similar to Miss Honey from Matilda, a cottage in the woods covered in flowers. Maybe a husband, a baby, a million pounds.. I've always been a dreamer.

I'm a month and two days away from being twenty five and believe it or not I'm happy growing up. Age isn't something you should fear, it's something to embrace.

If you want to eat ice cream for breakfast, who cares? The best thing about being an adult is doing things your own way, sure you will always have to take responsibility. Work your little ass off to pay for everything you need. But you also have this unknown freedom. Ability to make choices for yourself without being overshadowed. It's wonderfully free.

Somedays i'll sit watching a whole series and think "Am I acting like a teenager still mid twenties?" should I be thinking of getting married, reproducing and doing everything that everyone else seems to desire at this age? You know what, time is on my side. Why rush all these things? Girl's who push their partners to propose, why? Is rushing someone in to committing to you really what you want? I'm so happy taking one day at a time, taking each day slowly like a tortoise. It's not about how fast you win the race, but the stuff that happens along the journey.

25, a quarter of the way there.

I'm so excited for the future. Hanging on to this rollercoaster and just watching the world spin me around. Basically, moral of the story. Do what you want, you've got time.

Goals.

1. Keep going.

My new years resolution this year was to teach myself to crochet. Ten months later I've made half of a blanket, yet it's still sat in a corner. I get a whirl of inspiration which lasts a short duration then zilch. Repeat after me .."finish the bloody blanket".

2. Decor

Aka. Walls. Our flat has magnificent bright white walls in every room. White isn't my colour, it's like being at a dentist or somewhere overly hygienic. Unfortunately rented property means don't go crazy, unless it's for canvas, vinyl and photography.

3. Future

My brain is forever thinking "i'm not doing well enough in life" or worrying how I am not pursuing the things i love. You know what? I'm doing bloody well. You cannot predict the future or shape it in every single detail. This year I've accomplished some incredible goals, next year will be even better. 

It's time to stop letting the anxiety win and taking things step by step.

Loose a stone or two? Run 5K? Design some cute kids knitwear?

Whatever is next i'm ready.

4. Travel

This one goes without saying, but has a little deeper meaning.

Lately my life has been a total rollercoaster, without dumb sob stories I've felt like getting away for a few days would be really beneficial. This doesn't necessarily have to be a plane journey, but a visit back to my hometown to visit my northern family would be perfect.

There is something about being back in that little small town with so much nostalgia that reminds me exactly who I am and what to do next.

5. Breathe

Go home, turn on the TV, grab a blanket and that special someone.

Maybe a cat or two.

Snuggle up as close as possible, have a nap.

Enjoy watching something new or even pre-loved.

Relax, you've got time.

6. Dance

Finding old music is like hunting through a vintage book store.

Nostalgia from my youth in the north to early woodland walks every morning.

Last month I rediscovered ZZ Top and it was something i should have done forever ago.

Find new music, create some new memories.

Nobody should ever live in the past, it's already done. 

Sing, even if people can hear you.

Especially if it's a little vampire weekend.

7. Arrange

Okay, so it's my birthday in December.

A big one actually, half a Century. The "big" 25. I'm super excited to be a quarter of the way through. All i'm really dreaming of is some new furniture.

Maybe the gorgeous Ikea dresser and bookcase I've been lusting over since we moved out?

Maybe i'm being over prepared, whatever. I'd really like my heaps of makeup not to have to live on a window ledge anymore. Winter is coming, so is christmas and my birthday so i'll keep this goal in here. Because y'know, being persistent works yes?

Something new.

Things that will eternally make me happy;

. Flowers, fields of colour.

. The Peak District

. Laughter

. The instant chill of dipping your feet into a frozen sea

. I've always been a total sucker for guitar

. Tea

. The scent of old books

. Watching the world pass by sat above the clouds, honestly one of the most beautiful things i've ever seen

. Family

. Spooning

. Being generally ridiculous at festivals

. Vintage shops

You've got time.

This post has been a long time coming, firstly I have been thinking of closing Floral Dungarees permanently. My life has taken new directions within the last six months and my privacy has become something id like to keep. I've always been quite a public spoken person, I've never held back on over sharing my life on the internet. Why? Because why not. I live every day as it's a new chapter and i fully enjoy sharing my adventures with the universe. 

A part of my brain has been telling me to give in to fear, give in to hide my sense of wonder because of others. This is wrong, deep down I know that too. This is why I've kept my social media accounts open to those who have followed me for sometime. This blog, pages of writings, images and visual representations of my mind will now be back open. In a new, updated, fresh slim line way.

Thank you for your continuos support.

B.

Mad Men Finale

Around December late last year I was itching for a new show to be hooked on. After season after season of watching Sons of Anarchy with Nathan nothing compared to Jax Teller's badass biker gang. I'd start something on Netflix then close it after ten minutes. I'd heard of Mad Men and began to see what all the fuss was about. Shows set in a certain era are always fascinating, for me it's the attention to detail. Let me say "Mad Men" really didn't disappoint. If you haven't watched it before i'm not going to spoil the whole thing, but I will however give a little run down of what it all about.

You have Don Draper, the big city businessman bringing home the bacon to his wife and kids. The Glory Wife Betty Draper, ex model and general pain in the ass. The big boss Rodger Sterling, who had a silver spoon since birth but does everything his own way. Joan the gorgeous redhead who really runs things at Sterling Cooper. Peggy, the new girl who doesn't exactly fit in but has a ton of sass and ambition. Throughout the whole show you are seeing hints of how Don Draper isn't really "Don Draper" with a secret military past there is mystery to Jon Hamm's performance. 

Seven seasons later and I have to say, the best bit for me was the movement of the times. From Harry backstage at the Rolling Stone's concert, different race workers, the fifties housewives to the sixties actress. The seventies style and porn star moustaches. Shoutout to the team behind Mad Men as it impeccable. 

All good things come to an end, but I'm especially sad this one did.

Bank Holiday Bath.

All of those products, IN ONE BATH?

Is exactly what most people would say. However, it was a sensual rainbow of scents.

I mixed a little chunk of the Comforter and Yuzu and Cocoa to create a fuchsia peach shade bath which smells like Starburst, I kid you not. Then layered my face with some Cosmetic Warrior facemask, gently washing it off with Angels on Bare Skin after 10-12 minutes. Washing lusciously long hair with Montalbano shampoo bar filled with lemony zesty scents and finally conditioning with Jungle, a solid hair conditioner filled with avocado, cocoa butter and bananas. 

What are your favourite lush scents?

Sealife Centre Brighton

My little sister turned eighteen this month, as a little birthday treat I bought us VIP Gold Tickets to the Sealife Centre in Brighton. Chloe's always been interested in nature, animals and science. The usual almost eighteen year old would prefer clubbing, makeup or a bottle of alcohol. Not my sister, that's the beauty of her she sees everything and isn't swayed by anyone. Her independence and morals are one of her greatest skills. I wish I could have said I wasn't easily influenced as a teenager. 

I'd never been to the Brighton aquarium before and I must say, it was a delightful day. I was fascinated by the structure built underneath the top road. They have endless tanks with some incredible species, our favourites we're the water dragons they are beautiful creatures.

If you get the chance i'd advise you have a wonder.

They have a glass floor boat, interested yet?

The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows

Lately has been felt like a whirlwind, time has been moving extremely fast and there hasn't been a moment to just stand still and breathe. In a sense, i love it this way. For example when you are fast forwarding the adverts on Sky and watch them flick past in a flash, that sums up my month.

Spring is in full swing, lambs, flowers and finally a little sunshine.

It's been real nice to catch up with my family and Nathan lately, despite being the people I see almost everyday nothing beats some quality time with the ones closest to you.