Great Man Theory // LIVE

I've been meaning to post about this amazing band for aaaages now; these photos are taken from about three gigs that I've been to in the last couple months. Their sound is bluesy, rock and quite heavy with a metal influence, and they swing between anthemic rock tracks with old-school 6 minute instrumentals circa 1971, accoustic based rock ballad vocals and high tempo blues influenced tracks. Based in Newcastle, they are well worth a listen if you have the opportunity to go to a gig ( and I'm not even just biased because my brother is the drummer, they actually are rock stars!) They also give me ample opportunity to play with grungy band photos, which I'm always ok with. You can find Great Man Theory on Facebook here.

In rainbows.

Rainbow brights keeping me happy this week - 1. The most amazing literal rainbow, in Newcastle last weekend. 2. OPI limited Muppets collection nail polish in Rainbow Connection - like luxe glitter rave for your finger tips. 3.  Isabel Marant S/S 2012 rainbow jumper that I need in my life immediately (image via Elle.com)

There's always a beginning...

So 2012 so far... I've quit my job as a Personal Shopper, moved back home and completed an EFL teaching course online to fully qualify myself as a teacher of English as a foreign language. This may seem random... I've done the teaching thing before, in Vietnam as a gap placement in between college and uni, and thought that it would be a one off experience to get out of my system before concentrating on real life - it ended up being the most real thing I've ever done, and despite concerted efforts to find something to do with myself within the bounderies of 'normal' life progression - job + car + house +  marriage + retirement - there is nothing I love as much as the feeling of emerging from an airport into hot dusty chaos and plunging into an alien culture. So despite my current (and I'm sure very familiar to many 20 somethings) state of alternating between cold panic that I will end up a penniless loser with no life plan, and longing to do something enriching and challenging and different from the well trodden path, I am going to go and teach English in Indonesia later on this year, indefinitely. Fingers crossed! I put this moodboard together to take pride of place in my room, reminding me during the panic moments of what I'm aiming for and that no matter what else, there is always a beginning.

Thailand photo diary

2012

Happy 2012 everyone! Starting my year with a long overdue trip back to Thailand, where I spent about a month in 2007. I'm definately starting to get itchy feet again, and hopefully this will be the start of a well travelled year for me, with lots of exciting photos to share.

Urban Outfitters// Newcastle

Took the opportunity to visit the brand spanking new Urban Outfitters store whilst in Newcastle at the weekend. I always love a good root through the artfully arranged piles of chintz and vintage inspired clothes at UO, and this one had the bonus of a whole forest of Christmas trees to wander amongst at the entrance of the store. Managed to find a couple of gifts, and more than a couple of things for my wish list starting with the cobweb lace white dress and leopard print moccasin booties.

Winter

Simple things - cold sunshine and bare branches, a little edible sparkle, things that make me smile, long lunches, cozy knits, neutrals, food to share and ankle boots that work hard all day.