This Life: September '14

♡ Dowsing's I don't even care anymore on constant repeat.

♡ Alt J live at Manchester Apollo.

♡ Attempting to bake an 80's style birthday cake (similar recipe here)
♡ Hugs from Marina Abravovich at the Serpentine Gallery.
♡ Feminism and gender equality beautifully articulated by Emma Watson 
♡ A to Z currently filling the How-I-Met-Your-Mother-shaped-hole in my life
♡ Beginning Dutch on Duolingo

don't think just try and sleep

ph. pixiepolish | andreas barsleth | sam coldy | unknown

Now that I'm fully settled in my new(ish) job I'm starting to ever so slowly revert my hair back to its former pinky lilac glory, and so found myself oddly inspired by all things dreamy pink this week. I'm wishing for constant snow until february so I can spend more cosy snow days at home. I'd never seen the wizard of oz all the way through until today, and I'm so in love. I wish Glinda was my cool aunt or something.

So, I appear to be failing all 4 of my ~semi~ resolutions. Has anyone else failed theirs already too, or is it just me?! I'm too wrapped up in my old lazy ways but I pledge to somehow resolve this starting tomorrow!

christmas you were the best thing

Local Natives - Breakers
(sorry - I'm not really one for festive songs!)

December has been the best ever! Woolly mittens, book finishes, midnight baking, buffy marathons, falling asleep to bon iver, mulled wine at hyde park winter wonderland, haagenbaths, over-sized jumpers, honey mint tea, ben gibbard singing 'recycled air' in a freezing cold chapel, geeking out whilst watching the hobbit, and cosy christmas hibernation have made the dark frosty mornings all the more worthwhile ♡

I won't making any New Year's resolutions since I never stick to them anyway! But if I did they would probably be to...

• use my camera more often (and finally develop old films)
• save up for something I've always wanted
• make more time to read / sleep / relax 
• blog regularly!

Anyone else committing to resolutions this year? I seem to amassed a small yet significant number of followers over the past few months so happy new year to you all, hope you had a lovely christmas, and I leave you with Local Natives and a NYE mix to see you through to 2013!

Charlene xo

Threads

Hello dark autumnal nights, long cosy baths, toasty mugs of tea and dark wintery tunes. Life feels like a constant rush right now, so it's nice to have a rare day off work hiding from the weather in a comfy over-sized sweater and writing letters to old friends.

Wearing: ASOS & Minnetonka

My new ASOS skater dress arrived today and I'm oh so in love with the peter pan crotchet collar. If it would only stop raining, this would go perfectly with my Minnetonka moccasins since I haven't worn them enough this summer to justify their hefty price tag! Regardless, they will forever be the most comfiest of shoes that I own... I just wish I could wear them more often!

Listening: Now Now - Threads

I always drift back to old favourites at this time of year, and found Now, Now were back with a new album over the summer. In some ways, 'Threads' is a really dark record, but this makes it undoubtably the perfect mellow soundtrack for rainy nights. There's not a single song here that I dislike and the lyrics are so stunning in places (in an Eisley/Death Cab sort of way). I went to their Manchester show last Sunday where they played a full set + a short acoustic set pre-show. Totally worth standing out in the rain for. But I Do is definitely my standout track.

Reading: Wildwood by Colin Meloy

12 pages in and I already adore this book. Colin Meloy is the lead singer-songwriter in one of my favourite bands, The Decemberists, and I've been waiting for what seems like forever to finally give Wildwood a read. The artwork is so dreamy and magical. I'm anticipating a very heartwarming read ♡

Feel oddly inspired to keep writing all afternoon! I wish I had more lazy days like today...

Charlene xo

Lana Del Rey x H&M

Sincere apologies for the overflow of pink here! It's surprising how much I really like this collection since I wasn't too fussed when it was announced earlier this year. For me, it seems to evoke a late 80s/early 90s feel, a la Pretty in Pink, Clueless and Romy & Michele's High School Reunion. Unlike most other celeb collaborations it appears to be both affordable and accessible, contrasting soft pastel hues with sequinned embellishment. Simplicity is a key theme here. It's pretty much possible to mix and match every piece I've picked out below.. I just can't make up my mind which I want!

Lana Del Rey x H&M

Lookbook

Just give me them ALL. Have you bought something from the Lana Del Rey collection? Also - did anyone else instantly think of Twin Peaks after watching the 'Blue Velvet' promo...!?

Charlene xo