That Friday Feeling...Tom Hanks, Vintage Youtube and almost vintage Friends

Hello ... it's Friday ... I'm so happy with that particular fact right now!

How has the week treated you? Mine has been super busy, and yet I haven't managed to achieve much on my to-do list. Sill...it's the weekend, so who cares, right?

Erm..me..I'll try to cross a few things off the list this weekend (the first of which is the return of motif Monday on the blog...yay)!

Here are a few things I've been enjoying this week...

What I'm listening to...

An audio book read by Tom Hanks, consisting of short stories that he wrote? Yes please! I've loved Tom Hanks since the first time I saw Big! I'm only one story in, but it was a joy to listen to, and Tom's voice is really relaxing, so it's a perfect listen for some quiet relaxation time.

What I've been watching on Youtube



Dare I say it...but I've become really bored with a lot of the vloggers I've been watching for a while. I stumbled across Jessica Kellgren-Fozard by accident, but I was instantly interested in her style, take on life and overall positive attitude. I love her vintage style, her cute dogs and her lovely relationship with her wife. Some of her videos about living with disability and sign language are super interesting. I love how Jessica mixes some really serious and eye-opening content (but never in a preachy way) with beauty and fashion posts. I also love that she introduced me to Besame Cosmetics - which was love at first sight.

If you haven't seen any of Jessica's videos I'd honestly recommend them - I found them to be a breath of fresh air...and did I mention her vintage style? Beautiful!

What I've been binge watching on Netflix...

Yeah...so there's this new show on Netflix. It's called Friends. It's about these 20-something New Yorkers...

In all seriousness...I've watched Friends more times than I can count on both hands...(and probably feet) but I was so happy when it appeared on UK Netflix recently. It's my ultimate comfort TV, and I'm enjoying spending some time with these guys again. I think there has been some Friends related backlash since it re-appeared on Netflix, and yeah, sure, a couple of jokes make me cringe now, but it's still a show with a good heart and some truly classic moments. I'm also totally loving the 90's hair and fashion.

This weekend I'll be doing some working...some walking...and some crafting. Nothing majorly exciting, but exactly what I need right now.

Whatever you're up to, have a great weekend, and I'll see you soon.

xx

That Friday Feeling - Switched at Birth, Some Big Little Lies and Barbie

Hello lovely people. Another week has flown by!

This week I've been focusing on getting back to making healthier choices - drinking water instead of fizzy drinks (diet...but you know...aspartame and all that), walking instead of driving and using Headspace instead of playing on my phone (although there has been a little bit of playing on my phone, those Tsum Tsum aren't going to clear themselves).

I'm feeling much better for making some small changes so I'm going to try to take them forward into the weekend and next week. If you have some small changes you've made which have brought a positive impact then I'd love to hear about them.

Here are a few things that have brought some extra happiness this week...

What I've been watching: Switched at Birth

Oh god. I'm addicted to this programme. Like full on 'just one more episode' for hours on end. The basic premise is that it tells the story of Bay and Daphne - two teenage girls who suddenly discover they were switched at birth, and all the family drama that follows on from that discovery. However, Daphne lost her hearing at a young age and the show isn't afraid to have significant scenes told through sign language (with subtitles). I love watching people communicate, and the different ways we do that, and have been so moved by some of the scenes. Honestly - as much as I sometimes enjoy darker TV shows, I am at my happiest watching a good family drama - and this is absolutely that.

What I've been reading: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I loved the TV show based on this book, but I'm about half way through the book, and I'm loving it even more. I had no idea the original book was set in Australia, and I love the bitchiness and cattiness between the parents so much more in the book. I think knowing the end is going to spoil it slightly, but it's still a very entertaining read, and perfect for summer lounging.

What I've been surprised by: Barbie Fashionistas

A little bit random for a Friday Feeling, but this warmed my heart a little during a visit to Toys R Us for some present shopping this week, so I thought I would pass it on.

While peering through the sea of pink in the Barbie isle, a doll that was far curvier than the standard Barbie shape caught my eye...and then a Barbie whose face shape seemed completely unlike the usual surgical knife perfection...then a Barbie that seemed taller than most. So I did a little bit of research and it turns out that Barbie has had a make over, to include three different body shapes - curvy, petite and tall, and lots of different skin shades. This is probably old news now, but I hadn't seen them before and feel like it's a step in the right direction in acknowledgement of the fact that kids should grow up understanding we're all different, all look different, and that is something to celebrate. It's been done before my other toy lines, but not one so prominent as Barbie. Oh..and this one is my favourite..I want her outfit...

Photo from Mattel

It looks like the sun is going to be shining in the UK this weekend so I'm looking forward to some good times. Whatever you're doing, I hope it brings some loveliness your way.

Bye for now!

xx

That Friday Feeling - Anniversaries, Playing in the Labyrinth and The Handmaid's Tale

This week has had its ups and downs. The loveliest part has been celebrating two years of marriage to my most amazing of husbands.

It did leave me with the question of what the hell to buy a man that is made out of cotton (the traditional material for the 2nd wedding anniversary). I settled on an anniversary themed cushion, and a very non-anniversary themed T-Shirt (Rick and Morty to be precise) which seemed to go down well...phew!

Some other highlights from the week have been...

What I've been playing... the Labyrinth Board Game

I know I can occasionally border on revealing my geekier side on this blog, and that this post represents revealing a whole new level of geekdom, but I'm loved playing this game so much that I just don't flipping well care!

I have been a die hard fan of the Labyrinth franchise ever since tiny-me first locked eyes with the Goblin King. I have never been a massive board gamer, but this has changed all that. My most amazing husband bought this for me as an anniversary present (yep, he really does know me well) and playing it has been the most lovely nostalgia trip this week. If you're a fan of the film then I can't recommend this enough. It has clearly been put together with love for the franchise and genuinely captures the feel of the labyrinth and the characters.

Speaking of the characters...look at the playing pieces (I'm squealing in my head right now)...

Ludo! 

The photos above are from truffleshuffle.co.uk and you can pick a copy of the game up if you are a fellow Goblin King groupie.

What I've Been Watching... The Handmaid's Tale

I'm only one episode into The Handmaid's Tale but it absolutely and completely captivated me for that time. It seems very timely that this classic novel has been turned into a TV series. In my lifetime I don't think I've ever had as many concerns about women's rights in the Western World as I do right now. It makes the shocking events within this dystopian future even more plausible. Horrifying, gripping, beautiful and ugly all at once, the first episode was TV at its finest, and I can't wait for episode 2 to hit the UK.

The rest of this week has been about family. Whatever you have planned for the weekend I hope you have some time to do the things you enjoy - however small. 

I'm off to play another game of Labyrinth. 

You remind me of the babe...

Bye for now!

xx