Nancy’s Favourite TV Couples of All Time

I love a good TV couple. The ones that are up and down, round and round, back and forth, suffering various trials and tribulations are my favourite. I invest in them. I root for them. Cry with them, laugh with them….I often like the underdogs, the ones that are never meant to be. Anyway, here arre my favourite TV couples, the ones I remember fondly.

Ross & Rachel. Friends. These two are an absolute given for pretty anyone of my age group. The Ross & Rachel on-off relationship was one of the most important parts of the Friends series and no matter what happened, we were always rooting for them. The story of Ross loving Rachel from his teens and his basic devotion and adoration of her was the thing most girls dream of. And her eventually loving him back was just the cutest thing ever. There was something so pure and honest about Ross’s love for Rachel. I think they also showed us that relationships ARE complex, life does get in the way and its not always easy. I cried when they got together, I cried when they broke up. I cried when Rachel gave birth to their baby, Emma. I cried when she was leaving for Paris. And I cried when Ross finally, FINALLY, got the woman and the life of his dreams. Way to go Ross!!

  

Effy & Cook. Skins. Effy and Fr…Cook?! No, no, you all say, Effy should’ve been with FREDDY. Well, no. I loved Cook. And I love how Cook fiercely loved Effy and the fact that she didn’t love him back made him crazy inside. I was gutted when she chose Freddy, I mean, I knew she would, it made better TV,but still. Cook made my heart hurt. He was so vulnerable and lost and I just wanted Effy to love him back and fill that massive gaping parent sized hole he had inside.

“If this was us meeting for the first time, I’d do it all again. everything. the fucks, the fuck ups, everything. I’d do it all again.”

Alisha & Simon. Misfits. A true modern day love story complete with super heros and time travel.I didn’t particularly like Alisha as a character in Misfits, however, their love story is an amazing one and when Simon commits himself to living the same part of his life, just so he can have Alisha fall in love with him again and again, despite having to watch her death repeatedly, is truly gorgeous and heart wrenching.

Lucas & Brooke. One Tree Hill. So Peyton and Lucas lived happily ever after, blah blah blah. Well, I didn’t like Peyton! I found her rather whiny and irritating, Brooke was way better. And her and Lucas made such a beautiful couple! The time when Brooke clobbered the naked Rachel in who was sat in Lucas’s car was absolutely superb! What a girl! I was most definitely Team Brucas. Team Looke? Anyway, Peyton and Lucas went off into the sunset together leaving Brooke with the rather boring Julian. Boo, boo, boo!!

Ryan& Marisa. The OC. I adored the OC. All of it. The beautiful people, the tale of the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, Sandy Cohens eyebrows, Seths wit, the soundtrack, the story lines. I just loved it. It was actually difficult to just pick one OC couple as there are so many great ones!! Sandy and Kirsten, Seth and Summer. But Marisa and Ryan were the modern day Romeo & Juliet. She was an absolute train wreck of a girl and he was the caring bad boy. When she died I was devastated and the OC was never the same again. And as for Taylor Townsend and Ryan as a couple?! Well. What the frig was that about?! BAD OC writers. VERY VERY BAD!!

Woody&Lol. This is England. This is England is one of the most powerful pieces of drama ever to be written and shown. Well, in my opinion anyway. The story of a group of young people living in Thatchers Britain, paints rather a bleak picture and the story of Woody and Lol isn’t exactly the stuff dreams are made of. She is broken and damaged following a childhood of abuse at the hands of her father, he is a lovable idiot who doesn’t really have a clue. When Lol gives birth to what Woody believed was his child, for it to be his best friends, the couple separate.  However, they come through all the horrors that life throws at them and the scene in the hospital where Woody takes his “Lollipop”‘s hand and says “God, I love you Lol, I can’t be with anyone else” is one of the most touching scenes I have ever seen on a TV drama.

Carrie&Big. Sex in the City. Who wanted Carrie to stay with the weird russian?! NO-ONE!! Carrie and Big were the modern day fairy tale. She had fabulous shoes, he had fabulous suits. He was tall and handsome and she was small with pretty hair. And although he was a massive tool and broke her heart, we still loved them as a couple. I mean, yeah, Aiden was a nice guy but he just wasn’t THE guy. Too dull!! Big chasing Carrie to Paris and tracking her down is one of my favourite love stories moments ever and when he said the words we’d all been waiting to hear –“It took me a really long time to get here, but I’m here. Carrie, you’re the one.” a huge AWWWWWW echoed all around the world . And maybe the writers did sell out a little tying up all the ends and making the women from SATC all end up happily ever after with men, but I do love a good happy ending!

 

 

Chuck&Blair.Gossip Girl.  At the beginning of Gossip Girl it seems the Serena and Dan love story will be the pinnacle of the show. But, to be honest, no-one really cared. Maybe too similar to Ross & Rachel but without the depth?! Anyway, the couple everyone really cared about was the brilliantly complex Blair and Chuck. I loved how wicked they both were and how devious, yet their love for each other had a purity that was truly lovely and had everyone praying they’d eventually sort themselves out! Blair losing her virginity to Chuck in the back of his limo, Chuck breaking Blairs heart at the end of season 1, Chucks disappearance, Blair’s engagement to a prince, the whole baby daddy saga……after 6 seasons of on again off again, they finally marry and live happily ever after…..

“Life with you could never be boring Blair Cornelia Waldorf will you marry me?”

The Various Obsessions Of Nancy

I have what I think is a slightly addictive and obsessional personality. Whenever I like something, I like it A LOT. I go crazy mad for it and kind of let it take over my life (well, house). I like many, many different things, but they are all usually quite cute and girly things. Cats, owls, Mary Poppins, prints, t-bar shoes. hats, Alice in Wonderland, swallows, penguins, (lots of birds!!), foxes (also lots of animals!!), Oasis, coats, The Wizard of Oz, beautiful quotes, Moulin Rouge…..and so on! I have a busy mind, it flits from idea to idea, never really focusing on one thing for very long. My house is a jumble of unfinished projects and the materials for new ones. Its perhaps exhausting and frustrating to some, but its me.

Anyway, I thought I’d share my little obsessions now and again and tell you all why I like them so much. One that has been at the main focus of my attention of late is Alice in Wonderland. I have liked Alice since I was a little girl. Not just her alone, but the entire story. I like how imaginative and wonderful the story is. The colours of the Cheshire Cat in the Disney film, the craziness of the Mad Hatter, Alice’s dress, the madness of the Queen of Hearts, flamingos in croquet games, the crazy snail smoking on a mushroom…..its just one big, beautiful glorious story of random happenings and amazing madness. To have such an imagination must be a wonderful thing. I recently bought Ray a gift and it was a piece of art with the Lewis Carroll quote –

“Sometimes I have believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast”

I think this just shows how vivid and active his imagination was, how open to any possibility his mind was. I think the world would be a pretty vibrant and magnificent if we all thought along the same lines.

 

Back Again!

Hello everyone…..

So, I haven’t blogged in like, forever! There are numerous reasons for this. I have had the odd personal wobble or two and haven’t really felt very inspired or creative. Without getting too much into it, I have had quite a few mental health issues throughout my life, I have been up and down with depression for as long as I can remember to be honest. I have periods of feeling really happy, positive and creative. I overflow with ideas and positivity and my brain is constantly ticking over. I find joy in very simple pleasures and feel content for a lot of the time. However, I also have periods where I am very, very low. I feel flat, paranoid and anxious and have to force myself to leave the house. I find it difficult to communicate with other people and its just generally not a nice time. I’m in one of my better periods at the moment and I am hoping it will continue for a long while!

Another reason for not blogging is how I have been feeling about myself regarding my appearance. I lost almost 3 stone last year (reaction to a temporary, yet extremely painful, break up). I was the lightest and fittest I had been in a very long time and was much happier with myself. However, with the reconciliation of my relationship and the happiness it brings with it, came the regaining of around 2 stone (I think, it could be more, I’m just guessing really). So I’m not particularly happy with my figure at the moment and didn’t really want to be featuring in any photos I also have an issue with a tooth that is really making me feel awful about how I look. I was disgracefully drunk in 2004 and managed to fall off a wall, cracking the back of my front tooth with my tongue piercing. After various infections and a root canal, it is now dead. And utterly disgusting. I have chickened out of seeing a dentist for so long, but enough is enough. I am at the point where I hate meeting new people and feel permanently concious. It is having a truly negative effect on my life. Therefore, I am now in the process of getting it sorted, my next appointment being on the 13th December. I am so thrilled at the prospect of possibly being able to smile properly in photos in 2014 it is untrue!

I have also been very busy with work and assignments for uni, so I just kind of lost sight for a while.

Anyway, I feel like I have inspiration now and more ideas about where I want to go with the blog. Rather than it just being a fashion blog, I want to be more honest and real. Not that I haven’t been, but I don’t want to portray a picture perfect image of a fabulous life. This is not to say I want to be on here moaning and offloading all the time, but life isn’t perfect and I’ve found that I love the blogs that reflect this. If I wanted to look at model like photos, I’d read a magazine. I want to look at real girls, wearing real fashion, living real life. I want it to be relatable. So anyway, I’m going to be “keeping it real” I guess. I don’t just want to post photos of myself in dresses or talk about handbags. I want to talk about real things too!!

So anyway, here’s to new outlooks and regular blogging!! 🙂

Nance

xoxo

“A kitten is, in the animal world, what a rosebud is in the garden.”

Cute cat photo of the week – perhaps a little late. Oops! Now brace yourselves, because THIS is a cute one!!

 

Look how tiny and cayyyoooottteeee!!! I miss my little tribe of kittens, been ever so slightly looking at kittens for sale adverts…..somebody stop me!!

“There are lives I can imagine without children but none of them have the same laughter & noise.”

Another snapshot of my life, another photo of Alfie. He is, obviously, one of the biggest parts of it. You know when you see people who are “natural parents”? They just seem to KNOW what to do and have really well behaved, calm, chilled out children who sleep through the night from a month old, barely cry and grow into really lovely cute tantrum free toddlers and then super stars at school? I’m not one of those parents. Every thing is chaotic in my life and so is my parenting style. I do sometimes think I’m going horribly wrong, but I guess that’s just the worry of being a parent. I adore Alfie though and we have a lot of laughs together, which is above all the most important thing.  This photo makes me smile, it was taken about 2 years ago and he just pulled this face with no prompting. Little nutter!

 

Hope it makes you smile too!!

Love 

Nance

xoxo

Things That I Like

I am obsessed with memes. Honestly, I am a total pest. Show me an inspirational quote on a lovely landscape background or a cute animal with a funny saying and you have my complete and utter attention. I’m pretty sure my meme posting has got me hidden from many a news feed but there’s a reason I like them so much. Its because I do actually take inspiration from them. (And the funny ones with animals just make me smile, which is always a good thing, yeah? C’mon, you can’t begrudge someone a smile…..) I’m a thinker. I think, think, think all day (too much a lot of the time) I like to mull over ideas, outlooks and points of view. I do take a lot of comfort in ideas and quotes and if I’m stressed or upset about a situation, sometimes these ideas can really help me to gain a little perspective and just chill!

Anyway, here are a few things that have caught my eye lately.

 

Dita, isn’t she a beaut?!

 

This is a quote from a book called “The Asylum For Wayward Victorian Girls” and it sums up pretty much how I feel about life and people a lot of the time. We live in a terribly false world. I find the politics of people difficult to fathom. I sit and listen to “friends” rip each other to shreds behind each others back and then smile sweetly and compliment to their face…..I’m a truthful person. Its appearing to be a hindrance at times, but my philosophy is, if you don’t like someone, why pretend? Just go separate ways, don’t maintain a fake friendship when you obviously feel so negative about them. Some people just don’t get along, that’s life. As much as I would like it to be, it really isn’t all peace, love and harmony. 

 

This has no words, no quotes. It doesn’t need any. It is quite simply, perfection.

 

And desiderata. One of my favourite pieces of writing and a good way to try and be.

Back soon

Nance!

xoxo

Things I Would Like To Have (September)

Ok, so I’ve been told off about my shopping habits. They are pretty horrific to be fair, I will literally spend my last penny on clothes and then spend the remainder of the month terribly skint and feeling a little silly (with a fabulous wardrobe). So, I have decided to change my spending habits. I’m trying to avoid “fast fashion” and go for quality as opposed to quantity. We shall see how that goes. In fairness, I do seem to end up with lots of items I buy on a whim and never wear. I just need to decide if I actually really love something and whether or not I will wear it more than once. Anyway, here are the things I am coveting at the moment……

 

From Left Clockwise –

Tartan Pinafore G21 £16 – I’ve had a little fall out with Asda at the moment. Time and time again I feel like I buy garments from there that are really lovely and then after the first wash (on 30!!) they shrink like hell and I’m left with a child’s outfit. So, I’m totally smitten with this pinafore, but whether or not I actually buy it is another matter. It depends on whether I can get over the image of myself wearing it with a white shirt underneath and some brogues…….

Black Cut Out Boots, Dorothy Perkins, £35 – I have been looking at these boots on various bloggers for quite a while now and feel I may be behind the times, however, I really would like a pair for winter 🙂

Triple Helix Piercing, approx £45 – I spotted this piercing a month or so ago on Pinterest and then a single one on Becky of Becky Bedbug this week. I think it looks really pretty. I’m a bit of a piercing novice to be honest. I have my nose done and my ears. I had my tongue done when I was 20 but took it out when I was 25. Cartilage piercings look horribly painful to me, I’m not sure if I will build up the courage or not. And getting a treble one is pretty tough going for my first one…..

Digital Cat Dress, Asos, £35 – Oh my God, throw all caution and shopping bans to the wind I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE. It has cats on and is amazing! I fear I may get a few bemused looks whilst wearing it but I don’t even care. Unluckily (or luckily for my finances) it is out of stock in my size. Boo!

Martie Geek Shoes, Topshop, £32 – I already have a white pair similar to these and I have to say, they are one of the best pairs of shoes I have ever bought. Comfortable from the word go and compliments from a lot of people. (Granted, quite a large amount of these people were in their 50’s and my Mam even went as far to tell me she had some the same when she was 12, but I DON’T CARE, they are amazing) They are also available in black or navy but the red are shouting out to me!!

Frankie Magazine Journal – The second time this has been mentioned, but I am obsessed with the very idea of this beautiful diary. It comes with stickers and everything!! And its green and reminds me of a book I have had since I was a child “Ameliaranne and the Green Umbrella”

Only 21 days until payday…..;)

Things to be happy about in September

It is a well known fact I’m a complainer. You know when they say you should look on the bright side of things? I rarely do. I worry and fret and stress about pretty much everything and anything. Anyway, it was becoming a little bit ridiculous and I came to the realisation that I was totally wasting my life being miserable.

I came across an article “60 Small Ways to Improve Your Life in 100 Days” and one of the instructions was to stop complaining!  “Negative talk produces negative thoughts; negative thoughts produce negative results”.

In light of this, I thought I would start the month on a positive spin and think about the things that I have to look forward to this month 🙂

1. Starting my 3rd year of University

This has nothing to do with the student loan. (Honest). I remember having the wobbles just before I started my course at uni. After a mad rush to get all my end of year assignments in for college, I was completely and utterly sure about the fact that i never wanted to see another assignment again. And the thought of having another 3 years of study was just completely awful! However, I knew I wouldn’t want to stay in the job I was in at the time forever, so after a month or two off, I decided that going to university was definitely the sensible option. And here I am, at the start of the final year!

2. Alfies 7th Birthday!

My baby is 7 this month! I found a stack of photos on a memory stick last week and it really hit me how fast he’s growing up.

3. Subdue’s Twisted Circus!

I am really looking forward to Ray’s next event. I’m going to do a detailed post on it in the next couple of days, so stay tuned!

4. Autumn nights.

One of my favourite things about September and the autumn, is that lots of new programmes start. X Factor (judge away, I like its cheesiness) I love filling up the sky plus and getting into nice pyjamas and bed socks and mooching around the house.

5. Outdoor Party

Ray has a gig at a little outdoor party in the fells this month. There’s some brilliant local acts playing and it will be a lovely, friendly atmosphere. I can’t wait!

6.  New Arctic Monkeys Album

I’m going to be honest, when the Arctic Monkeys first came on the scene, I wasn’t a fan. I was working in a Virgin Megastore at the time and we used to have to listen to the corporate station VMR, all day. When something was number one, they pretty much played it every hour. I worked full time. I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor was number one for an exceptionally long time. (Or so it felt like!!) However, credit where credit is due The Arctic Monkeys have made some absolutely incredible music and I’ve loved the songs that have been played so far from this new album.

7. Frankie Diary

Having seen the Frankie diary on a few other blogs I have decided that my life will be a miserable existence without one and therefore I must do everything I can in my power to possess one. They have just gone on pre-order and September is the month I will finally have the money for one.  Super excited!

 

So there we have it! The things that will be making me happy in September. (A few of them anyway, Ray has just made me the most monstrous hot chocolate I have ever seen!!)

Back soon 🙂

Nance

xoxo

August – In A Nutshell (Kinda)

Wow, can anyone believe its the end of August already?! X Factor started again this weekend, which to me, always signifies the end of summer and the beginning of the autumn/winter months. I actually really love the colder seasons. In particular, Autumn. I love the whole transitional feel of it. The changing of leaves, teaming summer dresses with dark tights and chunky knits, brisk walks in the park with the wind making my cheeks pink….coming home from work and putting my pyjamas on no later than 5pm. (Although, to be perfectly frank, I do this all year round, but feel less guilty about it in the colder months!)

Anyway, August has been a so/so month for me. We are still recovering financially from me not working and my student loan running out. I have been working for 2 months now, however, its taking a little bit of catch up time for us to actually have money again. It hasn’t helped that my car needed fixed and that I was also a bit naughty and got a speeding ticket 😦 Own fault I know!!

So, what GOOD things happened in August?! Here are my favourite things –

I finally got my nose stud changed to a ring! I had been trying to do this myself for a couple of months, ending up a bloody, snotty, teary mess and eventually admitted defeated and paid £5 for my piercer to do it for me. I also went to get my labret pierced but because of my posture and the way I hold my head (on a permanent tilt) he advised me against it. Sob! I’m going to go to yoga and try and to improve my posture then go back again. 

 

Ray and I stayed at my Mam’s new house for the first time and coming in after a night out, this made up giggle. Its in her spare room and we just found it so funny. “Come and stay at Mamma’s B&B in Sunny Seaton”. Haha, she’s such a one off!

We ate pizza. 

Nutella French Toast Rolls, as discovered on French For Cupcake. AMAZING and so simple to do. Our new favourite naughty treat.

Proper fresh eggs from the market. Lots cheaper, fresher and tastier. They make amazing poached eggs and brilliant boiled eggs. And actually taste like eggs!

Martine Geek Shoes!! Have been drooling over these for a while after seeing them on Caroline of Burkatron. When I learned they were sold out I was so sad…..but after seeing they were back in stock I totally broke the bank and bought them. And I haven’t regretted it for a second. Comfortable from the moment I wore them, I am now a Topshop shoes convert. 

Cool graffiti. I like the fact it says “marra”. A local word for friend. (Or so I’ve always assumed!)

The flowers in my garden. So pretty 🙂 I love hydrangeas, they’re so pretty. I would like a pink one at some point 🙂

Face painting fun with Alfie and Ray in a practice run for Ray’s next Subdue event (more on this in an upcoming post)

Sale shopping hauls. The Smock dress second from the right, is one of the most wearable dresses ever! So comfortable and will see me through the winter with tights and boots 🙂

 

And just some general cat cuteness for good measure. Because cats make me happy, a lot of the time. 

Hope you’ve all had a great August!!

Love 

Nance

xoxox

 

 

 

 

 

“Its is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them”

Ooops, a little late on the post this week! I’m not sure what happened, I’ve been feeling really tired all week and having a lot of early nights. I haven’t even read any of my favourite blogs! The plan for today is to do the housework and then sit and chill with cups of green tea (yes, we are on a health kick) and have a good blog catch up. Later I’m going to be doing some painting. Ray’s next event is coming up so we have lots of decor to get ready! 🙂 

So anyway, here is my favourite photo for this week. This one is a silly one! It makes me giggle every time. 

 

This photo was taken in Ibiza in 2011 and the reason it makes me laugh so much is my friend Jenny’s face. It looks like its melting!! I don’t even know how she managed to get it like that, whether its a fluke of the light or camera, but its really funny! We were on a booze cruise at the time, we had such a laugh. Ibiza is definitely something that every one should do at some point in their life!

Speak soon!

Nance

xoxo