A good bleaching and harsh chop were long overdue. Apologies for the continuous re-hashing of Instagram photos lately. I know it's a lazy cop out, but it's just so quick and easy!
So what has been going on at my end?...
Last Friday I finished up my job working as Learning and Access Officer at The Tall Ship. I'd been there for 7 years and made some amazing friends during that time. As you can imagine, the tears flowed almost as much as the booze did. I got spoiled rotten with some wonderful gifts including a heart stopping collage of everyone I've ever worked with, a beautiful bumblebee brooch and a very generous voucher for Irezumi Tattoo. So, that's me booked in to get a wee memento of the ship and one or two wee pieces to mark the start of my floristry career, on 11th September.
No rest for the wicked.... I started my new job working at Little Botanica last Monday. Got hooked up with a laptop, keys for the workshop and the most delightful wee notebook and it was time to get stuck in! To find out what I get up to, check out our blog. I'm now a contributor over there so expect to see lots of lovely floral delights in the future. Go on - give us a follow!
Mr G and I headed into town on Sunday afternoon to catch the end of Glasgow's Merchant City Festival. There was loads going on, including some great interactive public art, but what did we get up to? We decided to join all the families for a spot of roller-skating! I've gotta admit, it's been over 20 years since I've skated, but it does come back to you... a bit...
Are you ready for some live action thrills??
After all that over exertion we treated ourselves to some delicious Dutch pancakes drowned in Baileys and topped with skooshy cream.
Here are a few wee snaps form our recent trip to Lisbon, Portugal, for the Optimus Alive Festival. Beware! This post is photo heavy!
We stayed at the Clarion Suites in the heart of the city. Fantastic crash pads and perfect for our 5 night break. We had a separate living space, huge double bedroom and a wee kitchenette - perfect for late night snacks and early afternoon sangria. The complex also has a cracking wee pool outside, which is an added bonus in the city centre.
Lisbon is lined with beautiful cobbled streets and tiled apartments like this one. I could have looked at them all day long.
We took a trip on the old tourist bus. This is a photo of me taking a photo of Lisbon's 'Golden Gate Bridge'.
We rode the funicular in the Bairro Alto district. It was fun. And icular...
Some street art en route down the funicular tracks.
Me. Posing at the viewpoint in the Bairro Alto looking down on the city. Wearing my new prescription sunnies so I could actually SEE the sights this time, a top from New Look and skirt from Mango.
Curry number 2. Best curries I've had in a long time. Highly recommend the Lisbon/Indian cuisine - especially the veggie options.
We chilled out (and ate some custard tarts) in the Botanic Gardens.
I wore my hair up for most of the holiday (mostly so I could wear my ridiculously LONG earrings - from Topshop sale).
This was my festival Day 1 outfit: top from Topshop sale. Missguided sheer skirt (that arrived aready coming apart at the seams - grrrr! I didn't have time to send it back so I just stitched it instead, but I'd heard bad things about this company after my purchase and I certainly WON'T be buying anything else from them), Alphabet Bags bag, Urban Outfitters sandals.
My Robert Smith impersonation (The Cure played Day 2). This is what happens when you wear your hair up for 2 days straight. I did NOT actually go out like this...
Day 3, giving my hair a wee rest. Complete with New Look flower crown (with added silk roses) and H&M earrings.
Full length dress from H&M - so comfy!! And necklace from ASOS sale.
I haven't even been on my summer holiday yet and already I'm thinking of winter. Check out Lazy Oaf's new selection of bobble hats here. At £20 each they're a steal.
As I sit at work researching ships' cats, I was reminded that today is wee Lydia's one year anniversary, so I thought it was only fitting to do a little tribute post to the fluffiest, cutest, wonkiest wee moggie that touched the hearts of everyone she ever drooled on. We still find little white Lydia hairs all over the flat.
Lydia we love you! x
Mildred Pierce and Lydia - as close as they ever got!
Loving:
Instagram. I was a bit late to the plate with this one, but it's currently my new black. I didn't actually realise how addicted I was until 'the big crash' on Saturday. It pretty much ruined my whole day. Anyone else feel the gaping hole it left in their lives?? Anyhoo, that's basically where I've been for the past couple of months. Instagramming instead of Blogging. So, if you don't already, follow me @baroque_boudoir x
Also loving giant earrings. Preferably with feathers... and hoops... Can't believe I waited until I was 30 to get my ears pierced! Still haven't treated myself to a lovely pair of Pamela Love earrings, but good things come to those who wait, don't they?
Instagram shot (Amaro filter) of new Topshop earrings (£3.50 in sale)
Listening to:
I was channel hopping a few weeks ago and stumbled across a 'rockumentary' about Nirvana. Loads of memories came flooding back as I sat mouthing along to all the lyrics. This has started a massive early 90s revival. I immediately downloaded Bleach, Nevermind and In Utero and they've been on rotation on my phone for weeks. I also snapped up a check shirt in a charity shop a few weeks back too... Hello 13 year old self! It's all downhill and grungy from here on in.
Naomi Campbell and Kristen McMemeny "Grunge and Glory" shoot by Steven Meisel
Reading: The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. The narrator is tasked with chaperoning a young Louise Brooks from Wichita, Kansas to New York in 1922. I've yet to work out how much of the story is true to life, but it features loads of my favourite things to read about: road tripping in America, teenage girls and the 1920s. An easy, breezy bedtime book.
Next up is Divergent by Veronica Roth. This is the first part in a trilogy. And it pretty much sounds like a poor man's rip-off of The Hunger Games:
"In a dystopian Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice "Tris" Prior has always
felt different from the rest of her family. She was raised in the
Abnegation faction, where she was trained to be selfless. There are five
different factions in the city: Candor (the honest), Erudite (the
intelligent), Amity (the peaceful), Dauntless (the brave), and
Abnegation (the selfless). Despite her upbringing, being selfless has
never come naturally to Beatrice. She is conflicted by her feelings of
loneliness." Wikipedia.
Total trash! Awesome! Saving this one for my holidays...
Watching:
So You Think You Can Dance Season 9. Massive fan of this show, since season 2. They've just chosen this year's Top 20. Favourites so far are Cyrus and Eliana. Doubt Cyrus will make it to the end, but how can you not love him?? Check this out:
As it's summer (apparently - somewhere else in the world) all the good TV shows have finished up for the season...booo!!! So, it's time to look back and see what I've missed in the past. I like a good cop drama and Mr G suggested we start from Season 1 of The Shield. He's seen it before, but it's first time round for me. Loving it. Gritty yet not too complicated for me to follow - I get lost with plotlines very easily! After watching between 3 and 4 episodes a night for the past fortnight, we're now on to Season 2. Bring it on! Anyone got any other good suggestions? Gotta be American - British shows are generally duff.
Planning:
Our trip to Lisbon for the Optimus Alive festival! We're only going for 5 days (I hate leaving Mildred Pierce on her own for much longer than that) but I still plan to fit lots of things in. Any suggestions? So far, I've heard that the Aquarium (Oceanario) and the modern art gallery (Berardo Collection) are not to be missed. I also spent most of Saturday shopping for last minute items and then sorting everythign out into 'outfits'. This is probably the first time I've ever been so organised. I usually just 'wing-it' and then regret my choices when I reach the hotel. But I was determinded that this year I won't spend hours complaining that I 'don't have anything to wear'. I've decided to stick with my maxi skirt/grunge theory and so far, it's working out a treat.
Anticipating:
Driving Test Round 2. I failed my first test last month adn immediately put in for it again. I sit it for the second time next week - just before we go to Portugal. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! I can't afford to keep failing!
Starting my new job!! Yup, you read that right. At the end of July I'll be finishing up my job of 7 years, Learning and Access Officer at The Tall Ship, and switching career altogether.
At the beginning of May I responded to an advert for a creative individual/florist to work alongside a well established wedding florist in the southside of Glasgow. After an initial interview, I was lucky enough to be selected for a second, more in-depth chat/practical session at the workshop in Cambuslang. I had a great wee chat with Kim, the florist and owner of Little Botanica, but presented her with possibly my worst ever buttonhole. I chose a beautful vintage looking rose and then proceeded to butcher it to pieces, stabbing it with wires and wrestling it into a really ugly display. I left thinking "well, Lisa, you really f**ked that one up!"
The next evening I was through in Edinburgh enjoying a rather wonderful play, The Idiot at the Wall, in which my friend was starring. During the first act I could feel my phone vibrating in my bag. I tutted and immediately thought, "that'll be my mum. She'll have called the house only to discover we're out and she'll be wondering where we are". During the interval I checked my phone. I had a missed call from Kim. I was literally shaking as I called her back and couldn't quite believe my ears when she so kindly offered me the position!!
So, as of the end of this month I will be living the dream: training as a florist and working for Little Botanica!
Lusting after this 'Orbital Cloud' jacket by Ivory Jar. And here's a wee summery afternoon chillout choon for y'all to enjoy. It was one of the first ever 'dance' tunes that I got into.
Hi folks! Time for a catch up? As you can see, I'm sticking with the lilac locks for the summer. Didn't expect to suit the lighter shade, but as it turns out, I can't get enough of it!
So, what else have I been up to? Well, the flat is FINALLY on the market - yay! No takers just yet, but it's early days. Our summer holiday to Lisbon is fast approaching too, we fly out for the Optimus Alive festival on 12th July. I've been trying to save some cash so I've not gone overboard with the 'holiday clothes' (just yet!). I snapped up this great wee canvas bag from Alphabet Bags, which has been on my Pinterest board for months:
...And, this sheer black maxi skirt from Missguided, using their Jubilee 10% discount offer. It's not arrived yet, but if it fits I'm planning to team it up with some cute wee crop tops/bralets for the festival - which takes place in the evenings when the sun goes down. As a wee 'cover-up' - in case it gets a bit chilly - I found a great flannel shirt in a local charity shop. Pretty sure it's the same one I wore every day from 1993-4! Grunge-tastic.
No summer plans would be complete without the addition of a new tattoo! Haven't booked an appointment, or decided exactly what I'm after, but here's some inspiration...
