About Bloomin Time!

Time for a long overdue catch up, methinks!

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...

Both books were inspired by Danielle's Summer Reading List. In fact, this whole post was prompted by reading Danielle's 'Currently' update on Sometimes Sweet :-)

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!