safe places.

When I was little and feeling sad or grumpy, one of the things that cheered me up the most was making an indoor cubby house in my room with sheets, blankets and all kinds of furniture. I wouldn't let anyone else in. I'd sit amongst teddy bears and cushions, reading picture books, drawing and having my meals delivered to me, ignoring everything outside of that space I'd created. Absorbed in my own imaginative world.

I think we all need a safe place to call our own. A bed for example. After late nights out or a bad day, there is absolutely nothing more cozy and inviting. I like to think of bedrooms themselves as ones secluded haven where you can surround yourself with expressions of who you are.

Blue skies are coming

The past few months or so have been hard, in terms of where my head space is at. I've experienced, among other things, some intense self doubt, lack of energy and blockages of creativity, thanks to the soul-sucking powers of depression. It's now as if I'm a baby all over again, taking little steps, slowly but surely getting myself out of this rut and trying to see the world with fresh eyes. I want so much to really live. Take on challenges, make mistakes, take things less seriously...

I'm going to be better than fine.

nostalgia.

It's cold and wet outside, and I have the day off. This means I've been staying inside being cozy, catching up on uni readings, eating delicious lebanese breads, listening to Leonard Cohen and getting distracted by some old family photos I dug out. It makes me so very nostalgic, warm and fuzzy looking at them.

Mum, Dad and my sister Grace with me on the day I was born.

The First Birthday.

Mum and I in London.

My sixth Birthday.

Our beloved cubby house.

Dress-ups with my sister. We played 'getting married' and I was the groom. Note my 'manly' expression.

Don't you sometimes wish you could experience being a kid again? Just for a little while?

Love Alice.

breakfast.

My favourite meal of the day. 

let's go to the country.

I want to catch a train to the country with friends and wear red gumboots, a black hat and an oversized white cardigan too. I want to roam and run on a cold, crisp day and dance by the light of a campfire and sleep in a comforting pile.

We'd wake up to birds chirping and have eggs and toast for breakfast.

lust for life.

Do you know that feeling of being so inspired by the world you think you could just about burst? I've had that feeling many times this week. I can feel myself getting out of this miserable, uncreative rut I've been in for too long and it feels amazing. Frustratingly, my internet stopped working right after my last post- just when I felt the strongest desire to blog and vent some of these little joys. (But tonight I'm babysitting and essentially being payed to do so!) Here are some of these said joys.

Yesterday I watched an Andy Warhol documentary in a Uni lecture and rekindled an obsession with the sixties.

The weather turned colder and I put on my new-but-vintage brown suede boots and bought some patterned stockings. I plan to knit a scarf very soon. Autumn is my favourite season.

Developed a momentary crush on every sweet looking boy who smiled at me and having 'hopeless romantic' thoughts which are enojoyable rather than depressing.

Starting to meditate and take baths.Getting more sleep. Stressing less.

I've been thinking about how I want to make a courdroy pinafore dress or skirt and wear it over stripey tops. I'm very drawn towards simple, nicely shaped clothes at the moment. And Earthy colours.

Disovering the Splendour In The Grass line-up with my friend and getting so excited, only to realise how much money it's going to cost us. A little too good to be true perhaps.

(from the velvet bird)

Love Alice.

copenhagen

Despite never having been there, I've always been kind of enamoured with Scandinavia.
I believe it's a mix of clean, simple design, cold weather, nice scenery and beautiful Architecture that makes the region appeal to me so much. My Mum studied Architecture in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has lots of photos of these beautiful coloured houses, water and people riding bikes everywhere. Until I go there for myself I'll look at pictures of stylish citizens on Copenhagen Street Style.

The lovely lady in the two last pictures- Cecilie- has this wonderful blog. She's a romantic type with amazing taste. I greatly envy her wardrobe.

Tonight I had a bath with candles around me, warmed up my pyjamas on the heater and then covered myself in a mohair rug. Feeling all relaxed now. Hooray for a cold Autumn day.