30 things to do before i'm 30.

So i've seen this post crop up a few times in blogs far and wide and I decided to jump on the bandwagon and write one for myself. This post is more for my own benefit, as a record of the things that I would like to achieve before I turn that grand old age of 30! As scary as it sounds, this age is only 7 years and 2 months away... and there seems to be a lot that I want to achieve within that time!! 

So here's the list...

1. Go Inter-railing around Europe
2. Become a qualified primary school teacher
3. Buy my own house
4. Take skiing lessons
5. Get married (or at least engaged!)
6. Go sky diving
7. Spend Christmas and New Year somewhere tropical
8. Get a dog... and possibly another kitty
9. Cook the Christmas dinner 
10. Get paid to write something
11. Buy a vintage car
12. Pay for my parents to go on holiday
13. Hold a garden party for all of my friends no matter where they live in the country 
14. Go on a girly spa weekend
15. Go to more festivals... Glasto and Bestival you're on my list!
16. Go camping every summer
17. Read every book on my 'to-read' list
18. Learn French
19. Worry less
20. Make a dress from scratch
21. Attend a friend's wedding (I will force someone to get married if I have to!)
22. Visit an open-air cinema 
23. Revamp a piece of furniture
24. Go surfing again 
25. Spend a weekend in Dublin
26. Get braces
27. Be in a dancing show once again
28. Take a trip in a hot air balloon 
29. Have a pen-pal
30. Be more confident as myself

Some of these goals are going to be more doable than others, but i'd like to think that none of them are beyond my grasp. 

What are your goals before we have to officially call ourselves "grown up"?! 

Love Lissy xox

Bookworm.

NW by Zadie Smith 

After a long intrigue over the success of Zadie Smith and her novels, I was quite excited to pick this up at the airport before my holiday to France and attempt it as my first holiday read.
When friends asked me what this book was actually about, it was difficult to really put it into words, because truthfully, it's not about much at all! There's no real storyline or page-turning event within the book which grasps a reader's attention like other books strive to do. The blurb on the back isn't very helpful either, as it really just describes it as a 'portrait of modern urban life'.
The novels focus is more on the people living in an area of London, and the ways in which they distinguish themselves from one another through the use of language and expression. As an English Literature graduate, this book is probably much easier for me to get my head around than others may find it. After some of the complete nonsense that we were made to read over the three years, this novel is actually quite a refreshing examination of the residents of a lower class area as they simply attempt to "get by". Zadie's inspirations come from the modernist works of Virginia Woolf, and Shakespeare's problem play Measure For Measure. With those in mind, it is very easy to assume that there won't be much of a plot... and not much happiness either!

I don't want to ruin it for anyone who might want to read this book, but I will say that after a slow start it definitely got much better, and I warmed to Zadie's use of language and the vitality of the characters of Leah, Felix, Natalie and Nathan. For anyone similarly intrigued by the recent successes of Zadie Smith, I would say, give this a go! Often readers can get wrapped up in the fact that if a novelist has won so many awards, then they must instantly appeal to everyone out there! Judge this book for yourselves... but maybe buy something more light-hearted if you're off on your holidays!

Love Lissy xox

There's a chocolate fondue with no nutritional value.

            

Cats prefer boxes // Another certificate in the bag // Baking

Got my hair did // Beautiful building in Oxford // Yankee candle

Vintage beauts // Unleashing my inner sewing bee // Holiday read

Holiday packing // I miss French cocktails and ice cream!

I feel like I've abandoned my blog a tad just lately, and to tell you the truth, I've been a bit uninspired by it, and would much rather have gander at all of the other beautiful blogs and youtube videos out there. Most of the time, if i'm out with friends or family, I don't plan on taking many photos with the intention of future blog posts in mind. Sometimes I think that bloggers often get carried away with taking rather staged shots of themselves in a newly purchased outfit, and actually forget to just enjoy the moment, the scenery, and the company. 

During the past few weeks, I have been on a girly holiday to France, which involved one too many cocktails and ice creams, a flat tyre and a hot tub. Since then, I have had a major case of the holiday blues, and have spent many days moping about the house, baking and watching back-to-back episodes of New Girl! Last weekend I visited my boy in Northampton, and we decided to venture to Oxford for the day (such a beautiful place!) I can't believe how quickly the summer has gone, and before I know it, I will be starting my job and the boy will be moving to London to complete an MA... looking forward to having him as an excuse for visiting London every other weekend! ;) Goodbye bank balance!

Before all that, I need to prepare myself for a week in New York which I am so excited for!! I think I might do a post about packing for a city break, so watch this space! 

After reading a friend's blog this morning, I feel a bit more inspired to post more regularly, so let's hope I can keep it up! 

I hope you're all enjoying the last of the summer, and are preparing for September whatever your plans are. :) 

Love Lissy xox