A Few of my favourite Things #10 (February 2015)

Currently wearing

  Nike Internationalist trainers

Being little over 5ft tall, I have got into a habit of wearing some kind of heel on a daily basis, whether it be to work, or mid-heeled boots at the weekend; it isn't good for my feet! I wanted to give them some respite when I'm not at work, so I went in search of some trainers that would look good with jeans, or even skirts and dresses when I'm out and about. I found them in the Nike Internationalists on asos.com. These black trainers have a suede toe and a grey mid section and heel. The heel is leather and is a darkened teal colour. The great news is that they also give me an inch or so's height, which makes me feel a lot more secure (I do like a bit of elevation in my shoes!) They are really comfy and look good with my favourite Topshop Joni jeans. I think these would also work with skirts and casual dresses. Due to the colour-blocking, they match many outfits, particularly as I love grey! 

Currently playing 
Assume the Perpendicular by The Divine Comedy

Neil Hannon is such a talent in every musical sense. My brother got me Bang Goes the Knighthood for Christmas (it was on my wishlist) and now I've given it a good listen, I love it as much as the earlier albums that I own: Absent Friends (2004) and Victory for the Comic Muse (2006). I knew of The Divine Comedy's music in the late 90s, but they passed me by then. I'm really glad they did in a funny way, because now I have a whole back catalogue to explore. The song Assume the Perpendicular is my top pick from Bang Goes the Knighthood. Hannon's witty, whimsical lyrics take you away from the humdrum and to a better place! This song is definitely a good example of Hannon's ability to take you away from the stresses of everyday life; it's a feel-good track with the tongue-in-cheek edge that is much-loved about his song-writing.      

Currently applying
                     Superbalm by Lush

I have been suffering from a dry and itchy scalp recently, probably due to the colder weather and central heating. This product came highly recommended on the Lush website for those that have a dry scalp and even from psoriasis sufferers. You apply the product by warming some in between your fingers and massaging into affected areas of the scalp. The first time I used it, I left it on for a good 20 minutes and shampooed out. The results were really impressive. Since then, the dryness has not cleared completely, but I will continue to use it and fingers crossed it will continue to alleviate the problem. It smells pleasant enough and becomes oily when warmed. It does not leave my scalp oily, which I was a bit worried it might. I may post an update about this in the future, but so far, so good. 

Currently watching

Melancholia (by Lars Von Trier, 2011)

I had to mention this film in this post because it was one that has stuck in my mind. I came across it on Netflix and was drawn to watch it for two reasons: it features Kirsten Dunst (one of my favourite actresses), and it has elements of sci-fi. The premise of the film is that a planet which was previously hidden behind the sun is heading for Earth. I am fascinated by space and planets to the point where I find these sorts of films really captivating and terrifying! As I watched it, however, I realised it was an 'arty' film with some amazing cinematography and complex psychological ideas. For those people who need films to be fast-paced with simple plot-lines: forget it! If you like films that make you think: watch it, then watch it again. I found this film really intriguing and the theme music taken from one of Wagner's operas adds an intensely stirring feel to the film.

Currently spritzing 

SachaJuan Leave in Conditioner

I cut off about four inches of my hair last month and it has left it a lot healthier feeling. To keep it that way I have been using this spray after towel-drying my washed hair. It smells like a subtle cologne and allows me to easily comb through my fine tangly locks. You could also use this on dry hair to keep it moisturised and to smooth frizzy bits. The leave in conditioner is not the cheapest out there, but it is a nice product to use and feels very nourishing. I don't have current plans to grow my hair as long as it was before because it was getting boring, but I do want to maintain healthy and shiny hair, especially if I re-highlight it at some point later this year. 

Currently reading

Discovering Scarfolk by Richard Littler

I picked this book up as a Christmas present for my dad, but when I found something else I thought he'd like more, I decided to keep this for myself! I have dipped into this book recently and it is definitely an interesting read. The hardback is a pastiche of a archive of materials found about the fictional Northern English town of Scarfolk, a town cut off from the rest of the UK and not even visible on maps! It is a dark-comedy, satirical book that features mock 70s posters and artefacts that reveal the sinister nature of the town. I haven't read a lot yet, but it will be good for me (with my current aversion to reading) because I can dip in and out of it. If you like something like Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, you'll probably enjoy this. 

Currently eating

Goat's cheese, spinach and red onion flatbread

After enjoying a Padana pizza at Pizza Express last month, I realised that I could re-create it in all its gorgeousness at home! This has now become one of my few signature 'dishes' in our house and it's ridiculously easy to make. All you need is a flatbread, some tomato sauce/ pizza topping sauce, an onion, some goat's cheese, some spinach (I use the frozen balls you can get in supermarkets), and some onion chutney. You can see my creation above in all its glory! It takes a few minutes to assemble and 10 minutes in a medium temperature oven. The trick I have found is to spread the small amounts of goat's cheese and chutney evenly across the base to make sure the flavours are well-balanced. This is a very simple meal idea, but it is as delicious as a restaurant meal in my opinion. One flatbread is enough for two people and you could serve salad or vegetables on the side.

Currently admiring

Nude Kate lipstick by Charlotte Tilbury

I've had my eye on this lipstick for a long time now, but I have to monitor my lipstick purchases! I adore nude lips and this beautifully packaged product looks like it would be a great colour for every single make-up look. I will have a Charlotte Tilbury splurge one day, but I can't justify it right now (perhaps once I've used up some of my other lipsticks!) Until then, I like to keep a wishlist of a number of Charlotte's products on Net A Porter to admire from afar!