Oh, I do love Pinterest.

A love story with Ikea

When I am older and have more money, my entire home will be furnished by Ikea.

I ventured over to the desolate wasteland otherwise known as Southampton with Kara and her boyfriend yesterday to get some new stuff for my room. I'd already bought some stuff from there online and it was in pride of place in my room. But, like an addict craving a fix, I wanted more.

My room now looks like this:

(big cushion, throw, bedside table & fairy lights from Ikea)

It is now a place I love to spend time in, despite it being constantly freezing. And I want to make my home like that.

I want this to snuggle up with my man on and watch movies:

I want this to curl up on, listen to music and read a good book:

And I want this to be my room <3

Too much to ask for?

Ikea, you've captured my heart <3

BDD - an outsider's view

"Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) (previously known as dysmorphophobia is sometimes referred to as body dysmorphia or dysmorphic syndrome) is a (psychological) somatoform disorder in which the affected person is excessively concerned about and preoccupied by a perceived defect in his or her physical features (body image)."

I hate this disease so much. I don't have it, never have. But a couple of my friends suffer from it and I hate it so much.

I hate that they can't see how beautiful they are.

I hate that this weak, cowardly disease is ruining their relationships with other people.

It's frustrating being the friend of someone with BDD - you're constantly trying to convince them that they're beautiful, gorgeous, skinny but they won't listen. This little gremlin they've got inside their head won't let them. Constantly whispering that they're fat, and that they're ugly and making them hate what they see in the mirror.

Look at this girl. Beautiful, ain't she? She's also a right little skinny minnie. I wish I looked like her, wish I had a body like hers. She has a boyfriend who adores her, would do anything for her, tells her she's beautiful all of the time. Yet, this horrible disease doesn't let her believe it. I hope to God she starts believing soon. Because she deserves to so much. She is one of the most beautiful people I know, inside & out, and I want her to see that so much.

So, a little message to BDD - fuck you. 

Made in Chelsea

I adore it. I know I shouldn't, I know it's trash TV, but it's oh-so addictive. Last series, we saw Caggie, Spencer & Funda in the hottest love triangle known to man. We saw Hugo & Millie finally get together, whilst Rosie seethed with jealousy. We saw Gabby, with her massive jaw and Ollie, with his massive hair, split up - Gabby shed many a tear, whilst the MiC-watching, unwashed public exclaimed "Finally!" when Ollie revealed that he was, in fact, bisexual. Like we didn't know that already? And how can we forget the extremely disturbing proposition that Francis & Fredrik "share" the beautiful and unobtainable Agne? The series ended with Millie & Hugo disgustingly happy and the exquisite Caggie jetting off to New York in an effort to get Spencer out of her head and her life.

And now it's back. Two episodes in and we've already got 3 new characters to spy on: Jamie - heir to the McVities fortune & ridiculously reckless with money, Chloe - Ollie's new girlfriend, daughter of Topshop tycoon Phillip Green & then we've got Louise - an ex of Spencer's, they have now decided to do the whole 'friends-with-benefits' thing (which I couldn't be more happy about because it meant they got to show this sublime picture of Spencer topless):

(I'm just going to take a minute here and drool over that picture - the short hair suits him...omnomNOM)

And Caggie's back. Oh, Caggie (is that short for anything? Or is that her real name? It seems to be too ridiculous to be real...). I love Caggie. She's funny, she's gorgeous & she's clever. She is everything most girls want to be. 

I can't wait for next week's episode - the highlights looked amazing (I mean, Millie throwing a drink in Hugo's face - what could be more amusing?) - and I absolutely cannot wait to see Spencer's reaction to Caggie's return. It's gonna be a good 'un, that's for damn sure.

End of an era...

"Members of legendary US rock band REM have announced they are splitting up after 31 years.

"We have decided to call it a day as a band," the band said . "To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, the deepest thanks for listening."

The group found fame with a string of albums, notably 90s hits Out of Time and Automatic for the People.

The band's website was unavailable on Wednesday afternoon when the announcement was made.

Three of REM's albums in the 1990s went quadruple platinum in the US, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIIA).

REM's latest album, Collapse into Now, was released in March 2011. It was their 15th studio album.

The group was originally made up of singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and Bill Berry  who left the band in 1996.

"I hope our fans realise this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way," Stipe said as he announced the split.

          The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007."


- Taken from BBC News website

This makes me sad :( REM were basically my soundtrack to the summer of 2007.  They just remind me of chilling outside on gorgeous, balmy, lazy summer nights. My sister got married that summer and Nightswimming was her first dance, so we listened endlessly to In Time. It was always in the car, on the stereo at home, on my iPod. I was always listening to them, some nights falling asleep to The Great Beyond or All the Way to Reno. I'd never listened to any album as much as I listened to In Time that summer. I could listen to that album the whole way through and not have to skip a track - they were all amazing. Plus, I love Best Of albums...I love the way you can hear bands develop

Anyway, this is my favourite REM song of all though...At My Most Beautiful <3

I've found a way to make you,

I've found a way,

A way to make you smile

I read bad poetry

Into your machine.

I save your messages,

Just to hear your voice.

You always listen carefully

To awkward rhymes.

You always say your name,

Like I wouldn't know it's you

At your most beautiful

I've found a way to make you,

I've found a way,

A way to make you smile.

At my most beautiful,

I count your eyelashes secretly.

With every one, whisper "I love you".

I let you sleep.

I know you're closed eye watching me,

Listening.

I thought I saw a smile.

I've found a way to make you,

I've found a way,

A way to make you smile.

So here's to Michael, Peter & Mike - thanks for the good times, guys. Your music has evoked more emotions in me than you'll ever know.

Isn't it funny...

...how the littlest thing can change your mood? This time yesterday, I was under the blackest of black clouds - I was in the foulest mood ever and I don't feel like I was nice to be around. Today, however, I'm buzzing. And all because of one thing - my hair. My hair hardly ever does what I want it to do but today, it was the most well-behaved hair you ever did see. When it dried naturally, it went all gorgeously ringlet-y and curly...like this:

Then when I combed it, it went all gorgeously wavy....like this:

And, just like that, I'm in a massively good mood. All because my hair looks good today. Warning to all men: us women are fickle creatures.

Now I'm off to look up recipes for cheesecakes...the Great British Bake Off has left me craving them...ta ta!

Irritated.

"I shouldn't play myself again.

I should just be my own best friend

Not fuck myself in the head with stupid men"

     I'm in a really bad mood tonight. 

Oh well. All will be made better with One Tree Hill. 

I hope.