lovely old favourites

i saw today that studies have shown the act of re-reading our favourite books can improve mental health by evoking a happier times without the need to leave your chair. research has also found that the second read brings on stronger emotions as you read more deeply into a novel, understanding things you missed the first time.

it's great to hear that there is some science behind the "re-read". with the amount of new books on the shelves, it's rare for me to go back to an old favourite, but if it's good for my brain - how can i refuse? i love discovering a new author, but there are some exceptions that i will always go back to:

* jane austen's 'emma' takes me back to that teenage year when i discovered my love of austen, and reminds me of being able to eat as much as i live without worrying about my waist. 

* the harry potter books still fill me with me the thrill of hogwarts and the warm feeling of lifetime friendship every time i read them (which will never be enough by the way!)

what are your re-reads? i'd love to hear what makes you keep going back for more!

{em} x

source stylist.co.uk

instagrams from the desert

last month the fella and i took an investigatory trip to dubai. this was the furthest east i've ever been and i'd heard so many stories about the middle east i didn't know what to expect! we were only there for a few days, which didn't seem to justify taking my big digital slr, so i had to resort to iphone photography. 

i got a bit over excited travelling business class on one of emirates' new A380s. yes - i took photos in the aeroplane toilets. check out the perfume selection and fresh flowers. who knew a living thing could survive in an cabin toilet?

we quickly learnt that everything in dubai is the biggest in the world. fact! the dubai mall has water features with the highest fountains in the world.

crazy huge waterfall with life-size creepy diver status inside a mall? why not!

but sunshine - oh the sunshine! there was lovely winter weather, though i believe we were lucky to escape the sandstorms. every night we saw an amazing sunset over an incredible skyline. 

aside from all the biggest-ing and bestest-ing, dubai has an amazing mix of cultures, which a week can only scratch the surface of. i have a feeling we'll be going back there pretty soon.

{em} x