hello friends...

hello friends...

... please come and visit me at my new blog: the adventures of folly golightly.

having spent some months out of the blogging world i've been thinking about my writing voice, and decided as much as i've enjoyed writing at unremarkable girl, a fresh start is what i really need. 

please click your way over and be amongst the first to say 'hello'. 

lots of love {em} xxx

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

the challenge begins...

i always wanted to set myself a reading challenge. i've been impressed by some of my favourite bloggers getting through the top 50 or 100 in a year but as this is already a busy year for me - i've aimed slightly lower. only 6, but i know you'll agree with me, 6 of the best.

that's right people. this year i plan to read all 6 books by the one and only jane austen. as a big fan of Ms A, i'm ashamed to admit that i've only actually read 'emma' from start to finish. the other's i have seen plenty of adaptations of from the great to the down right terrible. i know that 6 novel's isn't a particularly tall order, but i hope to read bits and pieces related to all 6 as i go, and maybe talk about some of the screen adaptations too. if that doesn't impress you, look i even made myself a little banner to go along with the challenge.

like it? eh? eh? 

so here's the bit where i need to ask for your help. if you are an austen lover, or even an austen hater, i'd love to know your views as i read through my little book stack. i already have some ideas about characters i can't abide, plot twists that confuse me and my very favourite of those top hat wearing men. 

pride and prejudice is well underway, have you read it? i'd love to hear if you love it or loathe it.

{em} x

wedding junkie: most pinned!

hello from dallas folks. since i'm out here in texas at the moment (for business and unfortunately not pleasure), i haven't had much time for blogging.

as my wedding is drawing closer by the day, i thought i'd show you this pic that i pinned on pinterest a few month ago which i getting repined all the time. i love this pretty wedding hair, and it seems so do lots of other people.

Source: citified.blogspot.com via Emma on Pinterest

wedding hair is something i haven't decided on yet. i can't recreate this as my hair is way too short, but i hope to come up with something natural and pretty like this. any suggestions?

{em} x

still searching for the perfect valentines card?

this week we ordered our wedding invitations. eek! i can't wait to show you a sneak peek when they arrived. 

the company we used was artcadia. so far they have been really helpful and quick answering my queries, which is great for the last minute bride like me. 

while i was stalking their site, i spotted their great valentines cards which i just had to order for the fella. 

if you are still searching for the perfect card, check out artcadia before they are all gone. 

{em} x

the road ahead

i'm sorry - i've been a bad blogger. 

the pressure of having to write something witty and insightful to kick off the new year totally got to me. i should mention what a whirlwind 2011 was. i had holidays galore, got engaged, lost my aunt, my little sis went off to university, my dad turned 60 and the list goes on. 

i should say something about 2012. getting married, moving up at work, maybe making a move out of the tiny apartment. giving up on some old things and trying out some new things. challenging myself more than ever. 

so here we are - in february. a little voice is telling me i just need to click 'publish post' and i'm back on track. are you with me?

{em} x