THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL // WES ANDERSON

Yesterday I went with my family to see the absolutely WONDERFUL 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

directed by the incredible Wes Anderson who makes every visual deliciously attractive to the eye

and in the most artistic of manners. 

If you're a sucker for aesthetics, this film will hold you in

absolutele bliss for its entire 99 minute duration, and when it comes to an end, it's like waking

up from a dream in the harsh realms of reality. The film is just that stunning. I wanted to 

stay in that magical little beautiful gem of a world that Anderson creates for us.

 And if that wasn't enough, I haven't even started on everything else that contributes to make this 

film easily one of the best I have ever seen.

I was intrigued to watch 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' firstly because of the above theatrical poster
(the power of good advertising), and because two Lit and Drama loving lads in my English class 

(yes they actually exist!) we're raving on about it, with one reason being the fabulously funny 

Bill Murray was in it. And aside from that, there is of course the star studded array of 

truly brilliant acting talent.

Ralph Fiennes dazzles as the extravagant concierge Gustave, newcomer Tony Revolori is glorious 

as young lobby boy and sidekick Zero, Jude Law makes an appearance with his seductive

and unapologetically British accent sounding as gorgeous as ever. And if that wasn't enough, 

you have Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Lea Seydoux, William Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum

and Tilda Swinton, to name but a few.

It's safe to say Anderson has well and truly plucked the very cream of the acting crop in this film.

And just to rave on about it a little bit more, The Grand Budapest is a real melting pot of different 

genres that are blended together and fantastically interwoven by some amazing writing

and imaginative talent to create a film that is funny, beautiful, gory at times, thrilling, consistently 

stunning, unpredictable in the best way possible and as my dear Dad said with the highest

of respects, 'utterly zany and eccentric'.

And he's right.

This film is not your typical film. It's unapologetically unique and it honestly is true film making

at it's best. It's crafted, acted, produced, written and directed to perfection and is

completely deserving of the 5 stars that are being repeatedly blasted its way.

All I can say is one word: WOW.

And lastly, GO AND SEE IT.

HERE COMES THE SUN

This morning I was listening to the radio when the exquisitely beautiful 'Here Comes The Sun'

by The Beatles came on. Yet despite how much I love The Beatles, I had never heard the song 

before and was taken away at how wonderful it is. It's gentle, it's soothing, it's beautiful in every 

sense and truly is the perfect accompaniment to a gorgeous sun filled day which I'm sure is

exactly what John, Paul, Ringo & George intended.  

So to celebrate such a wonderful song, and the lovely weather we've been having, here is

that very song and some other sun related songs, and some pretty, sun filled photos to 

accompany it.

HERE COMES THE SUN // THE BEATLES

WALKING ON SUNSHINE // KATRINA & THE WAVES

CALIFORNIA SUN // THE RAMONES

WALK IN THE SUN //  MCFLY

EVENING SUN // THE STROKES

OCEAN DRIVE // LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY

WATERLOO SUNSET // THE KINKS

 

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE QUOTES

I don't know about you, but I love Friedrich Nietzsche's quotes, and how they are so

artfully constructed with a series and sequence of words that can convey the most 

beautiful and powerful of emotions and meanings. 

Here are some of my favourites...

GEEK GLASSES APPRECIATION

What better way to begin a Saturday than a geek glasses appreciation post.

Me think they look rather swanky, if I do say so myself...

   

   

  

  

Have you ever seen a better end to a post than this, seriously?

GOOD DAYS + BAD DAYS (+ SOME BUTTERNUT SQUASH)

  

Last week was a particularly bad week for me, and I'm not going to lie, it really got me down,

as bad days and numerous bad days in succession normally do.

 I got to the end of the week and had reached the point where I was just expecting something bad 

to happen, like fate dictated that because this week had begun rather bad, the rest of the week had 

to stay in line with that. It felt like someone somewhere had it in for me and I have to say I'm not 

the best at coping when things go wrong. I always tell other people to carry on, it's just one bad 

day, you have so many other good things happening yet when I'm the one having a bad day, I 

really can't take my own advice.

If I'm having a bad day, I let it get to me, I let it pull me down, I fall at the first hurdle, and
I hate it. I want to be strong, I want to keep positive, but I just can't.

Now I'm not going to go into details about my bad week, but I will say it involved the shortest

job interview in the history of ever that ended in a quick rejection, me being 'late' for work and

completely and utterly messing up my Biology practical exam. Add to that the stress of college

and pressure of getting the grades for Uni and some serious overthinking, and you're guaranteed 

a breakdown by the end of the week.

_______________________________________________________________________

But, the most important thing is that once I had that mini meltdown, things began to slowly

get better, and I pinpoint this moment as being when I decided to make some butternut 

squash chips, purely randomly. I was expecting them to burn and yes a couple of them did,

but most of them didn't, and they tasted delicious. And after that, I just knew that my bad luck

was coming to and end. And I was right.

The whole butternut squash thing was yesterday. Today is the start of a new week,

and the strangest thing has been happening. It's almost as if by going through such a

crap week last week, karma, or the laws of the universe or something has dictated that 

now I'm going to have a really good week to make up for it. 

Today was only Monday and yet so many good things happened, most of them small

but they accumulate to form a bigger picture...

1) I almost missed the bus this morning but I didn't.
2) My friend bought us 'chocolate rocks' from Iran (where he's from) which I love.
3) Work let me off being late due to my apology email (I got a smiley face and everything!).

4) Me & one of my best friends began planning a trip to London.
4) I got an A on my English essay (aaaaaaahhhhh!!!)

5) I thought I would be on my own at lunch but I wasn't.

6) I felt like a sassy, independent, strong lady (wooooh) ;)

7) I got an offer from a university for which I genuinely thought I had

screwed up my interview and that I never expected to get an offer from EVER.

8) It was sunny and warm and beautiful and I just felt simply content.

____________________________________________________________________

So I don't quite know how this universe works, but I just wanted to say that if you're having

a bad week like I did, hold in there. Life has a funny way of working out and it's more

than likely that that bad week is preparing you for something amazing that is just around

the corner. Struggle through the bad and you'll be rewarded with the good.

DOC MARTENS SANDALS + JAKE BUGG

   

When you've had a bit of a crap week, and you're feeling a bit stressed out,

there is always one solution that does the trick every time: retail therapy.

You know it's true. And my obsession this week is Doc Martens (typical),

in particular their amazingly gorgeous sandals that I can only dream

of owning for summer.

I'm also listening to Jake Bugg's insanely good 'Shangri La' album that
I probably should've listened to sooner.... either way, it's epic and I've included

some of my favourite tracks at the end of this post!

 

-ME AND YOU-

    

-SIMPLE PLEASURES-

-MESSED UP KICKS-

 

-SLUMVILLE SUNRISE-

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BEAUTIFUL DAYS

Although today has not been the best day of my life, as it included
getting drenched waiting for the college bus in the rain as it was super mega late,
doing a Biology test and messing up my Biology practical exam because
I am scientifically impaired,  it also involved singing along to the radio
 in my best friend's car after we decided to use another mode of transport,
drying our hair under the hand dryer in the college toilets and the sun has
finally come out.

So right now, if I look out the window, all I can see are gorgeous
bright blue skies, lush green plants in my garden and a big beaming sunshine.
Top that off with the nutella pancakes I had for lunch and what seemed to be
a bad day has now done a u turn, and it is so very beautiful :)

So to celebrate that, I found these photos of beautiful days for you to enjoy
and I made them super large and everything, because you know, it's a good day and
all that.