How are we already in August!?
This year is flying by and although so much has happened, it still feels like a very average year so far. July saw a week long heatwave (and subsequent rainfall, because what else do you expect from the UK?), making new friends, BBQs and Isla starting her new school.
I’ll go into more detail into the latter at some point, but I do have to say we are already so pleased that we made this decision for Isla to move. The support she has received in just the two weeks settling in period has, quite honestly, been more than what she has received in mainstream. I’m not disputing the fact that those teachers who worked with her loved her very much, but it just wasn’t the right school for her needs and now she’s in an environment where I think she’ll really thrive.
How have you all found the weather?! Classic British chat here, and I know so many people are already wishing for Autumn, but I truly love Summer. LOVE IT. Al-fresco dinners, a cold glass of wine in the evenings, watching the sun setting, BEING ABLE TO DRY YOUR LAUNDRY OUTSIDE. Bliss (the latter point is by far my favourite thing too, by the way).
Clothing & Accessories:
I feel like my shopping habit stopped for a little bit in July. I had to run upstairs to check what I had actually bought recently and it’s the following:
1x black and 1x white racerback body
1x pair of denim mom style shorts
1x tiered embroidered dress
1x pair of new Jamie jeans (because mine have ripped where the belt loops are, nice)
1x of THE white dress that is part of Amy’s (The Little Magpie) collection and I am obsessed with it, as is the rest of the UK!
1x Metallica band tee (I’m old enough to know who they are… I’ve recently seen a few people confused with whether Led Zeppelin was a band or not)
OK so… maybe that is a fair bit? My bad. But to be fair, I’d say the majority of those purchases were either replacements and basics that I will be wearing all year round. Excuses… excuses.
Apart from that, I’d been good and have managed to avoid purchasing any new pairs of shoes, which for me, has been very hard. I can say that in August already, I haven’t managed to maintain this!
Television:
I can’t chat about TV without mentioning LOVE ISLAND. I didn’t watch the start, just because I felt like I needed to distance myself from it, but alas, it sucked me right in and I absolutely loved this years season.
Ovie was my favourite islander (I think he’s everyone’s favourite?), and I really do think that Amber and Greg were so deserving of the win. This year was super interesting to watch – there was a LOT of gaslighting, which was infuriating to watch, but on the contrary, it looked as though a lot of people were able to recognise that behaviour which made me really happy to see. I think what I loved about Amber too, was the fact that she was such a strong female – she knew her worth, knew she was FINE AF and didn’t accept the bullshit. Smart, smart woman.
Glamour wrote a fab article about gaslighting and toxic masculinity after the Anna and Jordan incident and I really recommend that you read it to learn more about what awful behaviour it is!
I have also rediscovered Mock The Week (I know, I’m 40) – I used to watch this as a teenager but as an adult, I have a much more genuine interest in politics and news events that are happening across the world. I am a big fan of satire though and Hugh Dennis is my favourite comedian on there – anything he says has me in stitches. I know James Acaster is becoming quite popular too and Adam’s a big fan of him, purely because of how unusual he is (Adam’s humour is just as random!). There are around 18 seasons, but even the older ones are hilarious so I highly recommend it!
I tweeted recently that Hercules was a very underrated Disney film and a lot of people agreed! I LOVE that film (again, my love for Classics coming out there – check my podcasts post for more of me nerding out), and decided to buy it on Amazon to watch (over, and over, and over) – I forgot how great it was and I have to say the Muses are just amazing and the music is just the best too. I still need to go and watch The Lion King but for the moment I’m going to buy the 1995 Disney classic and sob to that for now.
Speaking of The Lion King… Donald Glover. That guy.
I forgot that Guava Island was on Prime, so decided to watch it (finally), but it was brilliant. Despite the dark side to the story, the relationship between him and Rihanna was lovely and the music, of course, was just amazing.
Music:
WHICH LEADS ME ONTO THIS ONE.
I’m going to incorporate the SPOTLIGHT ON section in here because I have a couple of music suggestions that I think you should all go and listen to!
LIZZO: If you aren’t a fan of this woman, then you are missing out – her music is great and so good to have a boogie to.
CHILDISH GAMBINO: This is just a reminder of how great his music is. A lot are in Guava Island and I just love it. Great beat and super chilled, all of his albums will be playing on repeat in my house for the forseeable.
DAVE: Psychodrama is a great album, I highly suggest you stick it on your TO LISTEN list.
MAVERICK SABRE – I NEED: Such a good, soulful song that I recently rediscovered and have been playing over and over.
LEON BRIDGES – RIVER: Definitely influenced by Big Little Lies (which I really need to finish). Again, so soulful and beautiful; there’s clearly a pattern in what I’m enjoying listening to at the moment isn’t there? Chilled, soulful songs that are beautifully written – if you’ve not heard this, stick it on Spotify.
