RhianCaroline

things that make me happy; a list

- Skyscrapers
- Trees covered in snow
- Beautiful cards
- Pretend names on parcels
- High pitched piano music
- Blurry fairy light photos
- Getting emails
- Watching terrible terrible TV programmes with people who also know how terrible it is, but being able to make a running commentary on it, therefore making them brilliant

 
- Being surprised by people in a good way
- Trees covered in fairy lights
- Crochet granny square garlands
- Moleskins full of lists
- Christmas cards with scotties on
- At home hair dye that looks good
- Antlers
- When people re-tell a conversation they have had, but it is so utterly boring you can't do anything but laugh and tell the person that it was completely boring, and then they laugh, and you both laugh.

 
- Starting a new calandar
- Watercolour pencils
- Brilliant books
- Baths
- Dreaming up 52 things to do in 52 weeks
- Old vintage christmas jumpers
- Polaroid supershooters and 669 film

* Inspired by this brilliant book. Read it if you love lists. New York. Are a 20 something wondering what on earth you are doing, and what the point of it is.

thank full

a thanksgiving vlog. because the british can be thankful too, you know.

p.s. it weirdly cut "unwashed and unbrushed hair".

p.p.s. yes, this is how dark it is in wales right now. this was filmed late morning, right before went for a run.

and for christmas

There is pretty much 1 month to go. We don't really do big gifts in this family. I prefer handmade, but for the sake of my brother I put together a wish list for him. I'd be quite content with a card, but he seems to feel it necessary to buy. Here are some of my requests, all around or under the £20 mark, and even that feels like too much. He is only allowed to pick one of these items to buy.

Pixi Illuminating Tint and Conceal. Hello? I need it. I'm convinced it would change my life...

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. I know this would change my life.

Quilted Lock Across Body Bag. Don't judge me. I just like them.

Indie Publishing. I've had this on my wishlist forever. 

 Flock of Flying Birds Tee. Pretty much made for me, I feel.

Hohoho, Merry Christmas.
 

and for winter

I posted my favorite summer cook book back in August. Well this is my favorite winter one.
I can pretty much live on broth, soup, and mashed potatoes during this time of year. I need foods that will keep me warm, fill me up, but won't take me 9 years to prepare. And if I'm lucky, will be perfect for reheating over the following days too!
It is definitely not as aesthetically pleasing as the marie claire cookbook, but it is jam packed full of way more recipes that I actually want to eat.
It would probably be fully adaptable for you meat eaters out there too.
My favorites are the chickpea broth with parsley dumplings, lentil and green chilli burgers, and tomato and butterbean soup.
Thumbs up.

to write love on her arms

1. To write love on her arms. (#1), 2. To Write Love on Her Arms, 3. To Write Love on Her Arms, 4. Anberlin Wallpaper, 5. To Write Love On Her arms., 6. To Write Love On Her Arms

i wrote it on mine. but it's been so dark all day there was no point in taking a photo.
but it is there. and that's really all that matters.

operation christmas child

It may feel a bit early for Christmas for some, but this project has a deadline. Operation Christmas Child means filling one empty shoebox full of gifts and educational supplies for one child in a third world country to receive. You have to drop off your shoebox between the 1st and 15th of November, at one of the many designated spots around the country. Or if you are American, here is your site.

I am very aware there are complaints about Operation Christmas Child, and Samaritan's Purse who it is run by. It would seem it isn't made clear that this is an evangelical Christian company, who include evangelical Christian pamphlets in up to 95% of the boxes.

I understand the argument, should humanitarian aid and evangelism go hand in hand? Does it cause confusion? Maybe. Maybe not. My concerns would be more along the lines of, 'what version of christianity is being sold to people in desperate need of humanitarian aid?' I understand non-religious people feeling lied to when they realise they are aiding in a christian movement, also.

But I have thought about this. Having missed the deadline for the Link Romania shoe box appeal, this is the only other one I can find. And if I have to weigh up a whole shoe box full of fun and necessary items for a child who would love to receive them, against a pamphlet of Bible Stories. The shoe box has to win out for me.

I'm linking this up in case any of you want to fill a shoe box (or two!) up with goodies, for a child who will appreciate it ten times more than the new pair of socks you buy your dad, or the piece of jewellery you purchase for your friend.

*EDIT* Sarah linked up Blythswood in the comments, who also run a shoe box appeal. They give boxes to not only children, but teenagers, and adults. (Please note, they don't seem to have a drop off location in Wales, for any Welshies out there!) Thank you for the info, Sarah!

fresh+fast

 

i can not recommend this cookbook enough.
i love cookbooks. really. i have one pot cookbooks, the healthy jewish cookbook, multiple cupcake cookbooks, japanese, italian, vegetarian, blah blah blah.
but this one, beats them all. every recipe i have tried so far is a keeper. they are all ridiculously quick to throw together, full of healthy fresh ingrediants, and delicious.
and the photos in this book are beautiful. i won't lie, they are the reason i picked it up in the first place. i just got lucky the food is gorgeous too.
as i say, if you are on the hunt for easy peasy yummy recipes, this is the book for you.
home made pesto pizza anybody?

i love love

 

You can this sticker for free from here. Unless you do not live in America, then you can not get one at all. Ha.

Please send me one American's. Just one. I will send you pretty things in return. I would be more amused if someone who does not support gay marriage sent me one. But that would just be for my weird sense of humour. 

the zine edition

i love a lot of zines. they are my newest crack.
along with cake, gossip girl, books, and ranting.
so here is a list of a few of my favorites.

 Culture Slut

Brilliant brilliant brilliant. Want a glimpse into a retro glasses wearing, tattoo loving, feminist loner's mind? Read Culture Slut. It literally is her version of a diary, put out there for other zinesters to love and adore. She has definitely inspired me for issue 2 of Barefoot.

The La-La Theory

My favorite (so far!) word loving zinester. Not just because there is a Welsh word included in this edition! But because the way Katie writes makes me want to write. This is a good thing to find in a zine.

 The Lucky Ones

I'll admit it. I bought this zine because I loved the name. Then, when I got it in my hungry little hands, I loved this zine because of what the name represents. 54 pages taken from Mark's sketch book, 54 random observations of the wrorld around him, 54 lucky little sketches making it into this inspiring little zine. It made me want to ride on the New York subway, and carry my sketch book everywhere. His follow up, Dead Letters and Rare Words is on my wish list also.

Finally (for today) my understanding of the boundary between zine and MAGAzine is vague, at best. Simply, I understand it as coming down to advertising. Zines are grassroots, they are indie, they are  anti-commercialism, self published from the darkened bedroom of a person wanting to get their thoughts, their issues, their causes out there. So in my mind, when a zine includes advertisments, (unless it is advertising oneself) then it moves over into the MAGAzine realm. 
However, Subtext classes itself as a magazine, but rather has the feel of a zine. There are no adverts, just a group of people writing about things that matter to them, that effect them and us and you. It's a British feminist magazine, that is a breath of fresh air amongst heat, and look, and glamour, etc.  

My first zine list ;)

these are a few of my favorite things

 1. Untitled, 2. state of play: acquired by occasional retirement, 3. Baby Shower, 4. Untitled, 5. Coexistence, 6. ryantown, 7. rainy day, 8. The Lanes, Brighton, 9. Boobs Cupcakes

BOOBIE CAKES! heh heh.

i always get the urge to sing, 'THE HILLLLLLS ARE ALIIIIIIVE' when anybody mentions favorite things.

for people not playing on tumblr yet, i post most of my flickr faves, (along with feminist rants, political news stories that i find interesting, and copious images of ed westwick and robert pattinson) on there. but some of these i don't think i did.

i have neglected dandelion wishes this week. but travelling and tiredness doesn't really make me want to blog. or email for that matter.

i've guest designed for angie delarie this month, so i'll post what i dids next week.

i like chips and dip.

and look at my puppy wearing a hoody.

 

i would like to purchase some grey converse high-tops.

finally. i am going to amsterdam next month. the boy does not realise this yet, but i'm sure he will be fine with it. will there be tulips? this is my biggest concern.

i need to buy a book on amsterdam.

goodbye.