Rah Goddess' Guide to Life

Vampire beach sweaters by Wildfox clothing that I saw on Ashley Tisdale on StealTheirStyle. You can get them all over the place - here in the UK at asos quite expensive at £110 but still smily and yummy! I love the coral one especially

xxx

I adore this painting, I first saw Pino’s work aboard our honeymoon ship art gallery. I fell in love with the warm impressionism, his feminine colours and his appreciation for women in his art. Whilst I would love an oiginal, his prints do go for thousands so I will have to wait for that lottery win. You can see more of his work here, I adore so many of them but the above picture Daydream is the poster print I have just bought! Yay for decorating and gorgeous things

Greetings, I have been a busy one and am trying desperately to post here even if it’s only for Musical Monday! So here are my offerings :)

I like this one, loving Nell Bryden’s voice - Not Like Loving You.

Jason Derulo - Whatcha Say, a little different to the first but addictive and I find myself singing it. Plus he’s kinda cool.

And finally a song that has been in my head because I listened to the Bridget Jones soundtrack a couple of days ago. It is stunning, in my opinion, now listening to her stuff on youtube - god bless the internet. Rosey - Love.

Sing it loud and proud people!!!!

Perusing the internet is something I’ve not had time to do recently until today and I thought I’d share some things I materialistically heart and covet

French Connection shoes courtesy of asos at £130 a little pricey for me at the moment!

Embellished Pom Pom Sundress - Price: £28.00 from Accessorize (picture belongs to them). I think their summer beach wear is enough to go on holiday for - yummy!

New South Beach Rocks - Oversized Satin Flower Headband from www.hqhair.com, only £5.95 - bargain! Unfortunately, it won’t let me link the site

Making me feel summery

I love reading but have done very little for pleasure in the last few months. Longer than that even, probably. I have done reading for work, reading of the news online, and the occasional blog surfing but not the curling up with a good book variety. So I am taking Alicia’s Book Club quite seriously indeed, found the book and now about to start it. I am hoping that this leads to me finishing my rereading of War and Peace and allows me to put together a phenomenal book list for my bucket list. So if you have any reading recommendations - just leave a comment!

The book we are reading this month is “Too Much Happiness” by Alice Munro. Not read any of her work but read lots about her, she won the Man Booker International prize in 2009 and is lauded as one of the gems in Canada’s literary scene. I like to know a bit about the writers of the books I’m reading, and so found a couple of interviews for you guys to peruse with me. Got me excited about reading. So if you want to join us, there’s still time to read the book quickly Just pop on over and put your name down - here.

Reading can help with depression, relaxation, and above all joy. So I shall endeavour to make time for it, to prepare for it - I must go get an eye test, busy eyes = tired eyes, and to enjoy it again.

Happy reading xxx

A little late but I still had to do it

Nine - the the entire movie - sooooooooo excited - Be Italian!!! So many actors I love in this film and Fergie is in it! Hoping I will get to see this as it comes out, omg I have reverted to teen speak in my pure enthusiasm and joy about this film. Please don’t tell me it will be rubbish or is rubbish. I don’t care I’m there regardless. Joy. Dancing. Broody. Sexy. Glamorous. Musicals!!!! And I adored Rob Marshall’s take on Chicago, he had me at hello

Watch that and tell me you’re not shivering in anticipated pleasure I am dancing already. Happy happy happy. Bounce bounce!

2. Couldn’t leave Nine there! If you don’t like Kate Hudson, leave now. Gush, adore, she is a mini pop star! Love this And I do like the nod to the La Dolce Vita film fest black and white gorgeousness.

You HAVE to love her

3. My absolute new favourite actress Marion Cotillard, she is mesmerising - if haven’t seen En Vie en Rose make sure you do!

4. I really like Penelope Cruz - she is a superb actress and a pretty singer and dancer too

5. I have to stop here but I could talk about Daniel Day Lewis, Dame Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman… and all the other exciting names but I’ll leave you with the lengend that is Sophia Loren

I can’t wait, bubbling over, headphones on, staying up far too late listening to the soundtrack on youtube

I really enjoyed Fellini’s 8 1/2 (this movie is based on that classic just with more singing and dance numbers ). Now who is coming with me to see Nine? xxxx

Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!
Nikita Khrushchev

St Basil’s Cathedral Moscow, Alex Zelenko Creative Commons License 3

So Russia. 54. Speak Russian in Russia. One of my many outstanding bucket list goals. I have been fascinated by the vast sweeping country since I picked up War and Peace and then saw the Audrey Hepburn’s film version of the book.

Not the best adaptation, but not as bad as Laurence Olivier and his version of Pride and Prejudice, shudder. But anyway, back to Red Square, the Winter Palace, the Mariinsky Theatre and other such chocolate box jewels nestled in the dark landscape of extreme nights, long lasting cold spells and copious amounts of the white stuff. Mmm vodka.

Various books have fuelled my interest in Russia, particularly the language and culture. I enjoyed Marcus Sedgwick’s Blood Red Snow White which is the story of Arthur Ransome’s exploits as a spy prior to his Swallows and Amazons success. Recently I also devoured The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall which although set in China (another country I find fascinating) it’s story and blood is Russian. I have read a bit, watched many travel programmes, documentaries and films about the place but can’t imagine a Russia that is now. Sitting in cafes sipping flavoured vodka - no mixer! Waltzing through history through the arcades that surround Red Square. Whiling away the morning at the Hermitage steeped laguoriously in art and Faberge jewelled delights. Dressing up up for the opera or the ballet (also on my list!)at the Kirov would be a royal treat! Speaking Russian scares me but I’m working on that, I have plenty of time until I don my fur hat and camera. Looking forward to it!

До свидания (Do Svidanya)

xxxx

So that last post got me thinking. Michael Bublé got me thinking about my three wedding ceremony songs. We had a civil ceremony so were not able to have hymns (suddenly I hear the tune Busted stylee “which is what I go to church for.."), okay not quite the same thing but, hey ho, I digress. So I thought I’d share our three ceremony songs.

1. Bride’s Entrance and walk down the aisle - Lang Lang plays Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini Variation 18. I love Rachmaninov and adore Lang Lang. This music make me feel warm, gorgeous gorgeous days

2. Signing the Register - Jack Johnson - Better Together - sunny happy and how I feel when I am with my Mister.

3. Leaving as Husband and Wife - Michael Bublé - How Sweet it Is. I love the original but this version is amazing

And for those curious romantics, we got married on NY Eve 2007 and this was our first dance song.

Dina Carroll rocks. Twas The Perfect Year.

Sorry for the mushy!

Missing you Dan Bob xxxx

Howday from a bitterly cold Manchester night. I am tired, cranky and hungry… waiting on a Tesco delivery as I type. Also Mark Owen as only gone and got himself married! Didn’t he know he was supposed to marry me? Okay we’ve never met, I am not fourteen anymore and ermmm I am already spoken for. So what if his new wife looked like a Temperley goddess and that he’s wearing a purple velvet morning coat… Okay I am not devastated but suitably feeling sorry for the girl I used to be. So now for some music and what better that a bit of retro TT to kick us off.

1. Why can’t I wake up with you? - Take That

2. Mike and the Mechanics - Over my Shoulder. For the retro sweetness

3. Michael Bublé - “Haven’t Met You Yet” He is lovely and I’m loving this at the moment!

Happy singing!

xxx

Howday hope you are all having a creative Wednesday I am kinda, today has been such a weird one filled with crap feeling and restlessness. So to try and order myself out of verging towards negativity (read mardiness) I decided to make a few lists and plans - first of all my to do list for the rest of the year. Yikes! I cannot believe it is almost December.

Bucket List work in progress…

4. Grow my hair long
My hair has gone from short bob to grazing about 2 inches from my shoulders. It is a messy though, the condition is rubbish, I really need to do something to improve it. However, I am already feeling better about the length, it has more versatility this way. I should think about going to see the hairdresser though, it’s in dire need of a cut.

5. Get in shape – be a comfortable size 10
Already written a post about this. Fat photos from Halloween have been my catalyst. Eurrgggh. Sick of hiding in pictures and taking sooooo long to get ready. I want to be comfortable, so new exercise regime is being worked out as I type - brilliant multitasker me!

6. Try ice-skating outdoors
Whoop whoop! Finally doing this at Somerset House on my December weekend jaunt to see my Feltham Laydez. Cannot wait! So excited about this one

7. Complete my NQT year, and 32. Get a MA
Still applying for jobs, working around starting the MA with my teachers union ATL. I will update when I make a decision or I hear it about it further.

10. Make gorgeous handmade presents for Christmas
Working on giving everyone at least something handmade - one thing - I will take pictures as I work and post them post Christmas.

16. Play Fur Ellise on the piano
Just! I just started practising again and it feels really good to play, although it’s on my keyboard and not my lovely piano!

19. Research and make a family tree
I hoping to to start ordering all the information into books so I can chop and change genealogy sites without subscribing, yep I’m a tightwad!

25. Organise all my video and photo albums
A must before Christmas!!!! I am determined to start this, will post a project to do list, sorry if I’m boring you all with my lists

35. Be able to do a headstand and touch my toes in Yoga
Part of my getting into shape is to start Yoga again! I own quite a few dvds, my plan tomorrow is do one of them. Then maybe I will try and find a local class.

36. Learn how to make the perfect cosmo
Note to self, get Dan to teach me! He made the nicest cosmopolitans over the weekend

39. Finish and publish my book
Started writing again, doing Nanowrimo, really enjoying it!

40. Organise, sell and donate unused clothing, and items I own
Begun the massive task of sorting, filing, cleaning my spaces. Already filled one bag - going to do a car boot sale with my sister and then donate the rest to charity. The leftovers will go into the bin. Result.

68. Create and read a 100 book reading list and 69. Create and watch a 100 film watching list
Will post these shortly

70. Make gorgeous bags and 81. Make jewellery
Going to make a couple in time for Christmas - so watch this space.

80. Learn to count to ten in ten different languages
Started got 1. Spanish and 2. French - will post videos soon Working on 3. Russian and 4. Japanese

92. Make ten new good friends and take the time to cement ten friendships already gained
Dan and I made a kinda pact to make more of an effort with the friends we have, so we have been going out, having people over and being social butterflies. I forsee busy times ahead as we have no free spare weekends in November, all booked out - will be shattered by Christmas!

Done for now, expect longer update posts for each item as I journey through the last two months of the year!

Time flies…

xxx