jake-dugg

as the title suggests, this blog might feature my dog jake a little bit. thought it might cheer everyone up as the weekend still seems so far away - how can it only be wednesday?!

anyway, here's the man himself...
(we've taken to calling him jake-dugg nowadays rather than just 'jake' - he doesn't seem to have the same fan girl following as jake bugg though...poor thing)

So we haven't actually blogged in a few weeks now but our lovely Kirsty is away down to live in London now as she was accepted into Italia Conti Arts Centre - talented girl! So as you can imagine it's been a bit busy for her and also for me making sure I can annoy the life out of her non-stop until she moved! It's not even been a week and I can honestly say i'm missing her loads. hopefully we can keep track of each other's wee adventures on this blog and give you all something interesting to read.

What better way to send her off than a big night out like usual eh? 
This obviously called for a new outfit and again i'm telling EVERYONE about yet another fantastic ASOS next day-delivery story. Ordered my dress about 8pm on the friday night and had it for 10am the next morning - perfect! Might be tempted to spend way more money than I should in the future. Here's a few snaps from the night...

And a rough (see what I did there?) idea of what the situation was the next morning... 
Jake-Dugg to the rescue for a wee cuddle. Feeling more than a little bit fragile.

But just before Kirsty moved and before the final night out, we did manage to squeeze in a few more alcohol fuelled adventures...

Babyshambles: Glasgow Barrowlands, 4th September.
Having only ever seen The Libertines at Leeds Festival in 2010 (best.ever!) I was really looking forward to seeing Babyshambles, especially in the Barrowlands. Kirsty has seen Babyshambles a fair few times so she was equally as excited, knowing exactly how good it was going to be.
What a night! Far too many ciders & blackcurrant were consumed and most of these (clearly shown in the following photos) ended up down the front of my favourite fred perry. Pete Doherty was on top form and did not disappoint although I did have my doubts on whether he'd even show up. Afterwards we headed to Maggie Mays for a few more and work at 9am the next morning didn't even get a second thought..
Sadly the photos I took of Babyshambles didn't turn out great but there's plenty of amusing photos of the rest of us.

Madchester, The Admiral, Glasgow, August 31st
Fantastic night held in The Admiral on the last Friday of every month playing all the best music.
Great to hear all the classics where everyone knew every single word and you don't have to listen to crap in between. Will definitely be back to this - friendly staff and just £5 entry. Another top night at the admiral.

(outfit details at the bottom) 

(paisley print button up blouse; Topshop, high waisted shorts - Topshop, necklace - vintage)

Last but not least, reasons why my wages have been going missing recently...

1. Oasis Reunion?

Hmm, it's not official but this week there have been rumours flying about (as usual) that Oasis are in big talks about a possible 2014 reunion. I'm always skeptical about this but the Oasis ticket fund has begun. There's not a chance that i'll be able to live with myself if I miss out on this.

Obviously I'll be buying Kirsty a ticket too as she's a massive fan.

2. Cosy Clothes Season Is Back

The cold weather here seems to have hit us all of a sudden - although you'd think we'd be used to it!

Treated myself to this gorgeous pair of heeled ankle boots - cannot wait to get them on this weekend.

The one thing I love about the cold weather is changing your wardrobe, the rest of it is pretty dull.



3. More Tickets
Having only started listening to Temples recently, I couldn't resist getting tickets for their next Glasgow gig in King Tuts - even better when I realised this is on my 21st birthday. Smashing.
So looking forward to this, can't think of a better way to spend my birthday.

mixed up, muddled up,

Firstly, I'd like to apologise for Kirsty slating Oasis in the last blog post and sticking up for Blur as usual. It's okay, I'll have a word with her and she'll learn soon....
:)

trying to keep the blog going by posting as often as we can, think we've been a bit lazy recently! it was a busy weekend though for both of us. 

here's a big mix up of photos from the past week to build up an idea of what's been going on...
(I apologise in advance for the awkward line up of the photos - had them all nicely arranged and posted it and it's all squint now. I'll get the hang of it soon, I promise).

               

                                                       

so after ten months, i'm leaving my job for a new one (also at a call centre) however the dress code for the two couldn't be more different. above shows the last time i'd be going to work casual clothes; something I reckon I got way too used to. it's not a surprise that this meant i'd be wearing high waisted jeans (topshop), polo shirt (fred perry), moccasins (river island) and my favourite tan, suede satchel (topshop). my go-to outfit for work as of recently! so here's the difference...suited and booted (is that just for guys?) for the new job...

                                       
                                                                     (dress; new look)

I'll admit it, as much as I miss the casual clothes, it did feel quite nice getting all dressed up for a change. we'll see how long that lasts! 

         A Bit For The Weekend
  

Whilst tidying out my clothes (something I don't do very often), I found these tights. Bought them last year (i think) and forgot all about them. Decided to pair them up with a black bodycon skirt, red and blue tipped fred perry polo shirt and a quick dash of pinky-red rimmel lipstick. Already bought another two pairs of these tights off ebay because I love them so much now and I'm scared I rip these ones.

 

Another obsession that I'm having at the moment is kimonos. I don't even know why, I just seem to have bought so many recently! This one is from new look last year. They go with just about everything and are great if you're like me and need to keep the sun off the old pale shoulders sometimes.

SURPRISE

 

 

                                            

(dress; missguided)

Friday night was lovely. My American family visited all the way from Texas and of course, this meant a party. A surprise party in fact, to celebrate my cousin Georgia's 21st birthday. I hadn't seen her since we were both 15(ish) so it really was a fantastic wee night! I've also been watching far too much New Girl recently so I tried to get a bit Zooey Deschanel with the polka-dot skater dress. I'm not sure I did her justice but it was definitely worth the try!
I also got to meet my cousin's fantastic baby, Collyn. Been waiting so long to meet him and he didn't disappoint. Full of giggles and fun.

                                                 

                                      

                                                   

& Finally

last but not least, some snaps of Kirsty and I enjoying a nowhere near sober night out in Glasgow on Saturday night. We decided to pretty much decide each other's outfits. Kirsty is wearing a green, cut-out back dress from Topshop and I'm wearing a halter neck Fred Perry dress.

              

               

              

              

            

spaced, spice girls, and a woman at a cash machine

The woman in front of me at a cash machine was displaying this look. In trying to work out if it was a deliberate 90's effort or otherwise, I started getting all nostalgic.

Yes, I am one of those people philosophising about the 1990's, a decade which has now become an acceptable 'vintage' era in the fashion world (more on that later). Smash Hits was in its prime, and everything was fantastic and tye-dyed until HearSay happened and I got my own door key. Of course, I'm only drawing from experience on 2 and a bit of the many decades in contest to be 'the best' , but the 90's win and, because in the latter half they gave us the functioning internet, I can now self-indulgently post my reasons for believing so and there's nothing you can do about it. If you do have a problem, it's not my fault you grew up with a lack of milk, bad perms and UB40. 

Despite the 60's looking, sounding and being continually reported as the decade to go through your formative years, I disagree. Considering this post to be talking about childhood, I didn't give a shit about Kurt Cobain as a kid, and therefore would have preferred Lulu to The Rolling Stones, rendering the whole experience useless. Living human beings like selected things from the 60's because they're cool as fuck and look/sound amazing. Being a child during the period would have spoiled this phenomenon later in life, and involved wearing too much brown. I've also come across this comprehensive 'Guide to the 60's by kids for kids' all in one DIY Standard Grade computing level website. It moves seamlessly from mini-skirts to Vietnam...

 Apart from the obvious fact I was a child and in awe of everything I later discovered that the 90's appeared to be great for the rest of the adult world too. I've since adopted some of it's exports, and live in a constant state of despair that the Hacienda no longer exists. I've also adopted Blur, Jarivs Cocker, some of Radiohead, lots of Nirvana, and singing 'Road Rage' very loudly when it comes on the radio. 

Here's something which is better than anything I could ever put together, nicely settling an age-old argument - 'Why Blur Lost the Battle but Won the War'. (Please note these views are not shared by all participants of this blog...). Shanks & Bigfoot has that great song, as did All Saints with 'Pure Shores'. An altogether good time for music.

Away from that and not having time to go into the films of the 90's I've also decided are 'my faves', I took quite a shine to Spaced. It's hilarious, it's clever, it's probably why Shuan of the Dead is genuinely my favourite film and it's on 4OD. It also managed to avoid being remade for American television, and that's probably worth more than anything else I could say. (The U.S Office notwithstanding)

Just start at the beginning Series 1, Episode 1 like normal person and watch it all until it ends. Then watch it again.

 

Next, if it turns out you like Spaced, go watch Green Wing, and then go to London to see the Spaced house, or maybe that's just me.

  

 The logical progression from Spaced is to the Spice Girls.

 This one is very much a product of being an 8-year-old. Although recently I've been getting excited again. Don't watch Spice World the Movie though, keep it locked in 1997, it's not as good as you remember. 

But it's still good.

 

When I found the picture below I think I made audible noises of excitement. DO YOU REMEMBER THIS? I don't know what's wrong with me. People are selling these cans for £75 on eBay. There is a part of me that would happily pay this, although I don't quite know what kind of person is sitting sixteen years later looking at old Spice Girls crap on the internet.

 

Last week I bought this on the Internet...

 

 I tried to collect the postcards as a kid and was hopeless at it. My cousin nearly had the full collection, (did you I can't remember?) and was generally better at the collection of objects, Beanie Babies etc, and this annoyed me. Now I have my 'Official Spice Girls Photo Album' and I am happy.

I'd also attempted to buy this a few months ago, but apparently it 'sold out in 1998'. I'm open to Spice Girls gifts until this phase passes.

 Right, clothes. If you think this vintage 90's look is nonsense and you've managed to avoid it, you haven't.

Retail is still consumed by this 90's revival. It's why Dr Martens have had their best selling season ever, why Urban Outfitters can pass off the beanie hat of guy who took his last pill in 1995 and has been working in the Pension Department ever since, as re-worked vintage, and why 'the industry' can whole-heartedly advocate 'heroin chic' and tattoo Cara Delevingne on the insides of your eyelids.

In saying that there's an offensive neon thing that seems to be happening with girls who get a manicure to go to a festival, but for the most part it's all pretty good. If you like something just buy it, you'll look back in 20 years and cringe anyway.

Taking a photo of my own feet on the subway. Acid wash, leggings and Chelsea boots, you can't get more 90's than that (you can).

 Found this jumpsuit on Etsy for £15 and was then billed a thousand pounds for customs charged. But still, I like it. Black and white, big gold buttons and chain gold straps, early of the decade and came with a matching cropped jacket. 

There's also the whole Rita Ora/Rihanna thing happening with 'street wear' but we don't have to talk about that. Wikipedia seemingly knows a thing or too about the fashion 20 years ago, if you care, have a look.

Honourable 90's mentions

90's TV was obviously the best thing ever, ever. Probably because I was a child, and children like TV. Although I would still watch Aquilla. Also a mention for the 'noughties' (disgusting word) for not being so shit and creating Jeopardy. That was good.

 The terrifying: The Demon Headmaster, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Goosebumps and that woman who was always after the 'shoeshine boy.' 

The animated: The Racoons, Pinky and the Brain, The Rugrats, OLD episodes of Tom and Jerry, and the invention of Cartoon Network.

The generally amazing: Funhouse, Clarissa, The Wild House, Neil Buchanan, and the Saturday night combination dream team of Blind Date and Gladiators. Jet was probably with first person I was in love with, and that's probably quite worrying.

By now if you really did care you'd stick '90's stuff' into Google images and come up with these

 

and a million other things, but you know what the 90's were like - you were there, and you're probably sick of me talking.

 Also I dyed my hair from brown with bad blonde highlights and loads of roots, to dark red. A good decision.

 

-Kirsty