In which everything is awesome

You remember my hyper-up excitement about The Lego Movie coming up? The little figures of the main characters I have? Well yesterday I finally got to see it!
And "Everything is awesome... everything is cool when you're part of a team."
We're both still singing the song this morning.

It was incredibly funny, the plot wasn't actually as ridiculous as many children's films, and I liked the dystopian Lego city concept, so yes that song isn't quite as twee as it seams. It was also heart-warming and inspiring like any kids film should be. Oh and the catchy theme song is by Tegan and Sara.

I had a lot of fun recognising bits of my own Lego within the set: "I have those pyjamas!" "That's my weapon rack!" In fact it is basically the best bit of product placement ever invented because huge amounts of the Lego within it are all available and yes, that post-movie inspiration is to go home, tip up your old Lego box, screw the instructions and just make something.

The animation really plays with you, toying with the fluidity of a Lego world that has become real (such as moving waves in the sea or the speed in which the characters can build things) and the reminder that it is a world controlled by humans outside of it, (such as a Lego ghost on a piece of string).

So just because I can't get enough of it, I'm going to share a different trailer from last time for you. It actually gives you a good flavour of what the movie is like without really revealing any of the plot points.



I wore a slightly childish outfit to the cinema, featuring my little black Lego brick earrings.
On the train a a little kid was playing in the aisle and he stopped next to me and then ran back to his parents and said loudly,
"Daddy, Daddy. That lady has Lego earrings! *pause* Take a look!"

It was a beautiful moment. I enjoyed being someone kids drag their parents over to look at. Hahah.

This pinafore is actually something that was languishing on the pile of things to go to the charity shop. It's slightly too big for me and I feel that it makes me look really young. However, the joy of this haircut is that because it makes me look a little older, I am looking back at otherwise unloved clothes. The only way to not look like I am 6 in it is to smarten it up a lot, hence the smart heels which I also haven't worn since I had a corporate job about 2 years ago.

Lego earrings! Forgot to get better close-ups.

So have you seen the Lego Movie? Did you enjoy it?

In which some new books have arrived

 Before Christmas has entirely slipped away from your memories I thought I'd share a little bit of what I got in my Christmas haul. There were lots of little things and chocolates and make-up and some corn-forks, but I always love books and I got some particularly beautiful ones this year. Technically the top 2 books were presents for Andy but as we share everything I thought I'd put them in the limelight too.

So we have from bootom to top:
1. Dungeon Masters Guide (2nd edition).
It's for Dungeons and Dragons and is from the very origins of the game. We have it very nicely sitting next to our fourth edition books, but now means we want to get the Dungeon Masters Guide for every version.
2. Black Orchid.
I have nearly everything Neil Gaiman has ever done, but yet this was my first time reading through Black Orchid, despite it being on of the very first things he did. It has absolutely stunning art work and a rather post-modern super hero story.
3. Locke and Key Book 4
If I was to persuade to you to read one comic book series, it would have to be Locke and Key. I am fairly sure I've mentioned them here before. The series is dark Lovecraftian inspired horror-adventure. It's a little viscous but I still have hopes of a happy ending.
4. The Pink Fairy Book
We got 2 folio edition books, adding to our slowly growing collection of these beautiful hard backs. This one has Japanese fairy tales, lovely illustrations and looks gorgeous on the bookshelf.
5. DSLR Handbook
This is what I actually asked for as my Christmas present. Having got my DSLR in the Summer it is about time I learnt how to use it properly. It's quite funny because the books is written with a really smug male tone. The author is absolutely certain of all the things you have to do in his way.
6. Moonfleet
Also a lovely boxed Folio book. I'm waiting for Andy to read it first before I do. Despite it being a classic I've never read it so I'm looking forward to getting stuck into an adventure story.
7. Sleepwalkers
This is the other non-fiction of the set. A look at the causes of World War One

That wasn't quite all the books we got for Christmas... There was this little stack as well: 

 A full collection of Meg and Mog books. When we opened them we weren't sure if they were a hint of things to come or merely a recognition of our childish side.

The Fairy Tail book goes perfectly with the bookends I got for my birthday too.

I got a little something else to go with my DSLR handbook. Finally a tripod too! So now maybe I'll do some outfit photos when Andy isn't around.

And of course it isn't Christmas without a little bit of Lego.

 I hope you had a good Christmas too! Did you get any good books? I already read most of mine so if you have anything good to recommend I am really looking for some new stories and authors to get into this year.

In which there is snow and sorrow but all is well

Before I say anything else in this post, I must begin by saying I have just returned from seeing the current film of Les Miserables and I am still in a state of recovery. I have never seen anything that made me cry so much. Some films, like Avatar or Titanic even, have significant moments that make you cry, pinnacles of sadness as it were, but this film: wow; Andy and I were genuinely sobbing for about half the film. It is utterly heart-wrenching. Also, Hugh Jackman is a god among men. I can't deny that he is my longest running celebrity-crush. I used to have a poster of him on my wall as a teenager because I was, and am, really into X-men and he is damn sexy as Wolverine. Since then he has continuously impressed me as a person. He really can sing and he is charming and funny in real life. In this, he was so impressive that I feel proud of my 14-year old self's lasting taste.

Andy and I took the day off work to go see the film and it did work out as a wonderful day, despite the sorrow. It snowed all morning so we decided to get breakfast out. We went to this extraordinary greasy spoon that does food that the two of us crave over, by which I mean American food - pancakes, milkshakes and floats. Andy lived in America for most of his childhood and I visited him there when his parents were living in Texas. I love these things - and Britain has no IHOP (International House of Pancakes that isn't actually international).

So these are our breakfasts:

Andy's hot chocolate

American-style blueberry pancakes, with bacon. It's blurry I know, but he was in a hurry to start eating it when it arrived so I didn't get time to take lots.

I got blueberry pancakes, English muffin, bacon, sausage, egg and maple syrup.

Then we went to the park, covered in snow just for us. Having the day off felt so beautiful in the endless snow. No kids to run around, no people on bikes. We were walking through it all, still completely fresh in the middle of the day.

Outfit: Skirt: Mango, Velvet shirt: charity shop find, Coat: charity shop, Bag: New Look, Ear muffs: present, Wellies: there's long story involved with how I got those wellies, Socks: Matalan, Tights: H&M.

Butterfly wellies with lacy knee socks over knitter yellow tights.

Wearing a velvet shirt for the first time ever. The thing keeping me warm-ish. And I loved the contrast of fabrics with the thick velvet against the soft light skirts and the black on pink.

The outfit looked a lot more glamorous indoors. The gloves possibly ruin it's photogenic qualities, but it was still snowing at this point. I hope they are allowed.

Andy got me spinning round to show off the skirt. And his hands were shaking so much from all the snow that this way blurry photos were ok!

You may have noticed my hair has changed since the last blog post. I wanted to have something new and bright, hope you like it! 

And if you don't care for pictures of pancakes or people then, please look at the snowflakes. I have never seen this before, never stopped long enough in the snow to notice, but today I saw the flakes fall like Christmas sprinkles. As we caught them on Andy's gloves we notices those paper-cut out shapes, the special snowflakes of metaphor actually falling and visible with a naked eye. Without a microscope, or a fancy camera zoom, this is what we actually saw when we stopped for a moment:

In particular look at a third of the way down on the far right. Perfectly formed and incredible.

In which I'm looking for some reading material

I love reading all the blogs I do and getting to know folk from across the world and the most varied collection of clothes, ideas, crafts and eclectic styles and personalities.



Most of the blogs that I love to read seem to be girls who live somewhere near the countryside or some kind of small town (strangely often Midwest America or Melbourne). They like to thrift and frequent charity shops or make their own clothes and do outdoorsy photoshoots. They share a little of themselves and smile in their photos. I like all this.

I like their blogs and I like these people through the little glimpse of them that shines through the internet.

I am generally less keen on blogs where people just put pictures of catwalks or show off their collection of Miu Miu shoes. Oh, of course to everything there is an exception, but I want to feel like blogs offer inspiration and connection. Essentially something magazines can never provide.

However the blogs that I have found of people who live near to me seem to fall into the latter category. They also intimidate me a little with their classy looks and large shoe collections. Oh I live near London, but I'm not a city girl. I'm a country small-town girl at heart who went to university in Wales and whose parents live in North Yorkshire. London is still a spectacle not a home. The town I live in on the outskirts, that's home now - but I doubt there's a whole collection of fashion bloggers here!

*Getting to the point* I would love to get to know more people round here and join some kind of London group for people who like fashion but not Fashion and clothes but not Vogue. SO:
Can anyone recommend some good blogs that are based in London?

I just want to re-iterate, there are some City blogs I really like. It’s just that most of the fashion blogs people share or that I have come across tends to be American or Australian focused and I’d like to find more English ones in the hopes of making more friends in a city I am new to. I also love finding new blogs so please tell me what I should be reading below!

 Second point coming up!

Most of my reading list are about fashion, but I throw in some blogs on cakes, feminism, theology and comic books as well. However, I would also love to find more good blogs that are about those kinds of things, whilst also being personable, if you know what I mean. After all a blog of cake recipes and decorating is just so much more interesting if they share the stories behind the four foot luckdragon made of icing. So please let me know if you have any interesting quirky blogs to recommend too.
For instance on:
-Feminism
-Toys
-Cosplay and costume making
-DIY, crafts and making it yourself clothes
-Books, but passionate about them, not just objective calm reviews
-Cake decorating
-Comics; about comics or containing comics
And just to share the love! Some of my favourite non-specifically fashion blogs/tumblrs are:


The Lady Nerd
 Amazing and striking cosplay outfits and costumes that are totally different from anything else. Even if you are not normally into cosplay, she also writes really well about conventions with all the little encounters and witty moments. She makes me smile with every post, plus she great photoshoots.

 

 The Lady Nerd in her Vogue-Loki look. Heart.

Stoya
Definitely NSFW this one. This is the tumblr of Stoya, international alt porn star. Sometimes she blogs about upcoming films, sometimes she makes clothes, sometimes she writes about acrobatics training and sometimes about feminism. She is very intelligent, witty and all-round interesting. I learn a lot from her blog.

We Mixed Our Drinks
A blog about religion and feminism and life thoughts written by the news editor of BitchBuzz.  Very well thought out and articulated views on theology, feminism, literature and life.

Krisatomic
Blog by an illustrator/photographer who does cute drawings and interesting photographs and a bit of life blogging.

Diane Duane tumblr
She’s the author of the Young Wizard teen fantasy series. One of my favourite childhood authors who I am re-reading at the moment. She’s amazing because whilst being successful and famous she is a fan. She doesn’t place herself above her fans because she squees over Loki, Sherlock and kitten pictures like the rest of us. Interestingly she has also written some Scooby-Doo and Star Trek books.
What else do you enjoy reading beyond the fashion sphere? (or even crossing over into that realm but residing in another)

Do you read tumblrs too?

What English blogs do you recommend?

In which I am obsessed with Bones for all the right reasons

I have been watching a lot of Bones lately. 

It is a tv show about a forensic anthropologist called Dr Temperance Brennan. The basic premise is that she uses her knowledge of bones to team up with the FBI, who know about people, to catch murderers -with the help of her team of talented scientists at the Jerffersonian Institute. There is often a clash played out between the anthropologist Dr Brennan (aka Bones) and her FBI partner Agent Seeley Booth. Although they care about each other, Brennan is all about the empirical evidence and Booth about the instinctive emotions, but between the pair of them and the 'squint squad' they always lock the bad guy up. As crime plots go it is neat, character drivenand we don't have gory shots of the crimes being committed like Criminal Mind, but it is just as, if not more, fascinating. 

I am a bit late to the party with this one I know as it has been out since 2005.

However with NCIS over for now and House over forever, I needed something new to watch. So when I said 'a lot of Bones' what I mean is we've been getting whole seasons out of Blockbuster and watching about four episodes a night for the last few weeks so I am in a good position to really comment on character and show development because I have seen it all in that intense space of time. 

When I watch a new show I have lots of criteria for judging it: originality, acting, good characters etc. the usual ones. But one thing that matters to me is the presentation and representation of women. I am an un-abashed feminist and I get so tired of bechdel-test failing shows or ones that play upon tired Hollywood stereotypes or are merely an overtly male story (Prison Break, for example). The real reason I feel the need to write this review is because Bones kicks ass on the feminism point and I want to celebrate that.

To begin with there is a wealth of female characters:

(as of Season 3)

Dr Temperance Brennan aka Bones -The lead of the show

Angela -Brennan's best friend and the artist who puts a face to the skulls

Camille -Brennan’s boss who provides a bit of lateral thinking to the team

Additional female characters:

Caroline Julian: the kick-ass lawyer who often acts as the prosecutor, using Brennan's team's evidence.

Booth's ex and other assorted love interests, Russ' girlfriend and then various victims, killers, suspects and everything else in between.

Keeping the Bechdel test in mind these women -they talk to each other, about things other than their relationships to men all the time! Usually about science and corpses. Men do come up, but the women's conversations are not there to highlight the character development of the men or merely reveal interesting plot points about the men. And talking of character development, the story does not play on tropes of women dying/suffering in order to progress the development of the men. The main male character Agent Seeley Booth has far less character development than the women. He is very likeable, but as the male lead he is almost too dependable.

In contrast Dr Brennan, although not an FBI agent herself, is often put in dangerous situations as she hunts down psycho killers. In these situations she demands a gun and, although Booth is not keen on this idea or her joining him in the field at times, this protectiveness is presented as the wish of a friend not rooted in an assumption of feminine weakness. Instead Dr Brennan saves Booth's life though shooting and, through skill at martial arts, beats up a cartel-leader as well as various other occasions of escaping from capture through either violence or ingenuity. She has brains and courage and surprising skills (she is also an author, a good cook and a diver). At this gushing point I became aware that this might put her at risk of Dan Brown-esque Mary Sueism of a hyperbolic level of talent. You know how Dan Brown writes these un-realistic women as though he's saying 'How can I be sexist? All my female characters are amazing' (Just take another look at them, trust me)

But when I thought through this fear I realised that Brennan is given character development and flaws -awkward family relationships, she is incredibly tactless, bad at boyfriends, sometimes selfish. etc.

I really could go on and talk in depth about the minutia of the show, the guest appearances and more, but overall this show has totally won my feminist heart. I hope I have said enough to convince you and if you have already been watching this show for seven years I apologise, but please let me know what you think! But no spoilers! I'm only onto season three!

p.s. This is my 100th blog post! 

In which Origami Girl reviews the Opening Ceremony

Ok, I know everyone is going to be blogging and talking about the Olympics for ever more, but please humour me. I want it to be said and recorded: I loved the opening ceremony. Ever since Beijing, which awed us all, there has been a nervous atmosphere in Britain regarding the opening ceremony. We were not particularly impressed with the handover on a London bus. It was a bit of a shambles. We were dreading making Boris Johnson the heart of the spectacle and when we head 'manufactured rain' there was some serious griping. We were sure that next to Beijing our attempt would be an embarrassment.
But the actual ceremony of last night? Won my heart for the Olympics.

Voldemort being defeated by a flock of Mary Poppins

I honestly felt like the ceremony was made just for me. I want to guide you through the ceremony via the moments that made me feel like I was quintessentially British.

Ruth-bits:

-Children's literature

Peter Pan, 101 Dalmatians, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins and Harry Potter. Anyone who knows me knows my love of children's writing.  Although some people may not be aware, all of those were books first. All books I have read and loved. With Shakespeare as well I was blown away: I never expected a celebration of words in an event about sport.

-Folk music and hymns

I am very fond of traditional folk songs and loved the Irish children singing from the Giant's Causeway. It was beautiful and epic. Opening with a hymn was interesting when so few people identify as Christian these days, but I thought it was powerful and beautiful. I didn't know that Abide with Me is actually sung at many sporting matches, but I love that hymn which is enough for me.

-Rock music

I know a lot of people love rock music, but the choices were all songs I love. In particular I was delighted to hear Enola Gay by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. One of my favourite bands. Plus I was thinking of the Scroobius Pip line: "Who makes the best music in the world? / We do." and smiling at all the classic tunes that have come out of Britain.

-World Wars' Memorial

One of the only moments I ever feel patriotic usually is on Remembrance Sunday and Danny Boyle got me on my patriotism weak spot. I studied the First World War in great depth at A Level English, reading tons of war poetry and novels until I feel like I knew Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. I have also been to France and Belgium to visit the memorials, have been in the trenches and placed a wreath on the Menin Gate. All this has meant the First World War is an era that feels very important to me and so I was very touched by the recognition of the world wars. I was deeply impressed that in a celebration of all things British we didn't shy away from the horrors.

-Industrial Revolution

Smelting the Olympic Rings

Unlike the world wars this is not an era I have a vast expertise on, but again, recognising the dual nature of the industrial revolution as a blight on the English Countryside and as a forging of a new future through the metaphor of smelting the Olympic rings? Incredible. It took my breath away. You can't beat a well-crafted metaphor.

-Shakespeare

The Tempest is one of my favourite Shakespeare's and the speech they chose is one of the few that I can actually recite. I by no means claim Shakespeare for my own, but in a celebration of the bard I was glad that that was the moment they chose.

-Countryside

I know that the Olympics are in fact set in London, the metropolis, not a quiet country village and as such many people felt it was an inaccurate representation. However, as someone who has lived in the countryside and enjoys a sense of historical continuity I really like the maypole and the thatched cottage, quaint and twee as they may be.

Bonus points:

-Suffragettes

-Windrush generation

-Inclusivity

-Celebration of the NHS

-Pogo-ing

-James Bond

-Mr Bean

One of the reasons I am usually not patriotic is because I associate the word with xenophobia, racism and ignorance. I associate it with a blindness to the darkness in our history and a pride in war where there should only be sadness. I hate looking on the world wars as things which were honourable or glorious. I rarely feel a pride in Britain as a whole. But all of the above? I didn't feel one ounce of hatred of exclusion in the ceremony. It was a recognition of Britain as it is -and I loved it.

In which there is sunshine and success

I have had an abundance of wonderful things in my week and they just keep coming. Considering the past Posts of Sadness I have indulged in this is going to be a Post of Gladness, but hopefully not in a Polyanna way. 

The shine on everything is the sun. I often refer to myself as a ‘Sunshine baby’ which I think I got from the book Sunshine by Robin McKinley (one of the best vampire novels out there, featuring a baker as the central character), but I possibly just made it up. The sun charges me up, makes me do things and fills me with happiness. It makes me friendlier and filled with self-belief. Yesterday I spent the afternoon in the walled cathedral gardens reading a book outside and watching these two mothers with their babies playing and chatting together. It was a wonderful atmosphere of contentment.

So what else is great?

Well, I fixed my long pink skirt where the fastening had broken and got a new top –which called for this outfit. It’s funny, because I am so short I have always felt that I couldn’t wear full length skirts because they make me look even shorter, but screw that! I think this skirt looks great anyway.

 

Following on from my post about finally liking pink, you can see I have embraced it fully here. It is so odd. Until writing this blog post I hadn't even considered it, but me of a few years back wouldn't have been seen dead in this much 'girly'. 

 I also read Hexwood by Dianna Wynne Jones earlier this week. I have talked about her before, but whenever I read something undiscovered of hers I am once again blown away. No matter how much I may love to write, or how good I get, I will never have ideas as original as hers. Hexwood sucked me in for days through all its plot twists and I am once again awed by her writing. (It is also dedicated to Neil Gaiman which makes a nice connection to my other favourite writer.)

Talking of writing though there is something else I am very proud of. On Monday I interviewed a film director for work. My first ever interview. She is Hanna Sköld, the director of the Swedish language film Nasty Old People who is attempting to fund her next film through Kickstarter. Please read the interview, tell me what you think and give her some pennies if you like the ideas. 

It is amazing to me that I have had that opportunity. I feel like my career has gone round in circles, but that right there -that's me being a journalist.

 I hope you have also had a shiny week.

                                                                                                                                      

In which I list the prettiest websites I procrastinate on

My list today is: Sites that I use just for the pictures.

It's partly a lie as I do read some stuff as well, but mostly the pictures then.

Here goes.

1. Cosplay.com

When I have spare time and no particular blogs to be reading I like to go on cosplay.com and search for books, films and anime that I love and just see if anything comes up. I once spent an hour going through all the characters in Super Smash Brothers. I love cosplay to bits. When done well it is breathtaking and beautiful. I have a few bits and pieces I have made myself and hope one day to go to a convention and swelter away all day like everyone else. If you go on the site I reccommend looking through photoshoots.

2. Bookshelf Porn
   

Anyone who knows me will know that I am obsessed with reading. I have read pretty much every children's book worth reading. That sounds boastful, but I have read over 250 on the 'Children's Books to Read Before You Grow Up' list if you want evidence and I've read more than that.

Anyhow, I am a bit prissy when it comes to books. I like them to be treated properly, kept in height order or some other logical system on a book case with the only ornaments near them ones that compliment the books. I feel kind of uncomfortable in a house where people have the Harry Potter books kept out of sequence. A site like this one makes me very happy. All of these people clearly care about books.

3. Off-beat Bride
   
   

I have been reading this site for a couple of years now and it is influencing my life in terrible ways. The website features unusual 'off-beat' weddings and wedding ideas. They are splendid and filled with happiness. The site always makes me smile because it is filled with photos of happy people in love and cool and quirky ideas and ways they show that love. On the other hand though it was recently pointed out to me that it may be making me judgemental. I have read all these horror stories of wedding planners refusing to help someone because they had blue hair or walked with a cane and have scorned that judgementalism, but I have begun to expect off-beat from other weddings or at least some little tradition rebellion somewhere. I'm glad that it has been pointed out because now I can obsess over traditional and unusual weddings and make sure I have no expectations either way!

Oh and the other reason I have been on this site. My very close friend got married recently. Her wedding was definately cool -she had a bouncy castle and not a kid in sight. Need I say more?

4. I ran out of time. Sorry guys! Got to go to work tomorrow... I mean save the world right.