This Year I...

This is something I've always wanted to do. It seems like such an upbeat way to say goodbye to last year and start fresh. So here goes...

First of all and most importantly, I survived. This year has been tough. On me, my family and friends. At times it has seemed insurmountable. We made it through though, and things can only improve.

This year I made new friends, at work and at University. Who I think have really helped to bring me out of my shell. They are all so wonderful and I can only hope to get to know them better in the coming year.

This year I explored my country. Which is pretty self explanatory except this has always been a goal of mine. I visited lots of tourist attractions like, The Kelpies, Rob Roys Grave, Loch Lomond and lots of others.

The Kelpies.

The Old Church ruins beside were Rob Roy is believed to have been buried.

Loch Lomond.

This year I visted Yorkshire for the first time. It's a wonderful place with beautiful scenery and I really hope to return one day.

This year I studied harder than I ever have. I feel as though I really pushed myself and, felt maybe for the first time, my boundaries. It's a wonderful feeling to know you've tried as hard as you possibly could and again to see the results of that effort payed back.

This year I started journal-ling again which has been another one of my goals for a few years now. I think I  just had to find the right way for me, as well as to learn not to put pressure on myself to write when I don't feel like it. I learned it should never be a chore and to only write when I truly want to.

This year I joined the gym.

This year I baked.

chocolate orange cake.

This year I did yoga. A lot of yoga!

There are a few other things that should maybe be included. Like teaching myself shorthand and learning a few new recipes but looking back, the above are the things that stand out. It was both a wonderful and difficult year but I lived it and I've learned. I hope this coming year will bring wonderful experiences and happy memories!

With Love
xxx

The Fringe

Here in Edinburgh we're in the last weeks of the Fringe; a summer festival where the town gets filled with people from all over. These are a few process images from a guide book for artists that I've been working on for a while. I hope to publish it one day, but, in the event that I don't; you guys get to enjoy some snippets.

Steve

I gave my card to a few new friends today and it was the kick up the butt I needed to post again. So, to new friends, here is a portrait of an old friend of mine. Steve the Harris' Hawk. He was a beautiful boy.

Support your local libraries!

The weather is fantastic here in Edinburgh, for the moment, and the Scottish make the best of the sun while we have it. The parks and beaches are packed. So Chris and I went to the library.

This is my haul. The unseen world of today's most creative talents. The best of the best of Bukowski and this beautifully illustrated natural history of the birds of paradise.

Then we did go to the park. Reading and sun. There is not much better.

I hope you are all enjoying fantastic weather wherever you may be,

With love x

Happy Towel Day!

In honor of the great Douglas Adams and in lieu of photo's of me carrying around my towel, which I most assuredly AM doing, here are some nice towels for any Hitchhikers in need.

This fun dolphin number because...well they did TRY to warn us.

These fantastic Dr. Suess hooded towels! In different colour ways so that you can be the Grinch, Horton or The Cat in the Hat.

This lovely vintage flapper girl beach towel from the Etsy shop NeatoKeen

 This adorable little pink owl towel. Any chance that would be big enough for me? from the Etsy shop LilyLouLou.

And this kitty hand towel. A friend of mine has one and its just as cute in person.

I hope you all know where your towel is,

with love x