::inspiring Mondays::

Fairy tale morning light. The kind that stays in your memory and induces a happy smile no matter how long your day has been. The kind that makes you long for the morning no matter how late you went to sleep. The kind that makes you jump out of bed at 7am on a Sunday to go to the park and see the spires give shape to the magical morning light.

I have a very heavily sore chest and throat. My eyes are on the verge of tears by no fault of my mood. And I had to talk for a great part of the day. Somedays are just like that, huh? And some of those days happen to be Mondays. The way I see it, the week can only improve, so I'm not bothered I started Monday on a small dip. It could have been worst; much worst! I could have turned green and grown a second nose, or a third arm; my hair could have turned rainbow colour overnight from out of date shampoo; my porridge could have been cold, or too hot! In fact, I should thank this Monday for its lack of evil creativity! A cold and a chesty cough, Monday? That's a bit like children's insults... good effort, but low strength!

:: morning photography with my new lens ♥ my bed may miss me from now on!

:: Little Brother's calls. just because. ♥

:: spinach soup. warms body and soul!

:: hot water. you fabulous invention!

:: honest conversations with my boss. a good man!

:: green cardi has buttons. pockets on their way.

:: arm warmers. the kind that have no holes and are soft and lovely and made by LMJ.

:: Strefen. when life gives you a sore throat, give it Strefen... and laugh at it!

:: a Sunday filled with knitting and warm soup and silly films and Homeland.

:: Lindt chocolate balls. so smooth and soft and yummy!

:: oven roasted sea bass. Mum, you'd be proud!

:: early bedtime. so the bed doesn't miss me too much after all!

How was your Monday? Dry, wet, or so and so? Happy? I'd hope for happy! Have a lovely week!

::inspiring Mondays::

 

A good Monday has a new lens one is too in love with for words. A good Monday has a registered brand. A good Monday has a nice hot shower to begin the day fresh and warm. A good Monday has lemon drizzle cupcakes brought to the office. A good Monday has white paint to finally finish decorating one's bedroom. A good Monday has a little bit of rain to remind us of how important water is. A good Monday has the smell of freshly made soup, almost like Mum's but not quite because my Mum's soup is the best.

All that to say today was an excellent Monday. If you see all those full stops as plus symbols, adding up all those good things could only lead to awesomeness. Eat that, grey sky, the Joey wins again! 

:: my new lens. 16-85mm of pure bliss. thank you, Little Brother, Mum and Dad! ♥♥♥
:: our registered brand! ♥
:: Bristolian weekend with my girls.
:: sunshine for our Sunday run. just perfect!
:: luck.
:: chilling. that feeling of just chilling.
:: knitting soft things.
:: Homeland on a Sunday.
:: painting things white. oh room, you look more inviting each day.
:: lemon drizzle cupcakes. yummy.
:: my housemates.

This was an edited version of an eventful Monday. As with everything, things are what we choose to make of them and I choose to make this Monday great, for all of the above. I'm off to kiss my lens goodnight. I hope your Monday has amazing!

::inspiring Mondays::

It's cold in Oxford. That cold that makes you want to have several hot showers a day, especially when you come home and you can put your PJs on afterwards and feel all snuggly for the rest of the evening.  What a feeling! And I'm feeling it right now because I'm lucky!

The week after I come back from Portugal is the hardest. I can still feel the warmth of the sunshine... but I can't!, I can still taste the food... but I can't!, I can still smell all those familiar smells that are home... but I can't!, I can still cuddle the cats... but I can't! Chasing after the memory of it all, the taste and life of the memory, is the hardest, and something the Portuguese people do oh so well. We're a nostalgic people, home to saudade and fado! When I realised I was happier and more cheerful than my  natural nostalgia would like me to, I told it to shut it and go sit quietly in the corner; but occasionally I miss it and let it out to keep me company for a little while... like when I come back from home and want to make the sweetness linger.

I woke up at 4am for no good reason and could not go back to sleep, but that meant I could wish LMrJ a good trip to Cuba as he boarded the plane. He'll be there for two weeks, with limited wifi access (if any!). So I guess waking up at 4am was a good thing. It's all about perspective, really!

:: the memory of home ♥

:: Little Brother phone calls. the phone rings in happiness, as do I.

:: LMrJ laughing when I'm trying to be annoyed. it's so sweet. and annoying. and sweet!

:: getting back into a running routine with Nicky. I'm lovin' it!

:: Oxford chilly autumnal clear mornings. gorgeous!

:: morning walk with porridge and my favourite podcast. bliss!

:: my hot water bottle. the snuggly feeling lasts and lasts!

:: post. what a great invention!

:: James Bond awesomeness! been there done that!

:: looking up. and smiling. it works every time.

:: central heating. what a fabulous thing!

:: wifi... we only notice it when it's gone.

:: chamomile tea. always!

In spite of the cold, this was a beautiful and dry start to the week. Isn't that amazing? Yep, it is! How was your Monday? Inspiring? Happy? I hope so :)