Last Day of November Playlist

With holidays and sicknesses and the general events of life, it's been a while since the last post, and I can't believe it's already the last day of November!  At least that means it's officially acceptable for me to listen to Christmas music and put the tree up.  

The Rockettes are my favorite part of the Macy's Parade. 

Even though I'm very grateful to be so fortunate as to have a school to go to and a home to go home to, going back to the "daily grind" after the extended break is proving to be challenging.  And I think I'm coming down with something, too, because getting up and out was particularly difficult.  But all that aside, Mondays are always made better by music.

Vance Joy: "Riptide"

Sia: "Elastic Heart"

New Politics: "Harlem"

Arctic Monkeys: "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"

And, because it's now the holiday season...

Darlene Love: "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

<3 Frances 

Movie Style: Testament of Youth

I'm reading Vera Brittain's memoir Testament of Youth at the moment.  It's a beautiful, poignant account of life and love during World War I, and Brittain, a feminist and peace activist, offers an honest perspective on how the war changed the youth of her generation.  No longer were they focused on academics or leisure but on survival.  

“There seemed to be nothing left in the world, for I felt that Roland had taken with him all my future and Edward all my past.”

Last year, a film adaptation of Testament of Youth came out, and my mum and I, always drawn to the tragic beauty of war poets like Wilfred Owen, watched it together.  The scenes of the trenches recreated the horrific reality of the war, and the film captured well the novel and the transition that the youth went through from being completely disconnected from war to being fully involved in it.  But while so much of the movie brought out the pain and horrors of the WWI era, the costumes designed by Consolata Boyle reflected (like the poetry) the beauty that so many clung onto during the darkness.










<3 Frances

Cuteness to Make You Feel Better

There are a lot of difficult things going on in the world, but in order to help make the planet a better place for everyone, it's important that we not forget about the good things, like fennec foxes and babies laughing hysterically at ripping paper.  Here's some cuteness to bring a little light to your Friday. 

That baby doll's expression just makes me so happy!

<3 Frances

Art Inspiration

There's something so powerful about artwork, and these storybook pieces look like they could've come straight from the pages from a storybook.  When I have writer's block, it sometimes helps just to look at art like this because it's so appealing to the literary part of the mind.  Each piece could have a story that goes along with it, and I'm sure some of them do.  And the outfits in the paintings are pretty impressive themselves.  If only dresses could be so ethereal in the real world....

<3 Frances

Monday Soundtrack

I'm sending wishes for peace and love for your Monday.  

Orsten: "Fleur Blanche"

Seabear: "Lost Wach"

Sarah Blasko: "Illusory Light"

Ellie Goulding: "I Know You Care"

<3 Frances

Prayers for Paris

Our thoughts and prayers are with the City of Light, and we continue to dream of peace on Earth for everyone <3 <3 <3. 

Aromatherapy for Your Monday

In the cold darkness that is this morning, there is one smell that has made me things infinitely better: peppermint.  It woke me up, reminded me that the holidays were coming, and made the puffiness in my eyes feel less obvious, and it's an example of just how powerful aromatherapy can be.  So if you're feeling down or sad or tired lately--or just want a simple pick-me-up--maybe you should consider a little essential oil treatment, too.  

www.worldtreetherapies.com

Here are some of our favorite scents:

• Clove
• Clove has an intense, somewhat-minty scent.  It can be a bit irritating to skin, so be careful, but its essence will warm you and leave you feeling fresh. 
• Eucalyptus
• Eucalyptus is strong, woody, and has a bit of a bite to it, and it will wake you up and help you get started with your day.
• Grapefruit
• Grapefruit is one of my absolute favorites!  It is sweet with citrus notes, and it soothes, invigorates, and mood-boosts all at the same time.  It'll also leave you smelling amazing.
• Ginger
• Ginger is warming and a bit spicy, but it'll make you feel safe and at-home.  It can also help with nausea.
• Lavender
• Lavender is already pretty mainstream, and it's incorporated into a lot of popular moisturizers, creams, fresheners, and bedtime products.  But that's only because it works. Sweet, floral, and fresh, lavender calms you and helps you drift off into a peaceful sleep. I've found it also helps with headaches.
• Lemon
• Lemon is fresh and citrus-y.  Don't wear it on your skin (especially in sunlight) because it can burn, but smell it all you want.  It will brighten everything.
• Mint
• As I said before, mint is awesome.  It clears your airways (and your mind), and it's strong enough to stay with you for a while.  It also makes you feel light, cool, and peppy.
• Rose
• Sweet and light, rose will make you feel equal parts calm and goddess-like.
• Vanilla
• Think desserts. This scent will give you that serotonin-rush feeling your favorite vanilla sweets do, without the added sugar.

There are many more wonderful aromatherapy scents out there, and you can find some of them here.  

<3 Frances