Five Favourites and Lessons Learned

Two blogs i follow/read do this little thing every week and i totally loved it so decided to do it too. So yeah, credit to Sound Bites and Definatalie for inspiring this!
It's basically a really nice way to reflect back on the week that has just happened and take stock of all the things you've gained and learnt.
Explanation, done.


Favourites:

1: Agave Nectar. Oooh lord! I'd heard of this before but couldn't get it locally so when i saw it on the supermarket shelf i went for it. BEST. MOVE. EVER. It's all caramel-y and yummy and amazing and so much better for you than sugar. I got this one:

2: Sylvia Ji I can't for the life of me remember how i first found her but i forgot about her work until something triggered a flash of one of her paintings in my head. After an hour on google the other day i finally re-discovered her (you wouldn't believe the search word combos i was rattling off!) Her work is stunning and has given me lots of tattoo inspiration!

3: Katy Perry - Firework. I heard this on the radio a little while back and didn't think much of it because the vocals weren't as good as what i had previously heard from Miz Perry (or Mrs Brand i should say) but having listened to it more and heard the lyrics i really love it. I think it has a beautiful sentiment and message and for sure makes me feel more positive when i hear it!

4: Jasmine Incense. Agave is my taste of the week, Jasmine is my scent. It's been a long time favourite smell of mine so having my room stink of it is heavenly. I'm now budgeting for £1.40 every two weeks to buy 14 sticks of the stuff so i can burn it every day.

5: Moustaches. Beards. Facial hair in general. Movember has created a large boom in eye candy for me. Because i love a man with a hairy face. When i was a baby i screamed the first time a cleanly shaven man held me and i spent a lot of time as a child surrounded by bikers, rockers and other generally awesome types who like to rock the face fuzz. Add to that the fact that my dad could beard double for Gandalf (well a younger less grey Gandalf) and you've got an explanation. If i was a dude I'd totally grow a tasche, it;s on my top 3 list of things to do if i wake up male.

Lessons Learned:

1: Patience is a Virtue.
I was in work and a few things got me thinking about the speed of modern life and how greedy over time we all are. I'll be the first to admit i can be impatient but i'm also of the opinion that if you don't take some time to slow down and chill you'll speed through life so quickly that you'll end up missing it.
The main thing that set me off was a fairly elderly lady apologising for being slow she said "You'll see as you get older, you get slower." and i replied "I don't know that you get slower, the world just speeds up around you." She told me i was a lovely child, laughed and walked away. But i really meant it, i think a lot of people have become a lot less generous with their time and it bothers me. So now i'm really trying hard to be more patient with everything and everyone in my life and although challenging, it has made me appreciate every day a little more and work towards making sure i don't waste a single moment.

2: I've had a rough ride but i have a lot to be thankful for.
The last two years have been insane. And i'm still dealing with a lot of not so nice things. But despite those things i have gained so much. Closer and better relationships with family members. A better understanding of myself and what i want and who i want to be. Errr, this blog! A new bedroom : ) I place a much higher value on my life and every second of it than i did before and i'm not sure I'd feel this way if things hadn't gone exactly how they did, even if there were times when everything looked bleak and horrible. It's true that the good doesn't look nearly as tasty without the bad to compare it to.

3: I don't get the nations obsession with The X Factor.
I just don't. I'm not a music snob or purist or anything. But i just don't understand it. I'm not sure i ever will. The appeal of it is totally lost on me and i can't believe how bad i feel sometimes, when I'm sat up on my "i don't watch reality tv" high horse unintentionally stomping on my friends who base their lives around Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing, X Factor, Come Dine With Me, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, etc, etc. I don't wish to know the names of the contestants but I'm forced to if i want to know what every fucker around me is talking about!

4: I've been making Matzo Balls wrong.
I did wonder why they tasted funky. I thought it was because i can't get Schmaltz in Exeter (we probably have one Jewish family, if any. I know i could make it, i tried and failed) Turns out i'm under cooking them! Jewish Penicillin is back on the menu!!! Thanks go to the handy little video on YouTube that popped up in my suggestions box, random, but useful!

5: I have OCOSD.
Obsessive Compulsive Online Shopping Disorder. This is not a fictional problem that i have made up a name for, it is a real issue! Checking your favourite clothing websites religiously every day to the point that you know what time they update, any tech glitches there may be and how to overcome them and how much everything on the "New In" page is, is a horrible, horrible affliction.
Thank God OCOSD doesn't include always having to buy something else i;d be 100% broke 100% of the time!


Please Please share your favourites and Lessons Learned. Even if it is just in a comment and not a full blown post. I'm super interested to hear and always find stuff like this a pleasure to read.
Hope you guys like this because unless it is hated on scale similar to that of the Nazi Regime i'm gonna keep going : )