Taking Stock #11

T A K I N G // S T O C K

Making :: lots of lists of all descriptions
Cooking :: infrequently
Drinking :: cocktails, iced tea, water
Reading :: "Everyday Sexism" by Laura Bates; "Instructions for a Heatwave" by Maggie O'Farrell
Wanting :: things to go well
Looking :: at beautiful sights in Spain and the Basque Country; for a new flat
Playing :: endless games of "would you rather..." whilst wandering Valencian streets
Deciding :: on where to move to!
Wishing :: for the usuals
Enjoying :: exploring new places 
Waiting :: for move-in day!
Liking :: getting up and being able to do whatever we fancy that day whilst abroad
Wondering :: what I will do living in a county that doesn't have a Wasabi branch
Loving :: "The Visitors" at the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao - oh my goodness
Pondering :: how feasible it would be to start learning the cello given how awe-struck "The Visitors" left me
Considering :: whilst in Barcelona, on a scale of 1-10, how awful it would be if we didn't have a flight home (answer - minus 1294814910)
Watching :: "Child Genius"; "The Great British Bake Off"
Hoping :: it's all good!
Marvelling :: how awesome brunch options in Barcelona are
Needing :: furniture
Smelling :: sun cream, seafood
Wearing :: dresses, long skirts, Sketchers everywhere
Following :: Cath's blog
Noticing :: more PR e-mails
Knowing :: my way around the Ikea website pretty professionally
Thinking :: overtime 
Feeling :: excited, content, sad, nervous
Admiring :: beautifully peaceful locations
Sorting :: through all of my belongings
Buying :: microfibre cloths, a vase, a double duvet, work clothes
Getting :: excited, stressed
Bookmarking :: recommendations in Spain; kettles; mattresses
Disliking :: ends
Opening :: good luck cards
Giggling :: so much at the concept of a Haim tribute band called Hm (who just hum)
Snacking :: on peaches
Coveting :: bed frames; trainers
Helping :: people with things I know about
Hearing :: the most gorgeous, tear-inducing exhibition at the Guggenheim - see above...this will probably get a post of its own soon enough given that I have mentioned it so many times in this post alone.

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Taking Stock #10

Sun setting over Richmond

T A K I N G // S T O C K

Making :: words that weren't good enough to win Bananagrams...ahhh!
Cooking :: little, eating out more
Drinking :: champagne, Pimms, squash & lemonade/Fanta combinations
Reading :: "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins and "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Wanting :: the holiday to arrive quickly but then go by reallllyyyyyyyy slooooowwwwwwlllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy
Looking :: for somewhere to live
Playing :: Bananagrams, Balderdash, Articulate
Deciding :: to worry less...
Wishing :: for the same thing as always
Enjoying :: time
Waiting :: for medical things to sort themselves out
Liking :: SUMMER
Wondering :: if the next couple of months are going to go as quickly as I am dreading 
Loving :: importing breathing techniques from Pilates/yoga into everyday life
Pondering :: how
Considering :: what to keep up and when
Watching :: Wimbledon, the World Cup (despite disliking football usually)
Hoping :: for a bit of a miracle really
Marvelling :: how much of an impact one person can really make in changing attitudes and where society goes from here i.e. Laura Bates
Needing :: a stronger back
Smelling :: Aussie shampoo
Wearing :: summer dresses!
Following :: adventures on some lovely favourite blogs, such as Sallytangle, Beside the Danube and Life Outside London 
Noticing :: little changes
Knowing :: that there's not long to go
Thinking :: about a million things all at once
Feeling :: collected in the eye of many storms
Admiring :: Laura Bates
Sorting :: holiday prep
Buying :: accommodation for the trip, summer clothes, many meals out
Getting :: closer
Bookmarking :: this video about "make-up", this article about a girl's amazing work experience discovery, Megs' beautiful photo-shoot and this article highlighting where women's speech stands in social situations
Disliking :: weakness
Opening :: windows and doors on account of the sunshine
Giggling :: pretty much all night at the Law summer ball
Snacking :: on fruit
Coveting :: Airbnb places...
Helping :: out with food shops
Hearing :: Chet Faker, James Vincent McMorrow, London Grammar, Chvrches

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Taking Stock #9

T A K I N G // S T O C K

Making :: time for reading
Cooking :: brunch for Father's Day
Drinking :: tea
Reading :: the beginning of "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts (but leaving the rest for my holiday) and "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
Wanting :: to find somewhere to live in a stress-free fashion
Looking :: for holiday plans
Playing :: with Cosmo in (frequent) revision breaks
Deciding :: to go away in July
Wishing :: for certainty
Enjoying :: finishing exams 
Waiting :: for results
Liking :: the beautiful sunshine
Wondering :: how to help
Loving :: being able to give family/friends lifts and not having to rely on others so much
Pondering :: what's really important
Considering :: plans
Watching :: Dinner at 11
Hoping :: to keep up Pilates and yoga
Marvelling :: at how utterly incredible the moon was over the weekend - bright orange, full and MASSIVE
Needing :: a change of scenery
Smelling :: more summery smells like barbecues and grass
Wearing :: comfy clothes
Following :: long-awaited plans
Noticing :: changes
Knowing :: all sorts of facts for my exams
Thinking :: strategically
Feeling :: so pleased that I've started yoga
Admiring :: indieberries illustrations
Sorting :: exam prep, life stuff et al
Buying :: presents, plane tickets
Getting :: EXCITED
Bookmarking :: things to do, places to stay
Disliking :: the reducing number of weekends I have left at home
Opening :: plenty of bags of Skittles
Giggling :: at live comedy 
Snacking :: frequently
Coveting :: some nice clothes but feeling uninspired by everything...help?
Helping :: strangers
Hearing :: old school tunes on compilation CDs from the mid-2000s

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Taking Stock #8

T A K I N G // S T O C K

Making :: lists and then ignoring them
Cooking :: naan bread pizzas in the absence of any kitchen parties
Drinking :: green tea, mint tea, vanilla and rooibos tea 
Reading :: "Bossypants" by Tina Fey, school books
Wanting :: complicated things to be uncomplicated 
Looking :: for a car and finding one!
Playing :: student for a couple of days with my sister
Deciding :: to get my phone fixed and to buy a car
Wishing :: something could be done
Enjoying :: the quotation above. A lot.
Waiting :: for more results
Liking :: days where I dress well for the weather and disliking those I underestimate the skies
Wondering :: how long before I feel comfortable driving
Loving :: productive moments
Pondering :: much of the same
Considering :: car insurance, holidays, 
Watching :: Revenge, Made in Chelsea - you know, excellent bits of television like that
Hoping :: for brighter days 
Marvelling :: certain scenes in Les Miserables at the theatre that were terrifically acted
Needing :: luck
Smelling :: birthday flowers for Mumma
Wearing :: comfy new trainers with everything, everywhere 
Following :: my best friend's travels in the southern hemisphere 
Noticing :: how time flies
Knowing :: I've made some progress
Thinking :: about all the work that's to come
Feeling :: worried about change
Admiring :: wisteria on campus
Sorting :: out documents
Buying :: the types of things that you sort out when you're a grown up
Getting :: distracted
Bookmarking :: Art as Therapy
Disliking :: the usual things
Opening :: my 5 year Q&A diary whenever I remember
Giggling :: at the lengths M will go to make me laugh
Snacking :: on apple crisps and leftover Easter chocolate
Coveting :: a cover for my iPhone
Helping :: a friend
Hearing :: Chvrches

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Let me know if you're also taking stock (as discovered here). If you haven't already seen, it would mean a lot if you read this and comply with the request at the end. Thank you.

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Taking Stock #7

T A K I N G // S T O C K

Making :: time for reading fiction
Cooking :: curry
Drinking :: probably too little water given the headaches 
Reading :: "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" having last read it aged seven or eight, and "Bossypants" by Tina Fey.
Wanting :: more good results
Looking :: for a car
Playing :: Guess Who (much faster game as a grown up and definitely not as exciting I'm sorry to report)
Deciding :: to act more impulsively when stuck
Wishing :: I had more energy for exercise
Enjoying :: lighter evenings
Waiting :: for exam results
Liking :: that some things never get old
Wondering :: how things will turn out, as always, but rationalising that whatever will be will be
Loving :: my Votes for Women pin badge from the British Library
Pondering :: effective time management systems as there's just too much stuff I want to do and not enough hours
Considering :: summer plans
Watching :: Gravity in 3D and Silk
Hoping :: for plans to fall into place
Marvelling :: at how simple changes can help a lot
Needing :: endless supplies of money, ha!
Smelling :: Vanilla Chai Yankee Candle as I read and study
Wearing :: more patterns than in winter, hooray! And my new hat.
Following :: morning routines involving stretching before getting up, hanging out with the kitten, train journeys with M and listening to the Glastonbury set of Arctic Monkeys as I print things before class.
Noticing :: differences in conversation
Knowing :: that worrying doesn't solve much
Thinking :: overtime, as always
Feeling :: okay
Admiring :: Malala Yousafzai and beautiful Paris sights 
Sorting :: out admin
Buying :: presents and comfy shoes
Getting :: to know what actually makes my heart sing and what makes me cross
Bookmarking :: potential summer destinations 
Disliking :: unsolvable problems
Opening :: things I'm sure, but nothing that springs to mind
Giggling :: with M
Snacking :: as per
Coveting :: nothing interesting
Helping :: myself more
Hearing :: new things recommended by M most days

This one was tricky. I think I've been gliding along without thinking too deeply about much, which has given me a fairly care-free approach in the last few weeks. Sometimes it is good to let go a little, I suppose. Also, how do you all fit everything you want to do into your days?

As ever, let me know if you're also taking stock (as discovered here). 

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Taking Stock #6

So this is my cat caught mid-yawn. Don't tell me I don't capture my subjects' most flattering angles! 

T A K I N G // S T O C K

Making: my folders colourful with sticky tabs
Cooking: halloumi (does that count as cooking??)
Drinking: a gazillion cups of tea a day
Reading: textbooks
Wanting: exams to be DONE
Looking: exhausted
Playing: with mr meowers
Deciding: to make plans
Wishing: I had more energy
Enjoying: the trees, flowers and sky on a nice day on campus
Waiting: for celebrations
Liking: how quiet the early early train is
Wondering: who what when where how
Loving: listening to old albums
Pondering: law stuff
Considering: summer plans
Watching: silly things like Dragons' Den and Tangled, but also Tough Young Teachers
Hoping: my exams have gone better than they feel like they have
Marvelling: 6.30am skies
Needing: a break and some love
Smelling: the incredible creation that is Original Source chocolate and mint shower gel
Wearing: revision clothes
Following: The Philosopher's Mail
Noticing: little flowers
Knowing: more, but not enough
Thinking: all the time
Feeling: drained
Admiring: M
Sorting: out folders, books, piles of paper 
Buying: train tickets, dinner
Getting: excited for plans that don't involve textbooks!
Bookmarking: articles I need to read, DIYs I need to attempt, HTML instructions, photography blogs
Disliking: not earning
Opening: a new pack of highlighters. So smooth
Giggling: at Percy the penguin
Feeling: like I can't be honest about how I'm feeling
Snacking: on the hour
Coveting: a pair of trainers which will go with anything for normal everyday use (any ideas?)
Helping: barely.
Hearing: silence.

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Taking Stock #5

Found here

Exam season is here so whilst I drink a million cups of tea, have the Harry Potter soundtrack on for productivity as I eat legal knowledge, and tab my folders to the point of obtuseness (trust me, it starts out as an enjoyable process but the novelty will wear off I'm sure), I have a variety of posts lined up for you. I've scheduled a bunch of exciting pieces for you, including some more recipes (any of you had a Kitchen Party yet?) and a few very special guest posts... I'm looking forward to hearing what you all think of them when normal life resumes. In the meantime, here is my Taking Stock post for February, and if you have any tips for the revision/exam period, please do send them my way. This should be my last year of studying so I've only been through this process, oooh I don't know, about twenty times or something....but yet they're still stressful every time!

Back to Taking Stock (originally found here), I'm so pleased to see that so many of you are also taking part. How have you all found it? Some months I find it hard but maybe that's just a reflection on the type of month it has been. It's tricky to engage with and accept how you really feel sometimes.

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Making: peace

Cooking: with my Mum and M (separately) more often.

Drinking: mojitos to say bye, flasks of tea to get me through long days, green tea with mint in the evenings

Reading: White Teeth - Zadie Smith (I decided that The Hobbit wasn't for me this time...I'm sorry)

Wanting: to do well in exams

Looking: exhausted most of the time!

Playing: with Cosmo

Wasting: studying time resting, resting time studying...but neither of those are really wasting time are they?

Fixing: the break I had in exercise

Deciding: very little

Wishing: for time

Enjoying: productive hours

Waiting: for mock exam results

Liking: that I finally feel like I understand what is going on in Pilates classes

Wondering: what will come out of all of this

Loving: talking to friends about writers and concepts

Pondering: the best approach

Considering: what is important to me

Watching: Tough Young Teachers on BBC
Hoping: days in the next few weeks slow down a little

Marvelling: medicine

Needing: some attention

Smelling: Coco Mademoiselle, as ever

Wearing: five layers on occasion (six including a coat, seven including a scarf)

Following: plans to get the blog organised

Noticing: that I actually really like school!

Knowing: more than yesterday, less than tomorrow

Thinking: too much, as ever

Feeling: unsettled

Admiring: a red sky one evening last week

Buying: time

Getting: agitated

Bookmarking: more recipes, one a week from Pinterest to make with Mummy

Opening: up. "Always speak your mind, even if your voice shakes" (Maggie Kuhn)

Giggling: every school day!

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You can find the rest of my Taking Stock series here.

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Taking Stock #4

From here

Taking Stock (found here) is a series I decided to start a few months ago after recognising its reflective uses. I've been delighted to see some of you lovely readers also following suit. I'd encourage anybody seeking an exercise for the mind and soul to join in too. Let me know if you do take part as I would love to see your posts too.  

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Making: Christmas tree decorations a few weeks ago for friends and family

Cooking: a Christmas dinner for eight but probably nothing else

Drinking: oodles of tea, more berry squash

Reading: law books mostly as I had exams in mid-December and haven't had too much time for fiction

Wanting: a fresh start

Looking: for a way to regulate my sleeping and therefore general routine

Playing: Scrabble (on a board), QuizUp (on the iPad) and with the kitten (always)

Wasting: energy on things which from now on I shall not

Fixing: nothing on a scale worth mentioning

Deciding: to stand up for myself 

Wishing: so many things weren't out of my control

Enjoying: hearing the rain outside and knowing I can stay indoors!

Waiting: for something good

Liking: my No More Page 3 t-shirt I got for Christmas hanging in my room waiting to be worn in as many locations possible

Wondering: how you break out of cycles

Loving: London Grammar

Pondering: with the kitten occasionally 

Considering: travelling plans for the summer

Watching: Monsters University and loving it haha
Hoping: to take more photographs from now on

Marvelling: at our youth

Needing: change

Smelling: gingerbread biscuits baking, Christmas dinner, delicious toffee cake made by my sisters

Wearing: my penguin onesie in every possible instance

Following: more people on Twitter...

Noticing: the importance of being independent

Knowing: enough, I hope, just in the nick of time for exams

Thinking: over and above what is necessarily helpful

Feeling: slightly lost

Admiring: and appreciating the generosity of others

Buying: presents and a couple of things in the sale

Getting: scared!

Bookmarking: inspiration

Opening: up in little doses

Giggling: quite a bit when hosting friends from America over Christmas

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You can find the rest of my Taking Stock series here.

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Taking Stock #3

Found here

Taking Stock is a series I found here. I'm beginning each of my months with this reflective little exercise and invite you to do the same too. Make you sure you leave your link in the comments section below if you do take part so I can have a read!

Making : progress

Cooking : infrequently

Drinking : oodles of water and mountains of tea

Reading: a chunk of fiction to break up the non-fiction stints. Currently, The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling and The Hobbit by Tolkien.

Wanting: peace

Looking: at what's in front of me and nothing more

Playing: Crash Team Racing on the PS1. Mum was sent on a treasure hunt into the loft and managed to dig it out. I try and play it standing up, stepping from side to side, to get blood flowing. People have actually suffered fatal DVTs from playing video games for too long.

Wasting: nothing hopefully. I think everything this month was completely justified. Tears and time included.

Fixing: my body!!!!

Deciding: to be brave about what I take on and to have a can-do attitude.

Wishing: I didn't have coursework to do whilst still recovering from an operation...

Enjoying: books and flowers the most.

Waiting: for the general anaesthetic to wear off still...

Liking: that I've received five bunches of flowers in the last ten days

Wondering: how my life might start to be different now

Loving: the comfort of a hot water bottle at night

Pondering: the joys of tax law

Considering: a change in approach

Watching: Made in Chelsea...
Hoping: my operation will have a positive long term effect

Marvelling: at how exhilarating it is to feel cold, crisp air for the first time after being cooped up indoors for nearly two weeks

Needing: love and attention

Smelling: flowers, candles, anti-MRSA soap

Wearing: hospital gowns, pyjamas, silly outfits, outfits that make me feel happy, my old brogues from six years ago which are still my favourite

Following: my instincts for the moment

Noticing: how completely poor-average people can be

Knowing: who and what to focus my energy on

Thinking: too much about things which upset me and not enough about fixing myself

Feeling: frustrated at points when my body feels like it's going to fall apart, but happy that it's making so much progress

Admiring: how flipping incredible it is that a minimally invasive operation is how the surgeons twisted, stretched and poked a balloon into my deep veins. Aside from the pain/physical effects, the only thing I have to show for it is a bruise. I mean, whattttt?! Incredible, literally incredible.

Buying: presents, presents, presents and comedy tickets for January

Getting: better

Bookmarking: recipes to try on cold December nights

Opening: difficult doors

Giggling: at how my Dad has a joke for every situation and however much I find them silly, they are a reminder of comfort, love and what "home" means.

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You can find Taking Stock #1 here and Taking Stock #2 here.

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Taking Stock #2

From here

As I mentioned last month, at the beginning of every month I intend to fill out the list below with the aim of reflecting on where I am in my head, as well as looking at how my priorities and concerns have changed. Feel free to take part if you so wish. I originally found this here.

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Making : too many health related appointments

Cooking : for a friend once, for my family not often enough

Drinking : so many hot drinks. Mostly Camomile tea recently.

Reading: the same book all month and not quickly enough

Wanting: to get ahead with my work in preparation for the time I'll have to take out soon

Looking: at beautiful photos at a National Geographic exhibition at Beetles & Huxley

Playing: Mario Kart on the Nintendo Game Cube to relieve stress a la weekday afternoons during sixth form.

Wasting: too much time on my iPad instead of finishing books

Fixing: how I view the faults of others

Deciding: to have my first ever operation

Wishing: I could help more

Enjoying: London Grammar's album, even after the first listen, when usually it takes me a while to warm to new music

Waiting: for the chance of getting my body fixed

Liking: that I posted on my blog more in the past month than I have ever before

Wondering: how on earth I'm going to muster up the motivation to read some cases from the 19th century

Loving: how peacefully the kitten sleeps on my tummy late at night after he spends all day being the naughtiest

Pondering: whether I'll be able to go travelling next summer

Considering: different places to live when my job starts

Watching: not very much
Hoping: there will be a streak of good luck now

Marvelling: at the idea of being able to run again

Needing: cuddles and plenty of them

Smelling: stinky cat food

Wearing: trainers an awful lot more, wishing they matched all clothes!

Following: medical advice

Noticing: who matters

Knowing: so much more than I did before I started my course

Thinking: positively when I can

Feeling: calmer in my head but agitated in my body

Admiring: the thought and effort behind the surprise party M's friends did for him

Buying: train tickets, a couple of lunches out and presents

Getting: up in the mornings with difficulty most days

Bookmarking: ideas for presents

Opening: a door to potentially something great

Giggling: when I realise I've said/done something cheeky but try and cover it up but M sees right through it

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Have a wonderful weekend.

xxx

PS. I am hosting the #lbloggers chat this Sunday at 7pm-8pm (UK time) and I would love it if you all joined in. I'll release the questions during the actual chat but they will be on the theme of the personality traits which make you a blogger. Speak to you then!

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Taking Stock #1

I came across this little tool for reflection the other day and think it is perfect for the start of each month. I enjoy documenting the good little things in my life, but also appreciate the need to take notice of how I'm really feeling. I don't let a lot of negativity into this space as I try to make it a positive place but perhaps a bit of honesty with myself at least will be useful to me in the long run. For my birthday, I received a five year Q&A diary and I have loved doing that each evening too, but more on that in another post. For now, here's me taking stock at the beginning of October. Feel free to join in too.

Making : new friends at law school

Cooking : a minimal amount
Drinking : green tea
Reading: with more enthusiasm and haste than I used to
Wanting: order to be restored
Looking: around me for help
Playing: with the kitten of course!
Wasting: hopefully nothing
Fixing: my previous lack of structure 
Deciding: to think about me a little more
Wishing: I could make it all better
Enjoying: the start of law school and the routine it has given me
Waiting: for news, never good
Liking: the direction my blog is taking
Wondering: what I will make of myself now in 10 years time
Loving: using a hot water bottle again 
Pondering: life's surprises
Considering: what holds me back
Watching: The Great British Bake Off and Modern Family
Hoping: for brighter days ahead
Marvelling: at how beautiful and calming the outdoors is, yet going for a walk when I was younger never appealed to me
Needing: to get rid of the unsettled feeling I have 
Smelling: birthday cake baking
Wearing: comfy clothes, because they are the way forward and make me feel more me
Following: the No More Page 3 campaign because I love them
Noticing: cracks
Knowing: more legal jargon
Thinking: too much and not positively enough. Bring me sunshineeee
Feeling: exhausted
Admiring: how talented my sisters are 
Buying: not a lot other than train tickets
Getting: used to routine
Bookmarking: clever baking ideas because I find it therapeutic but rarely  make time for it
Opening: my mind (cringe)
Giggling: not often enough but always at Modern Family

Noticed this here, originating here.

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