Quirky Reads: You Do You by Sarah Knight.

Shortly before Christmas, James started asking me about books

 'We've never really had the book chat, have we?'

'No, I guess we haven't'

I mean we've had the Harry Potter chat - FYI, I'm a Ravenclaw,  Neville Longbottom is my hero and Bellatrix Lestrange is my mortal enemy.

What he was referring to is that while we each know the other has a love of reading, we've never really delved into a chat about authors and genres, although in hindsight this seems remiss of me.
I bore other people, sometimes actual strangers, with my book chat daily. 

He's lost me in bookstores for a good ten minutes because

something has caught my eye and I've swooped towards it for a closer inspection. 

When he picked 'You Do You' as one of my gifts, he did so partly because it's something I say quite often, but also because Sarah Knight featured pretty high on my list of favourite authors.

For someone who called their blog The Quirky Queen, has blue ombre hair and wears neon pink fluffy flamingo slippers, I'd love to say that being unaffected by what Judgey McJudgerson has to say is something I do with ease - unfortunately it isn't.

I feel sometimes like Sarah's voice is a more 'walk the walk' version of the voice in my head.

I'm perfectly happy to identify when it's appropriate to be a bit difficult, like when mine or others mental well being, happiness or safety is in jeopardy but with the possible exception of safety, I'm not always so good at taking what's into my head and bringing it out into the universe.

I can care far too much about what others think, whether it's the girl serving me at a restaurant blatantly making fun of me - for the record, I rock a matilda-esque hair bow - or a pass remarkable moron passing comment on how many slices of cheeseless pizza I've consumed (it was four and it was my first pizza in nearly two years, leave me be).

 Something I really loved about reading this book was the section on mental redecorating, taking what you consider to be a weakness and turning or repainting it into a strength.

It's something I'm going to adopt from now on.

I won't go into much more detail about the book as I wouldn't like to take away from anything that others could take from reading it themselves but I would thoroughly recommend it.

My insecurities won't disappear overnight,
I won't wake up tomorrow and become an asshat that doesn't filter her thoughts before speech or action in the spirit of 'being me' (hopefully)
 but I will certainly question which portions of what others think and expect of me I allow to influence me and will absolutely challenge myself before becoming someone else's Judgey McJudgerson. 

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Snowy Day Musings: A Collection of Random Thoughts.

I've been working from home over the last few days - something I'm very fortunate to be able to do, I know that lots of people have been stranded on motorways, in work, in airports etc. 

Alongside working from home, all of the things I do outside of work were cancelled and I’ve been spending a lot of time indoors. Although I can be a bit of a homebody, I do actually thrive on getting out and about.
I'm not really complaining, I'm very lucky to have had the warmth and comfort of my home to work in, a luxury that not everyone has had access to. 

My mind does wander a little more at home though and I thought it would be funny to record and share my thought process across the last few days. 

Wednesday

7.16am

Confirmation received from work that the snow is too cray-cray to be venturing out in the direction of the office.  

7.17am

I go back to bed and enjoy the lie in afforded to me by a lack of need to travel or put on clean underwear. 

8.30am 

I’ve been awake for a while; I chow down on my breakfast and switch on the computer. 

10.30am

I’ve got this working from home lark nailed, I can totally handle this.

12.15pm

I should really get out of my pyjamas, put on some clean underwear and wash.

13.39pm

I am a functioning adult; I have gotten dressed, and simultaneously worked and listened to The Spice Girls back catalogue. I had a brief childhood recollection of wanting to be Sporty whenever we played ‘Spice Girls’ but the general consensus being that my curly hair was much more suited to Scary. I did get to be Posh in a talent show on holiday when I was about 9 so there’s always that.  

I don’t have a Sporty bone in my body; I’d probably be Quirky Spice today. 

3.30pm

Now that my evening engagements have been cancelled on account of snow, I can focus on finishing out the working day and doing something productive like tidying or writing a blog post.

6.57pm

Begin watching Les Miserables on Netflix, singing aloud obnoxiously.
I’m all for love at first sight, but if my boyfriend had gone Marius and Cosette on me on our first ever conversation, I’d have gotten on my metaphorical bike and pedalled fast and far. Different strokes for different folks. 

Maybe I'm too much the other way; I made poor James wait about 4 months before I felt trusting enough to hold his hand in public.  Remind me to think about sticking a medal in with his 30th birthday presents. 

9.31pm

Begin watching Mean Girls. I do love Tina Fey. What even is toaster strudel? It sounds amazing. I have pop tarts; I'm gonna be all about the pop tarts tomorrow morning.
 There’s something comforting about watching Mean Girls, until I remember it came out in 2004 and I am a whole 14 years older and will be 29 in just over a months’ time. 

Thursday

7.37am

Confirmation from work received that it’s another work from home day.  Official word from the people who do weather things for a living is that travelling would be dumb. Who am I to argue?
I did want to say 24601. 

7.57am

My bladder has decided that I’m properly awake now. None of this lie in nonsense from yesterday.  

8.30am 

I simultaneously stick on the computer and some strawberry pop tarts, it’s one of the few flavours my digestive system harmonises with. I hear good things about Brown Sugar Cinnamon; I just have to find it.

10.30am

Right, none of this laziness, unhygienic nonsense from yesterday, I’m clean and dressed. Sure I’m wearing yesterday’s jeans but everything else is fresh.

11.30am 

I could totally listen to a 90s playlist while I work, it’ll be super fun.  90s is my era. I’m shouting next at Alexa a lot but that’s because she’s picking all the rubbish ones! Maybe I’m a late 90s girl. 

12.26pm

Ahhhhh crap I stuck my potato in the microwave for 6 minutes, 20 minutes ago.  It might be edible. It cooks the longer you leave it, right?  Am I even still hungry? Yes, I am.

1.47pm

Whoooooooo lives in a pineapple under the sea?

You’ve got work to do Rachel. Get your head in the game. 

3.07pm

It’s the first of March; I really ought to change the page on my Doctor Who calendar.  How is it even March? Where does time go? 

4.57pm

I think I’m going to read a book tonight after I finish work, at least until EastEnders comes on (You may replace EastEnders with a soap opera or tv programme of your choice). 
The book James got me for Christmas? Yeah that’s a good idea.

5.36pm

Commence operation work on thyself. 
You may now open your book of choice, Rachel.

8.06pm

Crap, I missed EastEnders.

Friday

7.37am

Usual drill, look out window, check for work update, same advice to use common sense and err on the side of safety applies.

7.45am

Oh were you going to snooze for a while? Nah, you gotta pee.

8.30am

Go go gadget productivity.....right after some pop tarts.
Lorelai would be proud. 
I find myself relating a bit more to Lorelai these days than I do with Rory, is that an age thing? In the revival, Rory is only a tiny bit older than me and at a similar stage in life but I'm still gravitating towards Lorelai.

8.45am

I briefly daydream about opening a coffee shop, then I remember I hate coffee.

10.30am

I've dialled into a webinar and should really mute myself as Dad's clearing the path outside with a shovel and the children next door are most definitely awake. 

2.15pm

My aunt texted to remind me to use my Christmas voucher before it expires later in the month.  How is it even March? How are we three months in? Why haven't I made time to go for a free meal yet?
Get your crap together Rachel!

2.38pm

Just when I thought Alexa was struggling to find her groove with me today, she gives me Greenday.  Well played. 

3.05pm

Alexa has started playing Beyoncé. I think she understands me now.  We’re cool Alexa.

3.32pm

Went out to the garden to empty the bin, that counts a) as exercise and b) as going outside, right?

5.40pm

There we are, it’s the weekend now. 
Tonight’s theme at Clubbercise was going to be
Unicorns and Mermaids.
I stuck on my unicorn hairband a while ago anyway. Who says I can’t be a unicorn while I work? Before I put it on, I used my unicorn decision making pen that James got me for Valentines, it said

‘Chase a rainbow’

Sound advice I reckon….in this instance and in life really.

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Friday Firsts: Here We Clubbing Go

*Clubbercise is not suitable for those with photosensitive epilepsy *

When I was a kid I used to love dancing, around the house, in the garden, in the playground, anywhere really.

I took classes in Disco, Tap, Ballet and Modern, I have a few certificates under my bed from my dance exams and even have a few medals, although I pretty sure they were for participating! 

When biology took over my body in my early teens I sort of gave up dancing, with the exception of the occasional shimmy  at a friend's birthday, a night out or a wedding....or in my car. 

It's probably been about 14 years since I've been anywhere near a dance class, so naturally when my sister in law suggested I join her at clubbercise I was a little reluctant but after she'd been and told me how fun it was I decided to give it a go. 

If you've never been to or heard of clubbercise it's easy to follow dance moves to 90s club classics with glow sticks and disco lights! 

At first I felt really out of place, like a giraffe in a boardroom meeting out of place, but I quickly realised that loads of other people probably felt the same way. Once the lights went out and the music got going, I forgot all about how out of place I felt and just got into the spirit of the class.

What I really enjoyed about it was that it really suits everyone, you could be brilliant or you could be completely lacking in rhythm and it doesn't matter in the slightest, you can still take part and enjoy it. 

Everyone cheers each other on and there is lots of 'Here we clubbing go' 

You can take it at your own pace, grab your water when you need it and get back in the groove when you've got your breath back.

Tonight pushed me out of my comfort zone in a few ways

•    My sister in law couldn't make it and I nearly chickened out of going but I knew that I would be mad at myself and there would be a few other people I knew when I got there so I shut out the voice of doubt in my head and went along anyway. 
• As I mentioned above, I haven't been near anything resembling a dance class in years and I thought I would really struggle but I actually managed to attempt most of it, dialling down the effort a little when I was feeling a struggle coming on. 

As someone who really doesn't love exercise, I came away having really enjoyed it and would totally go again. 

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Friday Firsts: Introductions and Avocados.

I’m a big fan of alliteration, you may have gathered this about me already if you’ve read some of my other blog posts.

So I decided that on Friday’s I’m going to start posting about activities or things I’m experiencing for the first time - Friday Firsts I think I shall call it.

Anytime I try or go somewhere new I can channel it into something creative to share with others.

I’d like to be optimistic and say I’ll do one every week but I’ll play it by ear! 

This weeks Friday First involves cooking - I know, shock horror.  It also involves avocados. Just because avocados! 

I'm becoming a bit obsessed with avocados, I have socks, a lunch box, earrings.....I digress.  

Behold - avocado potato salad! 

I can’t take credit for the recipe, I found it on Pinterest and comes from a site called Beckys Best Bites. I'd strongly recommend having a look, there are some great recipes on there.

Ingredients:I didn't stick rigidly to the recipe as I had no Dill or Cilantro but the premise is simple, 2lbs of potatoes, 1 avocado, 1 lime (juice and zest) and seasoning of your choice.

Method:Boil your potatoes then freeze them for 30 minutes, mix together the avocado, lime and seasoning and when your potatoes have cooled down sufficiently mix them together! 

It serves six so it would be a great side dish at a meal or a light bite lunch!

I've mentioned on my blog before that I have a dairy intolerance and its annoying when food in shops that look like it should be totally friendly for me actually have milk somewhere in the ingredients list.

When I spotted this recipe, I was so excited that it was something I could eat and prepare with minimal effort - as lets face it, my skills in the kitchen leave a lot to be desired!
I may document some of my kitchen disasters on here as I attempt to navigate the seemingly grown up skill of feeding myself.
Highlights include evaporated soup and exploding porridge.  

I've previously spoken about wanting to push myself outside of my comfort zone and trying new foods although it doesn't seem like much can be a big thing for me. 

Next Weeks First  - Clubersise! 

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A (Sort Of) Introduction.

I did say in my last blog post that there would be no 

'New Year, New Me' but I have given my blog a new name so I didn't really stick to that...

You'll have gathered if you've read my blog that I like to embrace the quirky things in life, the musings and content will still come from the mind of Rachie, my name just won't be in big letters at the top. 

I mentioned in my last post I'd like to use my blog to embrace all things quirky in my life whether that's sharing my musings, talking about my adventures or sharing things I've found.
I've never really had a theme for any of my personal blogs before and I'm not certain that quirky is really a theme, but it will be the thread that stitches everything together... I hope. 

It's a Rachie Thing was an outlet that helped me to process my thoughts, continue to develop content when I had no other outlet for my creativity and develop my own voice.
I've brought over all of my existing content, even the posts I think are a bit rubbish because they are part of me.

Now that the reintroduction is out of the way, I'll make sure the next thing I post is far more interesting. 

Today's Shoes

Technically, this is not a picture of shoes.
It's my flamingo slippers from Asos!
I also took this picture two days ago but I'm wearing them again at the moment so it totally counts!
Life is far too short to not own fluffy flamingo slippers, right?

Also

Thank you to Aloha Lola Cards for designing my header image, she took a thought in my head and turned it into a reality.

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New Year Musings: Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018.

It's the last day of 2017 and as I often do at this time of year I'm feeling inquisitive about what the coming year will bring. 

In the past I've spent the entirety of this day thinking about all my flaws and imperfections, what I'd like to change and how I'd fit those into New Years resolutions. 

In the last few years, whether it's come with age or circumstance, I've learned that I'm really not about New Years resolutions. 

  I even posted a blog about it in January which you can read here. 

I do have some challenges I'd like to take on and some achievements I'd like to unlock across the next year but I'm not going to make them a must do, more of an I'd like to do. 

There will be no need for me to feel like crap come the 5th of January when I haven't achieved the first 10 on a list of 15. 

I'd like to change my blog a little, not much, but a little. When I first started my blog, it was really self therapy with the occasional review and over the last year it's been a smattering of my thoughts. I'd like to use it to embrace all things quirky in my life whether that's sharing my musings, sharing my experiences or sharing things I've found.

I'd like to write more, not just in my working day but in my leisure time, I used to write poetry, short stories, self reflections, letters to myself and others. I've sort of fallen out of the habit and I'd like to embrace that again. 

I'd like to work on saying no to things I don't want to do or feel uncomfortable doing. I don't like saying to no people, it makes me feel bad. Sometimes I'll say yes and it won't do me any harm but other times it can put me in a situation I don't want to be in or cause me to miss out on something else.  It can also hold me back from doing things I should be doing.  

I need to lose that thing in my head that says saying no is a bad thing. It's okay to say yes but not when it has an impact on my own welfare, time sensitive commitments or headspace. 

There are plenty of other ideas I have for how I'd like this year to take shape but if those don't come to fruition, that's completely okay.  I've learned this week that I can't place too much of my happiness and contentment in what I've planned for, I also have to embrace what the day brings. 

I know where I'd like to be 365 days from now and I've started taking steps to get there but if I have to deviate from that path, I'll be fine. 

No New Year, New Me promises, just a more positive mindset.

See you in 2018. 

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Lunchtime Ramblings: Risk it for a biscuit.

Today’s musings came to me while I was eating my lunch. Alongside my lunch I had five Jaffa Cakes (other biscuits are available).  When a colleague asked my how I eat them (full moon, half moon, total eclipse)  it occurred to me I don’t know! 

I decided to make it my lunch time mission to eat each on in a different way. 

It set me off thinking about a thing that I hear people say quite often about how you can’t do the same thing and expect different results.  In a lot of aspects of my life I do tend to favour the same approach and hope that something happens and get sad when it doesn’t.

That’s partly my own fault, I’m indecisive and I like to err on the side of caution and remain in my comfort zone. Sometimes that’s a good thing, it keeps me safe and it keeps me happy, but other times it holds me back because I’ve not taken a risk.

As you’ll have gathered, I don’t thrive on risks, not big ones anyway. 

I’m trying to get better at that, identify ways to step outside of my comfort zone - not on a skydive or bungee jump level but there are definitely ways I can push myself to be braver, be bolder, be more daring.

If I think it’s within reach and within reason I’ll risk it for a biscuit - preferably one with no dairy in it. :-) 

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