Confidence

It is so easy to feel unconfident, insignificant or incompetent in some way with all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. When you start comparing yourself to others most of us are quick to point out our own faults. So if you're feeling a little down today, have a watch of this wonderful talk on confidence by Stephen Fry. It never fails to cheer me up, as it makes me realise how silly it is to be scared, but that's okay, because everyone else is scared too.

I've got exams about to hit me in the face repeatedly for the next two weeks, so I need all the confidence I can get! I'm going into hibernation mode over the exam period. I'm not going to blog and I'm going to have a go at steering clear of the internet altogether (although I'm not sure how long that'll last). Meanwhile, I'll leave you with some good reads and other little linky bits and bobs from the last week.

'Here is today', an interactive website that measures today against the rest of history. It makes you realise how tiny our everyday problems are!

An indoor hammock!

Gender stereotype book covers.

I'm sure you've seen it, but this guy is just incredible.

Nonsense.

Aww, Ryan Gosling won't eat his cereal.

Giant knitting machine!

Animals adopting other animals (warning, adorable alert)

The dangers of the default setting of our brains.

Have a great week!

Pin It Forward UK!

Usually in order to be organised you've got to have boring structure with dull lists and practical files. But Pinterest is different. It lets you organise your ideas, dreams and wishes in beautiful ways. It's so rare that you get something that is organised and pretty, it's sort of an online version of Muji mixed with Paperchase with a dollop of Anthropologie mixed in! Pinterest brings out everyone's creative side, everyone's secret dreamer. 

That's why I love Pinterest, and why I'm so happy to be part of the Pin It Forward UK campaign- with the aim of spreading the Pinterest love further round the UK. The lovely folks at Pinterest (I met a few of them and they seriously are super lovely) have made it easier for British pinners to sign up and use it, and more sleek and simple for those already using it. They've asked me to share one of my boards, so I chose my 'Globetrotter' board. There's nothing more I love in the world than travelling and exploring new places, and this board lets me find the most beautiful images of all the places I'd love to go someday. It's also brilliant for inspiration of where to go on my trip to China this summer! I couldn't be more excited, I know it's going to be an incredible few weeks, and pinning all these stunning images helps build up that excitement and anticipation.

Follow along with the campaign and take a look at the next blogger who is posting about the campaign- Ellie, over at her amazing blog, 'Ellie's Favourite Things' and check out her Pinterest too!

There's no place like home.

Sometimes we all get so caught up in the craziness of our lives that we forget how much we have, and how lucky we are. For my art project at the moment I'm exploring the idea of 'lost', and specifically homeless people. Over the weekend I went out to London to try and get some photographs, knowing it would be difficult, but I didn't realise quite how much it would change my views. I was so nervous, and had my mum with me for support. The first two people we asked said no, which wasn't exactly the best start, but then we spoke to 5 or so people who agreed to let me take their photographs. They each told us their story, about how they got on the streets and whether they were trying to get off them (oddly enough, a few of the people we spoke to seemed to be content with living on the streets, whilst others were clearly desperate for their old lives). It opened my eyes to the fact that something so awful can happen so suddenly, with one action or event. Some of what they told us was heartbreaking, and some very inspiring.

Doing this made me realise how maddeningly often we walk past people on the streets, either consciously or unconsciously ignoring them. I don't know which one is worse. It is such a difficult situation, but I'm so glad this project made me stop and talk to them.

Go crabbing

On Saturday we spent the day in the ever lovely Whitstable. I do love living in the city, but it is also great being able to escape to the seaside, however cold it is! It is a busy little town, with rows of colourful beach huts, a little vintage market by the sea, lots of pop up galleries and enviable chunks of driftwood in every front garden (If you're not a driftwood kind of person that last bit probably doesn't make sense. But I really, really like driftwood!)

Every time I go I notice different things, little details I've never seen before. I think having my camera with me forces me to do that a lot more often, as I'm constantly looking for interesting textures, colours and objects. Although I've been a million times before, I'd never seen this wooden gate with the beautiful painted pattern on, or properly noticed the huge 'ice cream' shop window.

Now I'm back it's heads down time until exams. I'm making a loooooooooong list of everything I want to do when I'm free from the stress of revision (or rather the overhanging thought of the stress of revision- there's a big difference), and I can't wait!

Mrs Chanadler Bong

Have you heard the rumours that Friends might be coming back?! NBC have announced that they're launching a new series next year, although they don't know if it'll be with the original cast, as they don't know who will agree. I used to be completely obsessed with Friends, and have seen every episode at least 3 times. I thought this gave me the perfect excuse to pile together some of my favourite moments from the show- enjoy!

P.s. I feel old...