Legends that glitter

These beautiful glittering kelpies appeared in Dundee City centre over the weekend and they are such a beautiful reminder of many childhood stories.  

For those of you not from Scotland who are thinking "what on earth is she talking about?! They are just glittery horse heads!" I'll start by explaining what a kelpie is.  

The stories and legends vary between areas and families but as an overview a kelpie is a mythical sea or loch creature that is often referred to as a water horse.  Legend describes kelpies as dangerous shape shifters that have to reveal their true self once submerged in water. Some of the legends that go along with kelpies are quite gruesome... Stories warn children of creatures that will trick you into taking a ride on land whilst in horse form and then dive into the water where they will reveal their true self and as they change they seal your hands in their skin and dive so deep that they drown you and eat you!  Well we Celts did give the world Halloween so we had to have some terrifying stories to go with it! Plus it has to work a little better than the no running signs around pools these days although I still think it's a harsh way of to warn children of the dangers of undercurrents in open water: I still have nightmares at the thought!

One of Scotland's most popular kelpie legends is of course known across the world.... The Loch Ness monster. The monster's story has it's origins in a local legend of a powerful kelpie that chose to shift between serpent form in water and sheep form on land.

But anyway I digress!  I just thought I would share this little art instillation with you incase you want to check it out... And if you would rather give your children a relaxing bed time story instead of nightmares I would recommend you share one of my all time favourite childhood books with them: "The Water Horse" by Dick King Smith. 

PS - If the kids like that then Dick King Smith has a huge range of amazing books, I would go with "Martin's mice" next followed up by "The Sheep Pig". Or try "The Enchanted Horse" by Magdalen Nabb.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Love always L x

Just remember it was the tortoise who won the race...

So it may have take me an age to get this review done but I've been super busy these past few weeks (plus recovering after a Scottish wedding takes a while!) anyways... Here's my promised review of "The selection" by Kiera Cass.

So how to describe the book?? Hhmmmm... Well I guess it's a sort of mix between The Bachelor (I've only ever watched a few episodes so I could be totally wrong on that one!) meets Kate Middleton meets Pearl Harbour (the glitzy movie not the actual event).  Crap description I know but once you've read it you'll get it, we'll possibly not, but I tried! It's my first book review since high school so cut me a little wiggle room - pretty please!

Anyways! The story starts in a future version of the US known as Illea; which has been rebuilt after years of oppression under the rule of China which occurred after the debts of the US forced the government to relinquish control.  

Sounds awfully dark doesn't it?  Don't worry though most of that is glossed over to focus on the story of America Singer.

America is the lead character who is stuck in a system that decides your destiny based on the class you are born into.  Your class is determined by your families wealth or allegiance during the revolution resulting in a classification  from 1 - 8.  1 are classed as the elite and 8 the outcasts.  Your class numbers dictates everything including the professions that you can enter.  Luckily for America she likes her profession of musician as a 5: unfortunately for her being a 5 also dictates how poor her family is and worst of all who she can love.  Queue America's love interest Aspen.

Aspen is a lower 6 who she is completely and utterly head over heels for.  With all the secret rendezvous and stolen moments you are drawn into America's bubble of happiness.  Then comes the announcement of the Royal selection.

The crowned Prince of Illea makes the announcement that he is ready to start the process of selecting his wife from the daughters of Illea (a nice way of saying the commoners! See thats where the Kate Middleton thing came from!) The selection is entirely voluntary but it does bring with it the chance to elevate not only yourself but also your family: if you are chosen.

So obviously as America is completely content and ready to give up her world and descend to the level of her chosen love she has no interest in entering for the chance to be crowned Princess.  But after some persuasion from Aspen (who is feeling guilty that he is holding America back and is convinced that he can never earn enough to provide for her) and some bribery from her mother she enters herself believing a 5 will never be chosen...

Well you guessed it: America is selected. 

Not only that but Aspen breaks her heart. So off she pops to the palace where she has no intention of ever falling in love again and convinces herself that the distance from home, the food and the benefits the competition will bring to her family couldn't have come at a better time.  And who hasn't felt like packing everything and escaping for sunnier climates and all inclusive food and drinks after a break up?!

The palace not only brings a new friendship with Maxon, the crowned Prince, but a whole host of new experiences for America.  As a child who was home schooled the bitching, backstabbing and new friendships prove more of a challenge than America anticipated.  America's stay in the palace also raises deeper questions about the country she calls home and why it is being attacked from within.

Well that's about as much as I can say without ruining the entire book for you!

So I hope the review was helpful and possibly enticing enough for you to pick up a copy and take a look.  It isn't a very long book but it is perfect for snuggling up on the sofa with on a rainy day.

If you do get the chance to read it let me know what you think.

L x

 

Love is in the air...

So after all the hard work and preparation my BFF put in over the past few months her big day finally arrived!!  

I was super excited (obviously!) and wanted to share the big day with everyone.  But since it was her big day and not mine I didn't want to invade her privacy by plastering it all over my blog.  

So I got to thinking about the little parts of the day that tell a story without invading people's privacy.  I know that many brides now think along the same line and have pictures of their shoes and dress etc taken before hand but as a guest I took some different shots that I thought I would share them with you.

So here's my attempt at putting their fairytale day into anonymous pictures...

Tissues at the ready just incase (it was a good job too!)

Inside the church waiting on the beautiful bride!

After all the tears were dried and mascara reapplied it was time for the wedding breakfast; lamb shank on a bed of mustard mash.  My eyes were bigger than my belly but what I managed (I did have a starter too!) was super yummy!

With a little rest and some drinks in the sunshine I managed to find some room for this amazing banoffee dessert which I shared with the BF... Thankfully he ate most of it otherwise I would have burst!

Even at weddings I gladly swap my champagne for a nice cup of peppermint tea after the meal.  How very British!

Although I couldn't eat the cake (it wasn't gluten free) it did look absolutely beautiful and the mint choc chip layer (yip you read that right!) went down a storm with the other guests.

So after the speeches and the cutting of the cake the bride and groom had their first dance under these dreamy chandeliers... 

Me being me I came prepared with some sensible sandals!  Good job too after that feast because I definitely needed a work out!

Just like me the BFF loves her tea so these cute and quirky (just like her!) favours at the end of the were a perfect finishing touch :)

So as the happy couple embark on their new chapter in life I would just like to finish up this post by thanking them for including me in their big day and wishing them a life time of happiness and a very sunny honeymoon!! 

With all my love L xx

Pinterest you are the sunshine on every rainy day!

I have to admit I am probably a little late on the Pinterest band wagon; but I am sharing it with so many people that have never heard of it I don't feel too bad about it! For those of you who haven't heard of Pinterest yet this post is for you!

So what is Pinterest I hear you cry!  Well my explanation of it has been described as many things but none of those descriptions can be repeated in writing... so lets just say my descriptions have been "poor".  So I thought I would turn to the source and let them explain....

"Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing things you love.  No matter what you’re interested in, there’s a place for it here."

To be honest this is pretty much how I explain it and I usually get met with a blank look. 

It does sound a little cryptic but I think that's part of the charm... for people like me it makes me curious and once you have a look I think you'll agree it is definitely worth investigating.  So for those of you who want to satisfy your curiosity head on over to http://pinterest.com/all/ (this way you can have a nosey around before you sign up to it - which is completely free by the way!) Once you sign up it doesn't take long to get the hang of the boards; how to set up your own, how to add to them from the feeds and how to add your own finds online is really simple  and once you start you'll be hooked!  So move over Candy Crush there's a new addiction in town! (F.Y.I. I am not on the Candy Crush band wagon and nor do I intend on joining it so please stop sending me requests... you know who you are!!)

Top tip that I forgot to mention to the first few people I described Pinterest to (which probably explains the blank looks and harsh words)- to many people it may look like just a strange picture gallery at first but by hovering over or clicking on the pictures you can repin a find to your own boards so you can always find it again, comment, like or go to the original source.  Being able to go to the original source is great, I've found so many amazing blogs, recipes, inspiration and tutorials on how to do... well just about everything imaginable!

If any of you guys want to add me on Pinterest (you will once your hooked!) you can find me @ http://pinterest.com/lisasmalluk/

Happy pinning everyone and let me know what you think!

L

I don't just want to read books; I want to climb inside them and live there!

I am a self confessed book-oholic! 

Ever since I was little when I would beg my mum to read just "one more chapter!" of my favourite childhood books; Roald Dahl - Fantastic Mr Fox, The Brothers Grimm -  Illustrated fairytales and absolutely anything by Dick King Smith, to name but a few! I have always loved well written books and the magical journey they take you on from reality into the depths of your imagination.

I have only fallen out of love with books once and that was during my time at uni.   I was forced to read mountain after mountain of the most boring material known to man so I stopped reading for fun and wouldn't read anything that wasn't required as course material: and even then I began to skim read as fast as possible! 

But thankfully those days are behind me and I am now back to loving literature. 

Those dark days, as awful as they were, have helped me understand why not everyone loves to read. I think I should probably make a mention to my sister at this point. Growing up together I never understood her loathing of books: we are chalk and cheese in every sense brunette/blonde, quiet/loud, sensible/wild... So it was probably inevitable that we would have opposite opinions on this subject as well! So to you Lynn I'm sorry for all those late nights my reading light kept you awake!

 (See what I mean, like chalk and cheese)

Anyways... with this understanding and a renewed love for reading I thought I would do a couple of book reviews with the hope of inspiring anyone who wants to give reading another shot but needs a little help getting started. 

Not got that problem? Then hopefully you will find a new title that you can try stuffing in your suitcase this summer! 

First things first though, for those of you that aren't head over heels here are a few of my golden rules that will hopefully help you out before trying any new books:

1 - Don't read what you don't like! You wouldn't eat something you're allergic to that you knew was going to make you sick, so why force a book on yourself that is going to make you sick of reading?! My best advice is to pick a book, whether fiction or non fiction, that contains something you are interested in.

Don't feel like you need to read the "it" book unless it's something you're interested in: because chances are it's not worth the hype anyway.

2 - Don't be afraid to shop in what British book stores call "teen literature" or "young adult" as the Americans call it. 

Twilight, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and pretty much all the latest blockbusters (can they not come up with any original scripts these days?!) are from these types of sections. 

The title of these sections suggest that these books are placed together solely based on their target audience but I don't think this is the case.  I think the way in which the books are written make them much easier to read and as they tend to be broken into a series of shorter books they may not be what literary snobs would consider adult fiction so they class them as juniors.  Well to those snobs I say "You can keep your so called grown up books because I'm going to hold on to my youth!"

3 - Once you start a book and you realise you don't like it after a couple of chapters do not feel like a failure for giving it up! 

Think of it like that top you bought but didn't have time to try on and only realised after you see the pictures on Facebook how terrible it looks! You can't return it but you know you'll never EVER wear it again. It's the same with books. 

So my advice is to just sell it online (Amazon do a great buy back scheme) or donate it to a charity shop and go shopping for something new.

4 - And last but not least don't give up.  If novels aren't your thing try short stories, or non fiction or just read to your kids (or even yourself!) before bedtime. Because let's face it, nothing beats a good fairy tale!

Well I think that's all my words of wisdom for today! Hopefully you have been inspired to have a look at some new books and maybe even read some of my up coming reviews to help you on your next choice...  If so then watch this space!

Up first will be a review on "The Selection" by Keira Cass.

Oh and one last thing: thanks for reading :) it may just be a silly little blog, but it's a damn good start!

Speak soon

L x

Dundead - are you scared yet??

Dundead is back!  Dundee Horror Film Festival hosted and run by DCA (Dundee Contemporary Arts) is back for its 3^rd season next week… be prepared to hide behind your hands people!

I have said to myself for the last two years that I HAVE TO GO! But me being me, I always end up missing it and I usually only remember when I see someone walking down the street in the awesome Dundead T-shirts!… but this year I am definitely, maybe going to make it!  (My usual commitment level at its best!) 

For those of you interested in checking out the full line up please check out the DCA page @ http://www.dca.org.uk/whats-on/films/category/dundead.html or like them on Facebook https://en-gb.facebook.com/dundead

If like me you can’t decide which one to go see then you should take advantage of the “Survival Pack” offer which allows you to buy six film passes and receive your very own bonus survival pack which contains the Dundead T-shirt, festival merchandise and more for an amazing £30. Just add popcorn and someone to hold your hand and you’re ready to face the monsters of the night.

My top picks for this year are:

1.     Would You Rather (which is a UK premier no less!), Thursday 2 May at 8.30pm.

Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator) gives a larger-than-life performance as Shepard Lambrick, an eccentric aristocrat who summons eight desperate individuals to his secluded mansion with the possibility of a financial reward if they agree to take part in a parlour game – the parlour game quickly leads to torture, sadism and death.

Billed as a film in the mould of Saw or Hostel, but with more going for it due to its restrained direction, intelligent screenplay and fine ensemble cast.

To top it off the screening will be kicking off with a selection of vintage cinema adverts and trailers and the chance to see short film Familiar (Canada 2012, 24m), directed by Robert Powell.

2.      The Hidden Face, Friday 3 May at 6.15pm

Filmmaker Andrés Baiz follows his acclaimed debut, the violent crime drama Satanás, with this tense, intriguing thriller.

Adrián (Quim Gutierrez) is a young orchestra conductor who moves into an isolated mansion with his fiancé Belén (Clara Lago). Their relationship begins to turn sour when Belén believes he is having an affair: then one morning she disappears. The police initially suspect Adrián, but the investigation is soon dropped when they cannot find any evidence. Moving on, Adrián becomes involved with a young waitress (Martina García) who he invites to live with him, but she starts to hear noises and experience strange events in the mansion.

This screening will be preceded by Human as Animal (US 2012, 4m), directed by Kristina Klebe.

3.     The Lords of Salem, Saturday 4 May at 8.30pm

The fifth feature from Rob Zombie (House of 1000 Corpses) is dubbed as the director's most ambitious film yet.

In the city of Salem, Massachusetts (where the notorious 17th century witch trials took place), strange events occur when a wooden box containing a vinyl record arrives at a radio station. It is addressed to Heidi (Sheri Moon Zombie), a DJ who hosts a late-night show, with a note saying it is “a gift from the Lords”. After Heidi plays the music on air, she begins to experience bizarre and traumatic visions. Billed as a deeply unsettling audio-visual experience, The Lords of Salem must be seen on the cinema screen to be truly appreciated.

This screening will be preceded by a chance to see Out There (Ireland 2012, 15m), directed by Randal Plunkett.

Noteworthy – From the review I think this one may be a bit too much for me but if you think you have the stomach for it then the “ABCs of Death” showing on Sunday 5 May at 6pm covers 26 ways to die from A – Z…. see what they did their?! And they say horror isn’t witty!

Also for those of you who love the classics you won’t be disappointed.  With features such as “Blow Out” featuring John Travolta (1980), The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1922) and Body Double (1984) included in the festival line up the the vintage horror section covered.

If you guys do make it to any of the features I would love to hear what you thought so please comment below or leave a comment on the Facebook page @ www.facebook.com/pages/All-Things-Unique/118911991620797

Speak soon – as long as the monsters don’t get me first!

L

Memory Bears

Just ordered some teddy bear patterns to make some memory bears.... Never heard of a memory bear?! Don't worry they are pretty new to me as well! Wish I had heard of them 6 years ago.

Basically you use fabric that means something to you and use it to make a memory bear; this is great after both sad and happy times.

Example include; using your wedding dress (or if you want to keep it then a flower girls dress makes a perfect alternative), baby's favourite blanket or clothes once they grow out of them, grandparent shirt, etc or if you wear a uniform with logo they make great graduation or retirement gifts as well. This list is clearly not exhaustive and I would love to hear what other people have made them out of/for.

Hopefully the bears I make turn out as well as these examples! I'll post some pictures once they are all done and let you judge for yourself...