sunday feels better when it rains

Sunday is my favourite day, it's even better than Friday in my opinion.

So here's my rainy Sunday to-listen-to/to-do recommendations:

1. Write/draw/paint something (like I'm writing this lovely blog post for you lovely people and I may do some drawing later). There is seriously nothing better than a creative Sunday; pop on your artiste's hat and get creating!

2. Listen to some indie folk, because that's what Sundays are for: The Paper Kites' album Woodland (you can listen here) is beautiful, perfect for a rainy Sunday. It's getting sunnier here but it was lovely and rainy earlier. I just adore the feeling of being inside and watching the world outside when it rains. So tranquil, so peaceful. If it's a sunnier Sunday, I recommend Gregory and The Hawks's album Moenie and Kitchi (her voice is one I would imagine a china doll to have, it's lovely - listen here).

3. Dress as an eccentric Sunday lady/gent/somewhere-in-between (like me). Here's an example when I went for a walk earlier with the doge!

SHIRT + JACKET - charity shop // JEANS - dorothy perkins // TRAINERS - nike

Anyway, I hope you are all having fab Sundays, rainy or sunny or none of the above. Take care, enjoy, now, run along kids.

Love love,
Lou

<3

I'm a hippie???? WTF

Today a young fellow who I was buying paint from in B&Q posed a jokey, in his eyes, and to me, serious question.

He asked: 'Are you a hippie or something?'

I said: 'Uhhhhhhhhhhh. Idk. I don't think so.'

Shocked and slightly taken aback by his comment, I googled 'hippie'. This is what Google, oh dear old, trusty Google, told me:

HIPPIE: (especially in the 1960s) a person of unconventional appearance, typically having long hair and wearing beads, associated with a subculture involving a rejection of conventional values and the taking of hallucinogenic drugs.

synonyms:

flower child, Bohemian, beatnik, long-hair, free spirit, nonconformist, dropout "yesterday's hippies are today's ad execs"

To fully give the context, here's a pic of what I was wearing today; the look, if you will: 

Let's analyse this: 

1. 'Typically having long hair' - I do NOT have long hair, this is clearly visible, though I guess at a push my appearance could be considered unconventional: the piercings, the bowl cut, the Ozzy Osbourne/John Lennon/Elton John glasses, the "interesting" (HAH. My gran thinks I look plain odd) clothes. Maybe I could be considered a 'contemporary hippie'. 

2. 'Associated with a subculture' - Now, this is a contentious issue; I don't like to be associated with any particular already-formed subculture. I tried that jazz: lolita, scene, punk, and I didn't like having rules to adhere to, and people to compare myself to. I take inspiration from everywhere. I'm a mongrel. I like that: JANUART STYLE MONGREL (should that be the header of my blog??? Totally comment your views below!! I'll love you forever <3 ) 

3. 'A rejection of conventional values' - Haha, you got that alright. I'm vegan, religionless and base my ethics on continental philosophers. I love to go against the grain. 'Contemporary hippie (or New Wave hippie') is sounding more and more like me.

4. 'Hallucinogenic drugs' - UH NO. Sorry, no drugs for me. :P 

But is 'hippie' a term for all kinds of alternative people whose look we just can't seem to put our finger on? A mainstream outsider may totally see me as a hippie, but step inside and we see that alternative style is a whole lot more complicated than that. 

Please, step inside. And shout out and thanks to the guy who called me a hippie for inspiring this post!

Totally leave your views down below! I'd love to hear what you think of being a 'contemporary/new wave hippie'. Maybe it'll even catch on! 

Lou 

<3 

John Lennon come Elton John... rose tinted specs in a library??

Today was a momentous day; a day which will, mark my words, be remembered for all eternity.

Okay, okay, it was just the day I got my Irlen lenses. Yes, that's right, I have funny glasses; no, they're not sun glasses, they're to treat my Irlen Syndrome (you can read more about it here). Irlen Syndrome is a visual processing disorder, which means that my brain doesn't process visual information properly, so I'm light-sensitive, have a perpetual headache and am constantly anxious. I even have episodes of sensory overload. Words, when reading, also move on the page. Now, with my Irlen lenses these things will be easier to cope with, I shouldn't get as many episodes of sensory overload and even after just a day of wearing them, my headache has improved. They're awesome and I'm so happy!! Woo! I can be a normal human being!!

My frames, if you're wondering, are from Heritage.

(Also I got a new haircut - here's a pic of me just after it'd been done at the hairdresser).

So to celebrate my new look, I did an outfit of the day in my local library, because what can be better than books and clothes, eh? The lighting could be better, but it's worth it for the backdrop.

SHIRT - Charity Shop (brand Lucia) //TROUSERS - Zara // SHOES - Dr Marten (vintage)

I feel like I'm finally looking like myself! Also I was in town today and there appears to be a massive (and by massive I mean, there were like seven) influx of alternative teens around and about. It was cool to see. Back in my day (all those *cough* 5 *cough* years ago) there were practically no people my age that dressed with an edge. But now there are a fair few - it was refreshing.

I've also been doing a lot of illustration recently, because I've decided I'd like to illustrate what I write. You can see my stuff on my art instagram @lou.viv.drawz .


So it's nice to be back. I'll be writing more soon, and I hope you were all happy to hear from me.

INSTA: @janu.art and @lou.viv.drawz // TUMBLR: www.januart.tumblr.com

Lou

<3

VEGAN: recipe for delicious miso mushroom stew with baked potato and greens!

Hi there everyone! 

So I'm back with a recipe - a vegan one, since I've been vegan for nearly 10 months now. So if you want to learn how to cook this super simple and delicious dish, please read on. 

You will need: 

FOR VEG:

A head of broccoli 

As many mushrooms as you like - I used a pack of closed cup

Half a bag of baby spinach

As many spears of asparagus as you'd like - I used around six. 

FOR STEW:

Half a bag of vegan quorn pieces (optional but I added it)

One vegan stock cube

Several splashes of dark soy sauce

A good splash of sriracha 

Salt to taste

A teaspoonful of brown miso paste (which silly me forgot to photograph!)

FOR CARBS:

One medium baking potato 

HOW TO: 

1. Cut a cross into your potato and bake in the oven at 200 degrees celsius for an hour or just over. (Preheat for 20 mins or so, and soften the potato in the microwave for 2 minutes)

2. Boil the kettle, pour around 300ml water into a pan and add your vegan quorn pieces, stock cube, miso paste and soy sauce. Stir in a splash of sriracha as it cooks. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 mins. Salt to taste. 

3. Meanwhile, steam your greens for around 5-6 mins. I prefer not to salt my greens, but if you like, add some salt. 

TO PRESENT: 

When everything is all cooked (I try to time it so it's all ready at the same time!) present as so. 

Add a bit of soy margarine to the potato if you like and pour over the stew. Maybe even add a splash more sriracha? 

And enjoy! 

 

I hope you enjoyed this vegan recipe! I certainly did. 

Let me know if you'd like to see any more recipes on this blog? 

And if you make this dish, be sure to tag me in a pic on Instagram @janu.art

(Also my blog name will be changing soon - this blog is not really fashion anymore, is it? It'll be JANUART so look out for me in your feeds!)

Lou xx 

Revival and New Content??

This blog has been going for absolutely years, and I've not really taken it... well anywhere. I want to change that. The problem is, I'm full of ideas, but I just can't seem to execute them. I journal a lot, and post to instagram, but unfortunately I can never think of anything to post here, or I don't feel like the content will be good enough for anyone to see.

I do want to put all my effort into one blog, I have so many at the moment: one for poetry and veganism, one for style (this one) and a few other bits and bobs. So this is a revival. Mark my words, I will find my voice.

So: I'm just going to combine everything and write about the stuff I'm passionate about, I do hope that's okay with you guys? Please comment below on what you'd like to see. 

So more posts will be coming after the 12th May, since that is my last uni deadline! 

Watch this space!

Louise <3 

Forgive me? & Futuristic Folk

'Hi,' she said, slinking in after months of absence. :P

I'm a terrible blogger, this I know, and I'm sorry. I would love it if you'd forgive me though, perhaps? I miss blogging and recording outfits and though I'm drowning in required reading and words-to-be-written, I would like to write some words for you. If that's okay.

So, where have I been? What have I been doing? And more importantly, what have I been wearing?

I've been in Guernsey a little and working at a beautiful screen printing shop, called Iris and Dora, and also in Chichester working on my degree (I'm nearing the end of my second year and it's terrifying!), I'm preparing to write my dissertation on Nietzsche and his work, and starting to look for a job for the summer. My course is going well, and I've got 12 tattoos and bright blue hair and 2 facial piercings. I'm finally allowing my style to be as crazy as I like.

I was also scrolling through tumblr and I found a wonderful tag invented by one user, sycamoreorless, called Futuristic Folk, and I just love the concept, I want to inject more folk and futurism into my style.

Here are some photos of late that show my style. I hope you're all happy to hear from me!

 Everything is vintage or thrifted. 

 Everything is vintage, thrifted or eBay. 

 I would love to hear what you think of futuristic folk?

Louise <3

Mini Life Update!

Evening all! I know I haven't blogged for ages, and I feel bad. I love blogging but I have to admit that I am terrible with maintaining any form of blog long term. I'm all over the place. So I think it will be sporadic posts until I'm on a bit more of an even keel. I really hope everyone is well.

To be honest things haven't been great with me for some time but are looking up now. I recently suffered a relapse and crisis with my personality disorder leading to an admission onto the psychiatric ward. But I'm feeling a lot better. Then some personal issues occurred and I'm desperately trying to get over them, but I know it'll take a lot of time. So I'm off to Cambridge to stay with a friend for a few days and then I'll be working in a little touristy craft shop in the summer holidays! Also university is over for the summer  so I'm back in Guernsey until September. I will be blogging more and I'm going to Paris also on holiday with the family.

If you'd like to keep in contact or have updates:

My twitter: @wowlouise
Instagram: @louiseyviv

(I update super regularly on instagram!)

So that's my mini update, I just can't seem to write properly. You're all awesome, thank you for following and taking time to read my blog <3

Louisey