Epipha-threes

Terrible post title. Let's get that out of the way right here at the top.

It relates to the fact that, today, I had three epiphanies.

When each popped into my head, I wrote it down as a potential blog idea. However, not-a-one constitutes an entire blog post, so I've combined all three here for your reading pleasure.

1. I'm just not a dress gal. 

I wish I was.

I would love to throw on a dress and be like, yes, this works! But it rarely does. Instead, I'm cold, wide-hipped, without an appropriate shoe option and did I mention cold? Maybe if I lived somewhere sunny, I'd be a dress gal. Lord knows how much I despise shorts. Oh god, and skirts. Can't believe I forgot about skirts! Skirts are the worst of all. Above all else, I'm not a skirt gal.

2. Everyone my age has moments when they wish they grew up in the 60s. 

Let's face it, the late 60s/early 70s were a fascinating time to be alive. So much happened!

In reality, the world probably felt terribly scary and unsettling back then. Vietnam, assassinations, crazy cults running amok. There wasn't even any good TV. Even so, us millennials have moments of envy because at least things weren't boring. At least people were engaged and felt capable of administering change. Nowadays being angry about important issues seems futile, so we save our outrage for when someone says something that "offends" us. It's all very halfhearted.

For the most part, though, I'm glad I was born when I was (goes back to the TV thing).

3. The people in the flat above us can probably hear me singing Taylor Swift in the shower.

Pam, my singing teacher in the early 2000s, told me that it takes more skill to sing softly than at your natural volume. She was right.

Now my vocal chords are out of practice and in order to sound decent, I have to belt it. LOUD. I can hear the people in the flat above us when they are having a regular conversation, so it's safe to assume they can hear me when I'm bellowing: "I'VE GOT THAT RED LIP CLASSIC THING THAT YOU LIIIIKE..."

What do you think they're dreaming about?
This relates to the blog post because there are three of them. The number three is the link.
Image via Geograph.org.uk

OH. CRAP. It's nearly the dinner hour and we need lettuce for the caesar salaaaaaad!!!!!! It's only the main f-ing ingredient!!!!!!!!

Gotta go,
Marge

Countdown to Christmas: 8 days

Today's Christmas photo

A contender for our family Christmas photo one year. Needless to say, it didn't make it past the cutting room floor.

Today's Christmas memory

I vividly remember lying in a sleeping bag next to the rest of my siblings on the floor of my parents' bedroom on Christmas Eve. Anna and Max told me that if I really really really wished for what I wanted, Santa would bring it. So, the whole night (or for the two minutes it took to fall asleep), I wished as hard as I could for one of those horse heads with the stick body. You know the ones...Googling it now...a hobby horse, that's it!

Lo and behold, the next morning a beautiful ebony-coated mare was waiting for me under the tree. I named her 'Black Beauty', because, duh.

I think this story prove that, unless the hobby horse idea was somehow planted in my head, Santa really is real.

Today's Christmas gift idea

Taylor Swift's new album. Let this one be a treat for yourself. Every song is good. Read my review for further information.

 ---> US shoppers

---> UK shoppers

Mele Kalikimaka,
Margaret

Taylor Swift 1989: REVIEW

It's been a while since I bought an entire album on iTunes, but the Tay Swift hype got to me. My cousin Martha was the first to tip me off about it. "Every song is good."

So, a couple weeks, seven login attempts, and an Apple ID reset request later, I BOUGHT IT. I've only given it a few listens, but if gut reactions were made for anything, it's a Taylor Swift album review.

My verdict?

Throw a handful of Skittles in your mouth and scroll down!

I would never ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself.

It's a 9/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It immediately hooks you in and speaks to your soul. Brilliant, story-telling verses and snappy, upbeat choruses. Lots of energy. Lots of heart. Lots of classic TaySwift on-the-nose lyrics. LOVE IT.

As I walked around Edinburgh listening to it, I kept thinking to myself, 'OMG, I bet this one's about Harry', 'Wow, this one's definitely about Harry.' 

If I had to fault it for anything (aka the reason it's not 10/10), its that the songs can feel a bit samey when you listen to the album the entire way through. Kind of like how Nina Garcia had to remind kiwi Sean not to rely too much on fringe for his fashion week collection, well, TaySwift might rely a bit too much on amazingly-catchy love songs. And it's hard to blame her, she's so dang good at them. But I would also love to hear her take on an anti-war protest song or a girl power duet with Celine Dion. 

Also, it's worth repeating: nothing will ever beat 'Trouble'. That tune belongs in a hall of fame. It's impossible to top. 

Ugh, the post-Skittles tummy ache is starting to set in. #WorthIt

Skittles, 

Margaret