Pictures of then.

Forget saddle shoes. I took these bad boys swiftly out of the bowling alley a long time ago.

Oddly enough, last week was the first time I've decided to rock them...and I've had them for 6 years.

This is one of my favourite sweaters turned inside out.

I still cannot determine what I like better, but I realised it makes a HUGE difference.

The pattern on the other side is totally different. I think it's neat how much it can change an outfit, just by turning it inside out. Next time you see a gnarly sweater at the thrift, pop it inside out and see how it looks.

Staying up past 3am allocates some Full House watchin'.

On this particular night, I couldn't help but notice this awesome outfit D.J. was wearing.

Let's just say it's something that I would definitely sport myself.

SUNDAY MORNING, BABY!

I grabbed this pack of buns from Trader Joe's.

I love getting delicious yummies for Sunday mornings.

Unfortunately, I could only finish one of these dudes, but it was tasty to the max.

I came across this on my walk.

WHAT. A. GEM.

There is this awesome house on the street over that does this huge display in their yard and while I've never seen the show, I've walked past the display numerous times during the day on my walks.

This was left up the other day and I can only hope it continues to stay up all year round. Too rad.

 

.on my walk.

WOMP WOMP WOMPPPPPPPP!!

Ceremonials - Florence + The Machine

This past week on Tuesday, if you live in the states that is, one of the most important occurrences of the year had occurred. Florence + The Machine's second album, Ceremonials, had dropped, leaving us with more enamoring vocals, eerie mystic pop, and words that make me want to grab her hand and runaway to lovable lyric land. Then the thought occurs "OH MY GOD what would happen if I actually got to hold her hand?!?!?! and then run away with her!?!" :: maintaining composure:: Needless to say every song on Ceremonials is my new favourite song. It was recorded at Abbey Road and if you take a gander at the studio, you can see that it is the perfect spot for Flo to unleash her vivacious vocals. And she did.

I admit, it may be a tad biased. I will love anything she ever does...ever. She got me through tremendous amounts with her first album. There could be a version of her singing the alphabet in a hallway somewhere and I'd be like "Oh yeah, can you get me that in an MP3 and Vinyl version, ASAP?" The most unusual part of Ceremonials to me is how many people have access to it after such a short period of time of it coming out. I had the glorious Lungs to myself for a good year before it was anywhere, let alone in the ears of the masses or found anywhere on a frequency. However, this is not going to be a story about a girl who loved a musician more than anyone thought possible and then she got all famous and she totally ditched this artist she loved because all these other people started getting in on the fun. But this isn't some shitty garage band you fell in love with and they got huge and you started hating them because their music just got bloody awful. THIS IS FLORENCE, PEOPLE! I WANT everyone to be exposed to this bands work and not only like it, but LOVE it


I tend to have a rather difficult time delving into new albums. I generally shun out 'new sounds' by an artists whose 'old sounds' have captured my heart in just the right way. I just worry, "WHAT IF THERE IS NO CAPTURING?!" Mind you, I wasn't really "nervous" in this instance, but I glided through this album with such delicious ease. I desperately wanted to listen to every little beat in order, no skips, no repeats. I fell in love. Song after song. I wanted to give this album to every single being I know. A few songs stood out to me, but the general consensus was, "Oh, good god, she stole the other half of my heart". The first part was taken by Lungs in 2009. I can tell you, that her albums come out at time where they are absolutely vital to me. Her songs are almost replications of my emotions being yanked out and thrown into musical composition. IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Her words puncture my soul and make me bleed musical ambition. Let's get rolling with my favourite songs in the order they appear on the album [which is impossible because they are all my favourite, remember?...]

2). Shake It Out

I can guarantee some tears will be shed during this song when I see her Dec. 4

This is obviously the breadwinner of the album and I am so revved to dance it out in her presence. It is the new 'Dog Days' and we all knew how hard I clung to that...

wait..you probably have NO CLUE how hard I remained loyal to that song, but I did.

I love it to pieces no matter how many times XRT plays it.
Again, this song is just what I needed right now.

Favourite lyrics from this song:

"...And all of the ghouls come out to play

Every demon wants his pound of flesh

But I like to keep somethings to myself

I like to keep my issues strong

It's always darkest before the dawn.."


&


"I'm always dragging that horse around, our love has pastured such a mournful sound,
tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground!"

This is not where I will be sitting, I have two other tickets.

(I'm taking my mom this time around)

This is actually going to be a ticket for one of my girlfriends.

I am so glad I can provide her with a Florence ticket so she can be rocked by her presence. It's a pretty phenomenal experience.

They have this saying..."Third time's a charm".

I hold no doubts.

6). Lover To Lover

I really liked this song and as soon as I heard it and I felt like I was thrown back to some Motown grooves. Does anyone else feel me on this? I enjoy it and can't wait until she plays it live. I think it would make such a groovy opener. I don't get a general consensus in my adoration for it, but I like that even more. Plus, it is so fun to sing along to

...but not as fun as 'Shake It Out'.

Favourite lyrics from this jam:

"And I've been taking chances

I've been setting myself up for the fall

I've been keeping secrets,

from my heart and from my soul"

THIS NEXT SONG IS A KNOCKOUT. I CANNOT WAIT TO DANCE UP AND DOWN THE AISLES OF THE CHICAGO THEATRE LIKE I AM IN A POW-WOW CEREMONY. I HOPE THEY LET ME!

7). No Light, No Light

She is absolutely stunning in this video, I cannot even believe it.

FLORENCE, THIS MAKES ME WANT TO KISS YOUR FACE!

she looks absolutely stunning

I had to post the live version because I wasn't going to stand for another album cover video. This song just makes me FEEL, you know?!

Favourite lyrics from this groove:

"I never knew daylight could be so violent

a revelation in the light of day

you can't choose what stays and what fades away"

"You want a revelation? You want to get right?

Well that's a conversation, I just can't have tonight"

*Edit: I actually woke up with the above lyrics in my head every single day for a good two weeks when this album came out. So amazing.

8). Seven Devils

I love this song, but cannot seem to score a good video for it.

I love how powerful it is. It is definitely something I have to choreograph a dance to. It's just too powerful not to use your whole body to express it. The lyrics here are great, but one always sticks out to me like crazy;

Favourite lyric:

"And no rivers and no lakes, can put the fire out"

I hope the intensity is there when she performs this, but I know better than having to hope for such things at her concerts. It'll be there.

NOW FOR THE FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM!!!!

10). Spectrum

BOTH VERSION THROWDOWN!

This song utterly amazing. It is my go-to sing-a-long song right now.

I will be rocking so hard to this in that theatre. THAT HARP?!

Absolutely amazing. I think those beautiful seconds where she is gently singing along to it where be the moments where I am balled up on the floor of the Chicago Theatre-CRYING.

I imagine a spin combo something like this when I hear that part;

[any chance to show off my favourite skating video of mine, right?]

seriously, yo! The timing works.

here's how to do to it for one rockin' Florence spin combo!

1) mute sound on skating video

2) start it from the top

3) start playing live version (just above) at 2:50

It will work out just swell, I swear.

This song also makes me want to hit the ice HARD. Can I sheepishly admit I've always wanted to do one of those cheesy ice shows where the artist is performing live for the skater? And I've always wanted to do that with Florence, he he! I choreograph something new in my head each time I hear it, or any of her songs really. It is just absolutely magic. The lyrics make me feel fluttery, light, and whimsical. The make me feel like the power of uttering ones name is more intense than I had once imagined...and my god, just look at her...

::drools::

Favourite lyric:

"So say my name and every colour illuminates

And we are shining..."

"And when we come back we'll be dressed in black

And you'll scream our names aloud! 

And we won't eat and we won't sleep

We'll drag bodies from their graves!"

13). Remain Nameless

I love this song. It doesn't remind me of any other Florence song in terms of beat.

It gives off 'The XX' vibe, which I feel works well here.

Needless to say, I embraced this album with every ounce of my being.

I knew it would likely be delightful, but I didn't expect anything quite like this.

When I first fell head-over-heels in love with Lungs, I pondered what the sophomore album was going to be like, I had imagined the excitement that would be created around the release. I just knew that it wasn't going to be Lungs. And that's okay,because part of me wants to say that it's better, that I like it even more.

Songs like "Never Let Me Go" have a serious Celine Dion sound to them and 

it makes me think Florence will be flocking to stages for some time to come and that kind of thinking gets me so excited! I better still be seeing her when I have gray hairs.

YEAH FLO, YOU GO!

YOU HAVE CREATED MAGIC.

THANK YOU.

I am so excited that they've reached Number One in the UK although it really comes as no surprise at all.

I love the exchange of tweets here, these gals are fun.

isamachine isabella 

@ 

@flo_tweet can you reallllllllllly be bothered to do #xfactor ? I mean , the albums at number 1 we could just chill out?? ..... X

9 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

flo_tweet florence welch 

 by isamachine

@isamachine soooo, what do you wanna do tonight? Roast? Film? ...or perform on x factor. Casual sunday..xx

9 hours ago 

isamachine isabella 

@flo_tweet I can wear my pterodactyl costume right?

9 hours ago 

isamachine isabella 

@flo_tweet so errrr which song we doing later? #justkiddin... X

Older Flo posts that you may enjoy;

one . two . three

"Every demon wants his pound of flesh..."

This week was busy, but full of good things.

Halloween was this week which is absolutely fantabulous!...

but that was also the inevitable end of October, which is one of my favourite months of the year due to it's heavy inspirational take-over. The spookiness was in full swing on Monday and I am so glad some plans came my way.

Not having plans on Halloween sort of feels like not having plans on your birthday.

One of my girlfriends was in town last week and came by to catch up, which is always so nice and so necessary. It was cut early because I had a train to catch into the city, at 4:51 to be exact. So I wasn't planning on dressing up...

That changed when Caitlyn mentioned it and I kind of felt like that meant I had to...

which meant that I really wanted to in the first place.

Of course I had fancied the idea, but I knew we would be going out with my counterpart and his friend, so I didn't want to pull my usual crazy shit. But I did anyway and this was the result; luckily I have random flower headbands around my wardrobe, green dresses, and bright yellow cardigans.

So I took the train to the city to meet my partner (who happened to be beckoned to the city for work) and his buddy, who both seemed to dig my flower get up, by the way.
I was the only one dressed up in the whole place. No big deal.
We met at Sepia, where I fell in love with the drink menu (and the atmosphere) and ordered easily;

 

This isn't the full menu, it is just the shot of what I wanted to try most and what I actually did try;

Sepia Mule, French 75, Boston Martha

I chose the Sepia Mule. I have been wanting to try a Moscow Mule for some time now and I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

I chose it twice and both times it was delicious.

If I ever go back it will be quite the toss up.
I'm sorry, when I go back.

The bartender was great, I recommended he wear a bow-tie, he was that kind of dude.

The fellas have some difficulty tying the suckers!

 

Here was the menu I drooled over even as I knew Portillo's was on the horizon.

When it comes to dining, I'm not stupid. I may be a Portillo's addict, but if meals like this appear on paper in front of me, I'm going to have different desires.

These just look absolutely exquisite.

Of course, the drink is my beloved Sepia Mule. It was absolutely delicious and dangerous and totally did the job. It was a jolly train ride back. That's the worst about just going for drinks, your buzz is enjoyed on the seats of a Metra car...ehhhh.

Here was my Halloween din-din!

Oh the joys of living in Illinois! (there are so few these days...)

A chili dog, cup of chili, and a small fry just felt night on such a fright night!

So on to another adored beverage of mine;

So I picked up these little gems at Adagio while in Downtown Naperville earlier this week. Seriously, if there is a tea shop in walking distance, I'm there!

I had been wanting to try the sweet potato pie since the last time I had been there and had a feeling that was going to be a seasonal treat. So I scooped up a bag...should have scooped up three more.

This is a dazzling close up of the sweet potato pie tea and it is so delicious in the most peculiar way. It is a starchy Ceylon black tea. It contains hints of marigold leaves, cinnamon bark, and natural sweet potato flavour. I just can't believe how delicious it becomes when used in concoction- with MARSHMALLOWS!

I find that adding 'mallows is the BEST way to go about drinking this tea.

It literally tastes like a Thanksgiving accompaniment in a cup.

A lot of people have unfavourable things to say about it, however, I don't need my tea to be overwhelmingly sweet. It is perfect for this time of year. I wouldn't necessarily steep this sucker in the summer. Was

{CASUAL FRIDAY RECAP}

Tights: both pairs, Forever 21 Skirt: Gap, thirfted BRAND NEW! Originally $50, scored for $5

Sweater: given to me by my mom (so soft!) Boots: Doc Martens-1940's Jacket: Forever 21

 

I felt the whole thing was very good-felt very 90's.

 and the best part was that I enjoyed wearing this outfit immensely.

Especially the skirt! What a remarkable find.

Of course, another huge thing happened this week.

C E R E M O N I A L S

DROPPED.

Please tell me you got your copy?

I am over the moon about it.

I will talk about it more at length, but it is worthy of it's own little post.

Stay tuned!!