Ever have those days when it feels like you've done so much? Yeah me too, in fact I had one today.
I started by doing some resource evaluations for the Friends of the Earth Youth and Education network followed by making apple sauce in order to bake my favourite vegan banana bread (yes i did come up with the recipe myself and yes I am biased). I then followed that by making spiced apple chutney and then by cooking a roast dinner for Seb, Seb's Grandma, Seb's Aunt Sally and myself. I do love a good roast with really crispy potatoes... yum. It felt like I did so much but when I put it into a list like that it sounds like so little. Any way I polished my day off with a shower and buying Christmas presents online. Sorted. In fact I've done quite well with Christmas presents this year, I've already made a bunch of them and only have my mums left to make or buy. Still undecided on what to give her, Seb keeps suggesting a punch in the face but I don't think she's appreciate that, my brother might however.
I can't wait to give this years presents since I really enjoy the outcome of them and want to share them with those I care about. I'll even add some pictures of the gifts after Christmas.
Right so on that note I think I might head over to Pinterest to see if I can get any inspiration of what to make for my mother. Tata.
Victoria. x
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
You just have to keep going and roll with it...
Today I found out some news that made me somewhat sad. Dave McWane of the band Big D and the Kids Tables has supposedly been diagnosed with throat cancer according to the UK/Europe booking company, which majorly sucks. He's a great guy, songwriter, performer and story teller. The band have cancelled the rest of their European tour (understandably) and are heading back to the states.
I have to say it has made me sad yet again to know that shit happens to some great people. I often get upset by stories about global inequalities, the impact of climate change, environmental disasters etc.etc and maybe I am a little to sensitive some times, but it just upsets me how unfair this world is. Seb says we just have to keep going and roll with it otherwise we will never see the positives amongst the negatives. We have to take what life throws our way and deal with it, overcome it and become stronger for it. He is right, we'd never recognise the beauty of life if it weren't hidden amongst the ugliness of it's surroundings.
My thoughts are with Dave, his family and his band at this difficult time. I'm sure he'll be back up and rocking out again in no time. If I had a pint, I'd raise in the hope of quick treatment and speedy recovery.
Keep positive.
x
I have to say it has made me sad yet again to know that shit happens to some great people. I often get upset by stories about global inequalities, the impact of climate change, environmental disasters etc.etc and maybe I am a little to sensitive some times, but it just upsets me how unfair this world is. Seb says we just have to keep going and roll with it otherwise we will never see the positives amongst the negatives. We have to take what life throws our way and deal with it, overcome it and become stronger for it. He is right, we'd never recognise the beauty of life if it weren't hidden amongst the ugliness of it's surroundings.
My thoughts are with Dave, his family and his band at this difficult time. I'm sure he'll be back up and rocking out again in no time. If I had a pint, I'd raise in the hope of quick treatment and speedy recovery.
Keep positive.
x
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Try out your voice...
...now use it, now use it. We are the people.
I've had an awesome time this week. I went to see one of the bands I really respect, not just once but twice this week. Anyone that knows me, they are likely to be able to guess which band it was since you have a choice of Big D and the Kids Table (US), Adequate Seven (Split up), RX Bandits (soon to take an indefinite break) or whichever band Mr Matthew Reynolds is playing with at said time (currently Drawings) and since the only band currently on tour in the UK/Europe is Big D, you would have guessed right (or my Facebook status over the past few days may have given it away).
Anyway, Seb and I went to see Big D and the Kids Table twice these week and despite these shows being a part of the same tour they were both so different. Tuesday they played at The Peel in Kingston. The show was relaxed and felt so intimate despite the 50 odd people there. It felt everyone was there to see the band, enjoy the band and rock out to the band. AWESOME atmosphere. The band were fresh and played an awesome set. The first band, Chazikstan and the Von Bon Bon's (I think or also known as Chaz Palmer Williams and the full band experience) were really good. They were like the music child of Frank Turner and Gogol Bordello, I loved them. They played acoustically on the dancefloor in front of the audience for a number of songs and then made there way on stage to continue the performance. Chaz is a former member of the legendary ska-punk band, Lightyear. His lyrics were funny and the band were tight. I will definitely aim to see them again. The next band Random Hand, well there's something there I just do not like about them, their music, their egos? not sure which one. Anyway they play ska-metal, I guess you could call it. I like their ska bits but then suddenly it goes all ahh-head-bang-kick-the-people-around-you-as-you-mosh-ahh. And I just quite simply do not like it. And then came the one and only Big D and the f*cking Kids Tables (any fans will recognise that from the recording version of Little Bitch on How it goes). Big D were amazing, people were dancing, the band appeared to be having a good time. It was the first show of the tour and everyone seemed to be happy. There was great band-audience interaction and the music flowed for a good hour. I was sweatier than a pig in a blanket by the end of the show. I rocked my socks off. Everyone just had a good time. We stayed back at the end of the show to get some merch. The queue was huge. I wanted the book by David McWane called 'The Modern American Gypsy'. I've read a third of it so far and it is hilarious. It is a collection of short travel stories of the bands time on the road with a collection of poems. It's a really funny read and I just can't get enough of it. Whilst we waited Seb took me up to David, the lead singer of the band and asked him if he made his own 'Republicans are insane' T-shirt. Dave said 'yeah', Seb said 'well check this out' and pointed to me. At which point I very embarrassingly showed him the tank-top I had customised with the words Try out your voice. Dave then asked me to take a photo and put it on his facebook, I was a little to embarrassed by this so he told me a story about his mother being a former member of the black panthers and how she got asked to leave. He said she loves their political songs and it would make her day to see the shirt. So I agreed. This is it. I was inspired by firstly the song and secondly the Occupy Movement. People are taking a stand for what they believe are inequalities in the distribution of wealth or in other words the rich are getting rich whilst the poor are getting poorer. This is not be how modern society works, we need a fairer system for all. If we all use our voices and democratic rights we can bring about change.
Thursday we went to The Hydrant in Brighton (it's opposite a vintage fire station, great building) and the atmosphere was considerably different. The first band played an acoustic set again, but this time it was difficult to hear the vocalist because people were talking over the band. It felt like a classroom competition. Chaz got louder, the audience got louder, Chaz got louder, the audience got louder. So he went and played right in the middle of them. That soon made them quieter. They then got everyone involved by exchanging places, the band played on the dancefloor whilst the audience listened and performed on the stage. Entertaining. When Big D finally played, the audience were wild. Clearly it was a student town, almost all of the Lovers of Sound were drunk and only about 5 people put their hands up when the band asked 'Who has work tomorrow?'. The band were awesome again but I felt the audience spoilt it a bit, maybe it's just because I'm now 24 and no longer a student that I feel people should be more I dunno, maybe I mean less *ponders on the next word* DRUNK. Less drunk. I know, I know I was like that once but seriously.... I'd be one of a few drunk at a gig, now there all drunk as f*ck. The moment that made me annoyed about the audience was when some guy about 6ft decided it would be a great idea to jump from the stage steps on top of the girls at the front on the stage. As he did this they were not aware of the actions he was about to make and soon found themselves bent over the front of the stage, the amps had moved and this guy was on their backs. At which point he then proceeded to kick my in the face, pushing my head in the speaker beside me. I WAS NOT HAPPY and nor did the band appear to be when they had their equipment sprawled across the stage. Luckily it was the last song. Anyway I hope they get more audiences like that at Kingston for the rest of their tour rather than the audience at Brighton.
If you like ska/punk/rockabilly then I highly recommend Big D and the Kids Table. They are awesome live and they seem like really great guys as well. All I've left to say is Thanks Big D for an awesome week, you made me remember how much I love seeing the bands I respect play live.
Victoria
x
I've had an awesome time this week. I went to see one of the bands I really respect, not just once but twice this week. Anyone that knows me, they are likely to be able to guess which band it was since you have a choice of Big D and the Kids Table (US), Adequate Seven (Split up), RX Bandits (soon to take an indefinite break) or whichever band Mr Matthew Reynolds is playing with at said time (currently Drawings) and since the only band currently on tour in the UK/Europe is Big D, you would have guessed right (or my Facebook status over the past few days may have given it away).
Anyway, Seb and I went to see Big D and the Kids Table twice these week and despite these shows being a part of the same tour they were both so different. Tuesday they played at The Peel in Kingston. The show was relaxed and felt so intimate despite the 50 odd people there. It felt everyone was there to see the band, enjoy the band and rock out to the band. AWESOME atmosphere. The band were fresh and played an awesome set. The first band, Chazikstan and the Von Bon Bon's (I think or also known as Chaz Palmer Williams and the full band experience) were really good. They were like the music child of Frank Turner and Gogol Bordello, I loved them. They played acoustically on the dancefloor in front of the audience for a number of songs and then made there way on stage to continue the performance. Chaz is a former member of the legendary ska-punk band, Lightyear. His lyrics were funny and the band were tight. I will definitely aim to see them again. The next band Random Hand, well there's something there I just do not like about them, their music, their egos? not sure which one. Anyway they play ska-metal, I guess you could call it. I like their ska bits but then suddenly it goes all ahh-head-bang-kick-the-people-around-you-as-you-mosh-ahh. And I just quite simply do not like it. And then came the one and only Big D and the f*cking Kids Tables (any fans will recognise that from the recording version of Little Bitch on How it goes). Big D were amazing, people were dancing, the band appeared to be having a good time. It was the first show of the tour and everyone seemed to be happy. There was great band-audience interaction and the music flowed for a good hour. I was sweatier than a pig in a blanket by the end of the show. I rocked my socks off. Everyone just had a good time. We stayed back at the end of the show to get some merch. The queue was huge. I wanted the book by David McWane called 'The Modern American Gypsy'. I've read a third of it so far and it is hilarious. It is a collection of short travel stories of the bands time on the road with a collection of poems. It's a really funny read and I just can't get enough of it. Whilst we waited Seb took me up to David, the lead singer of the band and asked him if he made his own 'Republicans are insane' T-shirt. Dave said 'yeah', Seb said 'well check this out' and pointed to me. At which point I very embarrassingly showed him the tank-top I had customised with the words Try out your voice. Dave then asked me to take a photo and put it on his facebook, I was a little to embarrassed by this so he told me a story about his mother being a former member of the black panthers and how she got asked to leave. He said she loves their political songs and it would make her day to see the shirt. So I agreed. This is it. I was inspired by firstly the song and secondly the Occupy Movement. People are taking a stand for what they believe are inequalities in the distribution of wealth or in other words the rich are getting rich whilst the poor are getting poorer. This is not be how modern society works, we need a fairer system for all. If we all use our voices and democratic rights we can bring about change.
Thursday we went to The Hydrant in Brighton (it's opposite a vintage fire station, great building) and the atmosphere was considerably different. The first band played an acoustic set again, but this time it was difficult to hear the vocalist because people were talking over the band. It felt like a classroom competition. Chaz got louder, the audience got louder, Chaz got louder, the audience got louder. So he went and played right in the middle of them. That soon made them quieter. They then got everyone involved by exchanging places, the band played on the dancefloor whilst the audience listened and performed on the stage. Entertaining. When Big D finally played, the audience were wild. Clearly it was a student town, almost all of the Lovers of Sound were drunk and only about 5 people put their hands up when the band asked 'Who has work tomorrow?'. The band were awesome again but I felt the audience spoilt it a bit, maybe it's just because I'm now 24 and no longer a student that I feel people should be more I dunno, maybe I mean less *ponders on the next word* DRUNK. Less drunk. I know, I know I was like that once but seriously.... I'd be one of a few drunk at a gig, now there all drunk as f*ck. The moment that made me annoyed about the audience was when some guy about 6ft decided it would be a great idea to jump from the stage steps on top of the girls at the front on the stage. As he did this they were not aware of the actions he was about to make and soon found themselves bent over the front of the stage, the amps had moved and this guy was on their backs. At which point he then proceeded to kick my in the face, pushing my head in the speaker beside me. I WAS NOT HAPPY and nor did the band appear to be when they had their equipment sprawled across the stage. Luckily it was the last song. Anyway I hope they get more audiences like that at Kingston for the rest of their tour rather than the audience at Brighton.
If you like ska/punk/rockabilly then I highly recommend Big D and the Kids Table. They are awesome live and they seem like really great guys as well. All I've left to say is Thanks Big D for an awesome week, you made me remember how much I love seeing the bands I respect play live.
Victoria
x
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Recipe Exchange
I came up with this idea today whilst visiting the Good Food Show in London, yes it was full of yummy tasters and the company was fab... anyway the idea is a Recipe Exchange.
My ideas so far consist of the following:
1. People sign up to take part by leaving a comment or sending a private message to me. I will then reply giving the full details and to ask for either your email/postal address.
2. Each week/fortnight/month I give each person, the details of another person in the exchange.
3. You then send the selected person either by email/post a tried and tested (possibly favourite) recipe of your choosing.
4. Each week/fortnight/month you receive a new recipe to try out.
I thought it would be really nice to send it in the post, so you write out your yummy recipe and decorate it to make it individual.
If you prefer to send it as an email, then write your recipe out in a word document, save to 97-2003 format and send. Again you could decorate your document to give the recipe sheet a bit of yourself.
You can then collect your recipes together to create your very own recipe exchange recipe book.
What do you think? Any ideas to improve the method? Would you take part?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
xx
My ideas so far consist of the following:
1. People sign up to take part by leaving a comment or sending a private message to me. I will then reply giving the full details and to ask for either your email/postal address.
2. Each week/fortnight/month I give each person, the details of another person in the exchange.
3. You then send the selected person either by email/post a tried and tested (possibly favourite) recipe of your choosing.
4. Each week/fortnight/month you receive a new recipe to try out.
I thought it would be really nice to send it in the post, so you write out your yummy recipe and decorate it to make it individual.
If you prefer to send it as an email, then write your recipe out in a word document, save to 97-2003 format and send. Again you could decorate your document to give the recipe sheet a bit of yourself.
You can then collect your recipes together to create your very own recipe exchange recipe book.
What do you think? Any ideas to improve the method? Would you take part?
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
xx
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Today I made... A Button Tree
1. Today I made...
I adore buttons, I have buttons in jars, I have buttons on clothes (additional to those for buttoning up), I have buttons on necklaces, I have buttons on hair clips, I have buttons on earrings, I have buttons on buttons. Where you think I could have buttons, I have them. Well expect for there, ouch! that would hurt. Anyway I think you get the idea of how much I LOVE BUTTONS. So today I thought I try something new.
A few years ago I made a photo frame for a friend (sorry no photos of it) and on that photo frame I attached a beautiful beaded wire tree. I took that idea today to make.... wait for it..... a button tree. It was slightly more complicated than the previous one I had made, the buttons were fiddly to attach and my back hurt so I got fed up half way through but none the less I completed it and this is the outcome.
Due to my poor photography you can't see the colours that well, it has a cute yellow and pink theme going on. I really liked the colours and whilst my wire wrapping techniques need some overdue practice, I will most certainly will be making more of these, so a tutorial will be on its way in the near future. However if you'd like instructions before them feel free to ask.
Hope you like the Button Tree.
Take care for now.
Victoria.
I adore buttons, I have buttons in jars, I have buttons on clothes (additional to those for buttoning up), I have buttons on necklaces, I have buttons on hair clips, I have buttons on earrings, I have buttons on buttons. Where you think I could have buttons, I have them. Well expect for there, ouch! that would hurt. Anyway I think you get the idea of how much I LOVE BUTTONS. So today I thought I try something new.
A few years ago I made a photo frame for a friend (sorry no photos of it) and on that photo frame I attached a beautiful beaded wire tree. I took that idea today to make.... wait for it..... a button tree. It was slightly more complicated than the previous one I had made, the buttons were fiddly to attach and my back hurt so I got fed up half way through but none the less I completed it and this is the outcome.
Due to my poor photography you can't see the colours that well, it has a cute yellow and pink theme going on. I really liked the colours and whilst my wire wrapping techniques need some overdue practice, I will most certainly will be making more of these, so a tutorial will be on its way in the near future. However if you'd like instructions before them feel free to ask.
Hope you like the Button Tree.
Take care for now.
Victoria.
A Big Welcome.
And so it starts, a new chapter. I feel I have outgrown the name skacore_princess now that I'm 25 andthese days feel more like a women than a princess. Not that I ever was a princess, well okay sometimes I could be when I got stressed and needed chocolate. But anyway, The Boho Tree is my new venture. I aim to write about life's adventures, provide craft tutorials, share crafty ideas and collate inspiration from life and the web. I hope you enjoy your visit and take the time to come back again. I look forward to sharing my small part of this big big world with you.
Thanks for reading.
Victoria
Thanks for reading.
Victoria
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