Mum Diary #1

Being a mum is hard!!

That’s what i’ve learnt so far, it’s so incredibly hard but also incredibly worth it. In the past five weeks, i’ve learnt more about being calm and learning to wait than I have in the previous 25 years of my life.

Milo Rex is doing incredibly well, he’s got reflux which is hard to watch him struggle but we’re on the mend with the help of the NHS and some medicine. He’s growing bigger by the day and with it my sanity is decreasing. It’s a struggle some days too, not have enough hours in the day to work on the projects you want to come to life, clean the house, cook the dinner, spend time with my husband who has been slaving away at work and just cuddle with milo. However, that being said Milo makes it all worth it, and we’re at the stage now were the smiles are starting to creep in and it’s just a joy to watch.

Honestly, if it was physically possible I think my heart my burst with how much I love him. I’m writing this on one of the rare days where he wants to take his nap. He’s currently in a phase of wanting to be awake ALL OF THE TIME because he’s more alert.

Oh and he’s been swept with football fever and has been throughly enjoying the England team not suck at the world cup. That and listening to some classic songs from The beatles, Elvis, Oasis, and NSYNC (obviously.)

All in all, i’m still adjusting to being a mum but i’m now starting to get into the swing of things, so much so I’ve began writing scripts again (I know! I’m surprised too.)

I hope you’re all well. I just wanted to check in!

Update: I’m a mum.

The title says it all really. I should probably update you on what happened in the past several months, possibly almost a year (I haven’t checked, oops) but i’ve been pretty busy.

Anyone who knows me will have figured out by now that I’m now a new mum. I gave birth on Monday 28th May 5:44am to a perfect baby boy named Milo Rex. He is absolutely beautiful and is everything I could have wanted. Both Alex and I are extremely lucky and happy with our new addition to the family. I’m not sure yet if i’ll post any pictures because…well it’s the internet. So you may have to bare with me or i’ll blur his face a little, but take my word for it, he’s beautiful.

Adjusting to a knew lifestyle, as exciting as it is, can be hard and I wanted to blog about it. I’m not promising a schedule, or trying to be the next big lifestyle blogger but knowing myself, I knew I just wanted to write again. So that is what i’m doing. Writing when I want to, about what I want. I’m not limiting myself, so hopefully you guys will be okay with that. For now, i’m going to spend sometime with my newborn son who seems to want mums attention whenever he can get it.

P.S if there are any mums out there reading and want to be friends….That would be cool too.

Molly’s Game – Review

It’s been a while. I know and I could update you on the on goings on my life, but the truth is the thing that compelled me to begin writing on here again, is the fact that I’ve just watched Molly’s Game. Oh goodness, that film just cemented my love for Jessica Chastain. She is phenomenal in that move and giving an equally convincing performance is Idris Elba.

The film is adapted from the book by Molly Bloom herself and is based upon a true story. One which I had no idea took place,  of a an overachieving woman who is injured in a sporting accident decides to open up an underground poker game.

However, what really stood out on the film is telling a female story in one of the most human ways possible. It was unconceivable to many of the men in this film that, she wouldn’t sacrifice herself and was protecting others, that she wasn’t sexually involved with any of the players, nor was she apologetic for being anything but herself. She was flawed (very) but she was absolutely herself and it was so refreshing.

Told in both flashbacks and flash forwards to the current day, it plays with time but not in a way that the audience gets lost. With everything going on in the industry and much more the world, I love this film. With subtle hints of women empowerment, to be unapologetically yourself and that women will survive this mans world that seems to have been curated.

Make no mistake, this film is not advertising the fact that woman could accidentally fall into a life of the mob, the billionaire boys club, a life of crime but the opposite, but what it’s doing is giving woman the idea that we can do anything a man can do both good and bad.

If I’m honest, I loved so much about it that I believe i’ll have to watch it a second and third time just to take away even more from it. It’s one of those films that just keeps giving.

This film I think was very important in a very understated way.

Crashed Like Lightning – Adjustment Period.

So i’ve tried to type this blog out maybe, six times in the past three days and I’m sick of re-writing it. I even contemplated making a separate blog just because this didn’t seem to “fit” but decided that’s just me trying to avoid everything and decided to put it up anyway ha!

I should probably start by explaining that i’m a 20 something year old trying to find her place in this big ol’ world.Yes, cheesey and overrated I know. Sure, I sound just like one of those millennials that the news is constantly going on about. You know the ones, the kind that haven’t bought their houses yet, who are constantly spending money without earning, and feeling that they don’t have to work hard to seek the rewards. Here’s the thing, I’m not particularly sure where I’m going with this blog post, only that my fingers are typing whatever thoughts come out, so forgive me if I go onto tangents. I suppose I wanted to know if anyone else felt like this.  People will tell you that being a teenager is difficult and that the transition into adulthood is difficult but they didn’t tell you how long the adjustment period should be. So i’m sat here wondering, why I still feel like an imposter a few years into what is supposedly the “best decade of my life.”

Is it wrong to feel so empowered and have that feeling that you should be doing more? That I just haven’t found the thing i’m supposed to be doing for my whole life? Is this normal? Does that ever go away? Do you suddenly get used to it? Okay, I feel like I should clarify that I have no problem grafting to earn something, to work hard to see the rewards – it’s just logic. However, what I am struggling with is this feeling that one day you just know what you want to do for a career, because honestly, I thought I did and I don’t love it. Is that normal?

Anyway, the point to this whole thing is that the adjustment period is hard. HARD. So if any of you can make me feel relatively normal or have any tips on how to ride the wave of the adjustment period that would be great. I’m asking for a friend….

Review – Bare Minerals BarePro – Crashed Like Lightning

It’s Bank Holiday weekend here in England, so naturally I found myself among the shops on Saturday afternoon and I couldn’t help myself when I saw the new Bare Minerals BarePro liquid foundation.

I had heard so many good things about this foundation prior to this I knew I just had to try it. On paper, I generally shouldn’t like this foundation, i’m not a huge fan of full coverage nor of a matte foundation but here I am, LOVING this foundation. It’s not so matte that it makes my face feels stiff and dry, neither does it make my skin look cakey. It gave me a smooth flawless natural looking coverage. It feels like my skin.

Lately, I’ve found that my “adult skin” isn’t as…forgiving as my teenage skin. I have different colours in different areas, some places i’m more of a yellow tone and others I am red…so as you can imagine finding a foundation that ticks all of my boxes is hard, and finding a foundation I LOVE is near enough impossible. There have only been two previous foundations who have managed that yet, I feel that this is just joined that club.

Of course, whilst I was at the Bare Minerals counter I couldn’t leave with just the foundation. I paired that with the primer which made the foundation glide across my skin as it were dancing. I would recommend that if you buy the foundation, you should always go for the primer. It just makes me GLOW. So much love for this product.

Additionally, the last thing I bought was the bronzer. it blends beautifully, giving me that colour I needed to make me look healthy and give me a beautiful. However, the colour isn’t over powering which I sometimes find with bronzers and the longer you wear it, it keeps on giving. I love that it doesn’t turn into an orange tone when worn for hours on end.

I have a feeling that these will be a staple in my make up bags for months to come and I don’t imagine i’ll be looking for a new foundation for quite some time.

Have you tried any of this? Let me know what you think!

Original Writing – Luca + Jade – Valerie May Barton

I sat down at the table and began picking at food. I wasn’t much hungry, at least not for the substitute of food they give us. I watched everyone interacting, boys and girls, girls and boys. You’d never know that half of these people were taken without even a choice but still absent smiles were on their faces and I envied them. I wish I could ignore the voice that was telling me that this was all wrong. All of it. The bench shifted and I didn’t have to look to know who it was. Lucas sat there in his usual attire of all black I knew that because it’s what he always wore. He didn’t speak because I knew we were being watched, the seers were watching our every move from their window on the balcony. I’d broken enough rules today and didn’t feel like being punished, but that never stopped Lucas. “You know were being watched right?” he asked
“Of course and you know that if they catch us talking we’re dead.” I replied still not looking at him. Instead I was concentrating on a sign which read solders and sirens.
“I don’t see everyone else avoiding each other. The way I see it, we’re just two people having lunch.”
“We’re not just two people. We both know that Dallas and Frost will revoke any rights you and I both have. we can’t be seen together.” I tell him sternly.
“And if we’re not seen?”
“Lucas, you have to stay away from me.” I say finally looking at him to find him already staring at me. Eyes scanning my face for some truth to my thoughts.
“I can’t. You’re a siren, isn’t that your job?” he smirks, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Yes and you are trained to avoid the advances of a siren. Besides, isn’t Amelia your siren?” I retort.
“No, that got called off. One phone call to daddy and she ran of scared. You’re not scared are you?” he asks leaning in closer and I know that the seers have probably spotted us by now. I need to end his conversation and fast.
“Lucas. Stay away from me, have you got a death wish?”
“You could always stay away from me. And what happens if I can’t stay away from you Jade?” he asks with the curiosity in his eyes. I pick up my tray and lean in, he’s so close I can smell him. “We’re dead.” I answer in a whisper before quickly throwing my tray with the waste and scurrying back to my room.

Review – Harry Potter Make up Brushes – CrashedLikeLightning

I was very lucky the other day, when I came home to a parcel waiting for me on my make up table (my husband had treated me to some as a pick me up), so as I was trying them out for the first time I thought I’d give you a little review…

The first thing I noticed was the cute bag that they came in. So it makes it easy for you to take them anywhere without them getting ruined. The bag is very on theme with the colours black and silver, although the Harry Potter brushes are known as a gimmick set, the bag gives it that extra touch.

The second thing thing I noticed was that brushes themselves are heavier than I expected. Actually, I was expecting them to be plastic or a lighter material but these are metal. Again, for the price it’s better than I expected. The weight can help when you’re applying your base make up however, when you’re working on your eyes depending on how quick you are at blending or if you want to take your time, it may begin to annoy you. I didn’t mind though, as I kept feeling like I was in a transfiguration class at Hogwarts. They blend pretty well and you get five  brushes in each set. I was quite pleased that I was able to use just these sets to apply my eye make up as it gives you enough placing brushes, smudging and blending. I hate it when you get a eyeshadow brush set, yet you’re missing a smudger or a blending brush – I thought this was a set? Alas, I digress.

The brushes will never be able to compete with Mac, Real Techniques or any of the big brands however, if you’re looking for a gift these are perfect. I can see myself reaching for these when I’m wanting a quick set to pack if i’m off somewhere for the weekend, or if you want to have a play on a sunday afternoon.

I’ve used them two days on the run now and can safely say I am impressed. If you wanted to see the looks I created with them, take a look below.

In the meantime, let me know what you think! Is there anything I need to be trying at the moment? I’m on the hunt for some good new products that I can add to my staples!

 

Original Writing – Is it really that Simple – Valerie May Barton

Let me know if you like this and I can write the background behind it or the aftermath it.Always happy to have some feedback. 

She stood there looking at me as though I was crazy. I probably was crazy but at this point it didn’t matter. I couldn’t help myself. Every thought, every emotion and every feeling had been bubbling away inside me for so long that I felt like I was going to explode. Katie looked at me again. “I really don’t think this is a good idea.” She said as she grabbed her keys.

“Me neither.” I followed behind her, rushing her to get to where I needed to be.
“You can’t keep doing this! What are you going to do when you get there? What are you even going to say? You’re going around in circles. Complete and utter circles.”
“I know trust me, i’m getting myself all dizzy. I just, i have too.” I said again. “Please.”
“What are you going to do?” I ignored her question as she pulled up in front of the house. it was familiar and I’m an idiot for not figuring it out sooner. I jumped out of the car, shut the door behind me and walked straight to the front door. Katie calling out behind me.
“Luce, I really don’t think this is a good idea. In fact, this is a terrible idea. Absolutely awful. we should just get back in the car and turn right around.” I ignored her and banged on the door.

“Let’s play knock knock run. You run, and i’ll pretend I knocked.” I gave her a look before she just signed. “Fine. I don’t know what you’re going to say but it’s a bad idea. You’re about to open up yourself to a whole can of worms. So will you just…oh great. You’re not even listening.” The door opened and there it was again, the urgency I felt. I don’t know what came over me, it’s like I was possessed.
“What are you doing he-“ Before he could even finish the sentence I did the only thing that was racing through my mind. I scanned his face and went for it. I just kissed him with everything I had. i pushed him back into his house and let myself in, not stopping for air. I needed to do this, it had been so long and It made me feel so alive.

“LUCY! What are you doing? What happened to “needing to end this”? LUCY.” I could faintly here Katie in back ground but slowly the sound stopped and all I could focus on was him and his lips. I had realised somewhere in between my internal battle that he was kissing me back. He wanted it too and I knew it. I smiled slightly before pulling away for air.

“Well. Is that how you say hello now?” I heard a voice from the corner and I realised he wasn’t on his own. Cameron was sitting in the corner smirking. “I best be off, looks like i’ll see you around Luce. Katie, fancy giving me a lift? I think these two need to talk.” Katie scowled at me. She was furious at me for lying to her but she knew that there was no getting myself out of this one. She nodded at Cameron and gave me a knowing look. I was going to be a whole bunch of phone calls from her tonight and the knot in my stomach tightened. Katie followed behind Cameron and shut the door. I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding and sat myself down at the round table was in front of his kitchen island.

“So are you going to tell me what all this is about?” He asked before I put my hand up to stop him. I needed a moment before all the talking, before any of it began before I just had this little moment to decipher in my head. “You can’t just turn up here of the blue and kiss me.” Again I said nothing. He sat opposite me forcing me to look at him. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t even know what to say!” It started to feel too much. I just needed to do it that’s all I knew and my mind was spinning. Overwhelmed by the entire situation that i had just walked myself into. i felt like crying but I also felt like screaming, in a good way. “I just, I needed to do it! It sounds crazy, I know. I’m crazy. But for some reason, that is all i’ve thought about for god knows how long. I know this isn’t supposed to happen but you’re here and i’m here. I’d have kicked myself if I didn’t. So I did and I suppose now it’s done, i should probably leave.” I was thinking out loud, rambling to myself to fill the silence. I began to stand up but I felt something grab my wrist stroking the back of my hand Jack was standing there holding it. Then I remember he had kissed me back and I smiled slightly.

“So now that you’ve got your…urge out of the way, What now?” He asks knowing that I have no idea.

“No idea?”
“Not a single one?” he asks with a smile only this time he’s worked himself over to my side of the table and he’s standing right next to me.

“Nope.” I said lookup at him and before I knew what was happening, it was his turn to kiss me. He tasted good, like an ice cream you’ve been wanting all summer, hot chocolate that keeps you toasty warm on Christmas Eve, a cold drink of coke from a glass bottle. That kind of good. We were all lips, and as much as I didn’t want to, I pulled away. “What are we doing?”
“Kissing?” he smiled.
“No I got that part.” I laughed “I mean what are we really doing?”
“Well I was hoping to kiss a bit more and then maybe, I could take you upstairs and we can more than kiss. Then we can do all of this talking later.”
“Or we could do the talking now?” He just smiled at me and I knew this was going to cause an absolute shit storm. I knew it , I knew that when I lied to Katie and convinced her to bring me here but yet here I was and Jack was sitting there smiling at me. “What are you smiling at?”
“You are the most infuriating person I know but you’re you and you’re just as you as you were back then.”
“Jack, that makes absolutely no sense at all.”
“Does any of this? You turned up to my house about 30 minutes ago and before you uttered a single word you just kissed me like it was the only thing keeping you alive and here we are at the table deciding what we’re going to do. None of it makes sense, sense would be us never seeing each other again but we’re here.”
“It felt like it was the only thing keeping me alive.” I whispered. I didn’t really mean to say it out loud. “It’s been sitting in my head, bubbling away, always in the back of my mind. Then I saw you and you had broken up with her and I just, I couldn’t bare the idea of going through that again. I know, I know everything about this is a bad idea. A stupid, ridiculous, bad idea. But you know how things sound underwater? Or when you put your hand on the speaker, it just sounds dull? That’s what that felt like. It sounds stupid and cheesy, like i’m in some TV show but honestly. I couldn’t breathe. I wanted you, I needed to kiss you and feel you. You make everything okay.” I continue my outburst because I know he wasn’t going to be the first one to say anything. Always joking around until the absolute last minute.

“You told me you never wanted to see me again.” He spoke quietly.

“You told me that you weren’t one of them. We both lied.” I said quietly.
“We can’t keep going around in circles.”
“I know and for some reason, I thought if I came here. If I just got you out of my system it would be over but it’s not. I thought if I kissed you, I would remember how shitty all of it felt and it would be out of my system and just leave but here I am. My feet remain unmoving and you’re standing in front of me.”
“I don’t want you to leave but, the first time someone says something, you’re going to run. I’m not that person anymore you know that but the whole town’s going to talk. Shit, Katie looked at me like I was poison.”
“She doesn’t know you saved my life…I promised you I wouldn’t tell anyone. So I didn’t” I shrugged and he looked amazed. He had somehow made his way over to me and his hands where on my cheek and before I could stop myself I was leaning into his hand. “This is crazy, I’ve never been the needy type. I’ve never really needed anything, I got used to just being there when people needed me, but never sticking around but I can’t bring myself to leave. I can’t help but notice you haven’t really said how you feel.”
“I thought that was obvious? I’m here aren’t I? I was told to never come anywhere near you again, and damnit I tried to but I wanted to be near you even if I couldn’t be with you. It feels just as alive as it did back then doesn’t it? It never went away for me. I love you.” he said and gave me a quick kiss.

“and I’m the same.” I replied. “Is it really that simple?”
“We could keep talking about it, but I really want to give into this now. I’m done trying to be good. If you want me next to you. I’ll be next to you. I need you too.” I lifted my hand to stroke his face slightly, not being able to believe that this man was somehow baring all of his cards to me. The truth was in his eyes, I knew it. I knew him better than most people and I trusted him.  “So it’s up to you, people will talk, they’ll say down right awful things. We’ll probably outcasts, people won’t want us near them. They’ll whisper and the silence will scream, it won’t be easy. We’ll be stuck with each other.”
“But I’ll have you and this knot in my stomach, this wanting and needing It’ll be okay because I’ll have you which is what I’ve wanted. I’ll be able to breathe because I really don’t want to feel like I did again.” I said and before either of us can say anything else. We give in, we kiss and our hands are everywhere. His shirt some how makes it’s way to the floor and mine isn’t far behind. He makes good on his promise to take me upstairs and I feel on top of the world with the high that this man is giving me. I don’t care what everyone is going to say, I’ve listened to them long enough. It’s stupid and ridiculous but the craving I’ve felt slowly melts away, knowing that it’ll be back again tomorrow but I can feed it because he is here and we’re going to fight this together.

Your regular programming will resume shortly…

I know, I know. It’s been a while. I’ve been contemplating what to write all day, not that I actually need to write anything, but I suppose for my own sanity I felt like I should. So, yes, I know that I took a short break. A very needed one. Some things happened in my family and I wanted to take a while to process what was happening and also a bit of self-care doesn’t hurt anyway.

Whilst I was away, I started to think about what I loved and what I wanted to spend my time doing, I came to the conclusion that whilst I don’t want to be put into a box of being a particular type of blogger I also didn’t want this blog to not have a direction. I realised that perhaps I had been shying away because I didn’t think it represented me. Crashed Like Lightning will still be my little place of the internet but I’ve got some really great things lined up. If you love film, books, my original writing, the process behind all of that and maybe the odd life/beauty hack. Mainly, it’ll be the insides of what people love and why they love doing it. I just want this to be a happy place where I can talk about what I’m loving and what other people are loving, because we all need a bit of positive in the world right now don’t we?

I worried at first that no one even read this blog, so why did I need to bother? Then I realised the more I didn’t bother the more it annoyed me, I missed it or that something didn’t feel write. I figured out, that perhaps I don’t have the biggest online following, or maybe no one reads it all but I needed to write for my own sanity.

Life really is to short. This blog is going to go straight up (mainly because If I give myself a chance to re-read it, I’ll talk myself out of it.) so forgive any mistakes. This leads me to my promise to you, I promise that whatever post you see on here is something I will actually love, care about and want to write about. You can expect at least 2-3 posts a week and a service with a smile!

So for those of you who have missed me, thank you and I’m back. Those of you who didn’t know this blog existed till now…Hi there! Stay awhile? I’ll pop the Kettle on.

We will now return to your (Semi) regular programming.

Best,
Val xx

Review: This Modern Love – Will Darbyshire

It’s rare that I find a book that I stays with me as much as this one did. At least, non-fiction ones anyway.  I read this book in one day. One full day, I still had to go to work, I still had all of that going on but I could not put it down. Want to know why? It was real. The words spoke the truth of people all around the world and it just makes you feel…connected.

The book was put together by YouTuber Will Darbyshire. He asked people all around the world to submit answers to the same six questions about love/relationships. The book is split into sections of the beginning of a relationship, the middle and the end. The best part about this whole book though is the fact that these words are from people all over the world, feeling the same emotions. They’ve never met, they’re ordinary folk and they don’t have anything to lose. They’re just being plain honest, it’s not over romanticized, it’s just what they’re feeling…

Isn’t that beautiful?

I began reading it because I had no data left on my phone (sorry Will) so I wanted something to do on the bus. I then couldn’t stop. I read it any chance I could at work and then on the way home. Soon as I’d finished dinner with my husband, I was tucked up on the sofa with the book in my head. It was just beautiful and tragic. It was both and that is the best thing about it. It’ll make you realise how connected we all are…even though technology can make us feel so far apart. We all feel the same things.

It’s a beautiful idea and a beautiful book. I know I’ll be reaching for this every so often.

Five Minutes With – Photographer Alex Georgiades – Crashed Like Lightning

I think one of the best things that makes us who we are is what we choose to love. Hear me out, our passions is what we choose to spend out time doing. What really makes us tick. It’s been a while since I got to speak to someone about their passions and I had the chance to interview one of the most talented photographers I know.

If you haven’t heard the name Alex Georgiades don’t worry, you will. He is one of the best upcoming photographers and At 24, he’s managed to take stunning photos from all around the world. He some how manages to really capture what the subject is trying to say. He’s often traveling and exploring the world, but I managed to catch him just before he leaves the U.K on another adventure.

What makes you love what you do? 

I love being able to capture a moment in time as strange as that might sound, whether it’s a laugh, a moment between two people, the emotion on someones face. For me, being able to immortalise a moment is very special

What inspires you to do it?

When I was a boy my mum and Dad took a bunch of photos on film and loads of home videos. They essentially documented my child through photography. I still love looking through our albums now and finding a photo I’ve never seen. The best thing is, that is the essence of photography and however much technology may develop, that will always remain the same

How did you start it?

My Dad bought me a Canon 600D EOS when I was around 18 and it became an extension of me. I carried it everywhere, on our holidays and around home. It took many years of practice to actually know what I was doing, but I’m so glad I stuck with it, as it’s such a fulfilling hobbie now and such a big part of my life.

What photo are you most proud of?

There are a few I’m really proud of, and not necessarily just because the photo might be good, but because of what it meant to me. Two of which I took during my recent travels to Myanmar. The first, we’d ridden our motorbikes around in the earliest hours of the morning searching for a quiet temple to watch the sunrise. I managed to get catch this scene – the sun rising, the hot air balloons floating over the city, the haze running through hundreds of temples that sit within this gorgeous jungle. I felt I captured my experience of that moment in that photo.

The second, was taken later that day, searching for a different spot for sunset. We briefly shared a moment with a lone child who was playing near a temple. Earlier that day, I’d been reading extensively of all the turmoil that exists within the country and it had really effected me. Besides that, there were ongoing problems in many areas of the world that had been occurring in recent weeks. This boy was potentially homeless,  yet he exhibited so much purity, innocence and happiness that really warmed me, and I was able to capture it. It put things into perspective.

You’ve been traveling, how has that influenced your work/point of view of it?

Travelling has influenced my photography massively. When you travel, your eyes are opened to so many different cultures, voices and ways of life and I felt that growth extending through my lens. There’s a famous quote that says “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions”. This is definitely true of me and my photography. I feel as though travel has been an extremely eye-opening experience.

Where do you think it will take you?

I’m not sure really. Whilst my profile has grown considerable over the past six months, it still feels like a hobbie to me, but the more I delve into it as an art form, the more I find myself wanting to push it further.

What do you want people to feel when they see your photos?

I want people to feel connected. I want them to feel as though they are sharing the moment with me, immersed in the moment or the feeling or the experience of the image. That’s always what I try and capture, that emotion of the moment.

Who influences you the most?

At the moment, photographers who I find myself incredibly inspired by are Steve McCurry and Chris Burkard. But then, there is also this emergence of the social media photographer that I find so exciting. Platforms like instagram are giving people the chance to be creative and push the art form in directions its never been before.

What’s the one thing people should take away from your work? 

A moment, I hope. I really hope that people can look at my photography and take that moment that I’ve tried to capture, whether it’s a landscape or a portrait, and think about what I felt within it.

Where can we find you/your work? 

You can find all of my recent photography from my travels on my website, www.alexgeorgiades.com, some of which are featured in blog posts and some in photo albums – I hope you enjoy!

Alex really does have a talent for taking a moment and making it last forever. It’s amazing to see what people find interesting and you can turn it into something beautiful.

Be sure to check out his website and let me know what you think!

Harry Potter at 20.

The Harry Potter franchise is twenty years old as of yesterday. I’ll give you a minute to let that sink in…Better? Yeah, I can’t get my head around it either. The boy that lived let us in to his home and we all became his family.

The world that is so full of magic reminded us that it was real. Magic was all around us if we just believed. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that all is not what it seemed. Take a look at my other favourite childhood book (PeterPan) and you’ll notice I loved the notion of escaping to another magical land. Harry Potter some how made that okay and I couldn’t be more thankful.

Magic is real, it’s the belief we have in each other and Love will always be stronger than hate. A message that we all need to believe now more than ever. I will never give in to the hate.

Truth is Harry Potter helped shape me into the person I am and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m a weirdo, a misfit, a bookworm, a dreamer, surprisingly a Ravenclaw but most of all I’m a believer.

Thank you JK Rowling for letting us into this magical world we all call home. We will forever be in your debt.