I really love doing these Friday Faves, I’m enjoying them so much more than the previous monthly favourites format. I feel like I can put in new discoveries and smaller, fun things that would have probably been pushed out of a big monthly summary. I hope you’re enjoying them too!
GOOD WEEK: Last Friday I arranged a day of secret surprises for my husband’s belated 30th birthday. I colluded with his bosses to get him the day off work, we went for lovely drinks and a wander along the Southbank, then I took him to Boyd’s for dinner which was amazing – fantastic service, delicious food and they even brought him over a pudding with a candle! So lovely. The main highlight of the day was seeing Matilda the Musical, something we’ve wanted to do for years (we actually had tickets to see it in New York two years ago but due to a mix up with flights we couldn’t go… *sob*) There are no words to describe how much I loved it. I usually can’t stand children singing but this was just unbelievable. The songs, the staging, the actors… I can’t recommend it highly enough.
BAD WEEK: I really wish we’d gone home straight after seeing Matilda, but unfortunately we went to 68 and Boston. I’d researched bars in that area and this place came so highly recommended I booked a table. We were sat in a very small, intimate room with 3 other parties. There were about 10 people in the room in total but for some reason the staff completely ignored us, fawning over other customers, chatting away, and basically acting as though we weren’t there. We had to go to the bar ourselves while everyone else had very attentive table service and we were basically just made to feel like shit. We arrived at 10.30pm and had the table booked until 12pm but left at 11pm. Aaron complained on the way out and the man who had ignored us looked at us blankly and said ‘where were you sat?’ He didn’t even recognise us – that’s how well he’d been ignoring our table! I was so angry and felt like it ended a wonderful day in such a negative way. So if you’re in Soho and fancy some lovely cocktails… I’d pick somewhere else!
Right! Now that I’ve got that out of my system, let’s get into my Friday Faves and all the things I’ve loved this week, shall we?
I’m halfway through two very different books at the moment: The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson and The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig. The former is the story of one of America’s most notorious serial killers, H H Holmes. I’ve heard his story on so many podcasts and I’m really enjoying the book. It has a LOT of detail about not only his crimes, but also the backdrop to the murders: the Chicago World Fair and the economic climate, which really help to explain how he got away with such awful things for so long. The second book is one that was recommended to me by people who know I love anything end-of-the-world-y and YA. It’s quite light and easy to read, with a unique storyline concept.
My lovely friend Iona went to New York recently and picked up some Sephora goodies for me, because she is WONDERFUL. I am giddy with excitement that I got some of the new Kat Von D Everlasting liquid lipsticks, especially this one which is called ‘Malice’, the perfect orange-red.
We’ve been re-watching The X Files on Netflix and loving every second of it. There were so many episodes I’ve forgotten and as a teenager I’d obviously picked up on the sexual tension between Mulder and Scully but is it so much more intense than I’d remembered! It has completely reignited my crush on David Duchovny and we’ve also come up with a fun (and potentially lethal) drinking game: take a drink every time Scully tells someone that she’s a ‘medical doctor’ … just don’t blame me for your hangover! I think I might restart Buffy once we’ve finished The X Files – which are your favourite old TV series to return to?
And finally, we went to see Alien: Covenant last weekend ( which wasn’t as terrible as everyone made out, but is just not *good* and had no point whatsoever!) but the highlight of that experience was discovering the Everyman cinema in Canary Wharf. I always dread the cinema as there’s always someone on the their phone, or talking, or a child crying, or coughing up what sounds like 80 years worth of mucus (thanks, man who ruined The Force Awakens!) but this was an absolute dream. Not only do you get comfy sofas and tons of leg room, but it was practically empty which for an opening weekend of a big blockbuster is unheard of. If we’d gone to our usual Vue, it would’ve been heaving. I am happy to pay a little bit extra for the lovely atmosphere, great coffee (with soya milk!) and a pleasurable cinema experience. A definite and easy entry into Friday Faves.
Lastly I wanted to say thank you so much for the overwhelming reaction to my last blog post, it was absolutely incredible. I needed to get a lot of stuff off my chest and the comments I received here, on Twitter, and Facebook, were so kind and encouraging. I feel so lucky to have such supportive people around me, so thank you.
What have you been loving – or not loving – this week? I love hearing your Friday Faves so go to town in the comments below!
Also a little reminder that you only have until midnight on the 22nd of May if you’d like to vote for me in the Blogosphere Awards. I’m up for Beauty Blogger of the Year and I’m still freaking out about it. Thank you so much if you’ve already voted, *you* are my Friday Fave!
Lex
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I love your Friday faves series! Please keep it up. Have you ever read “Life with Billy”? It’s a true crime novel about a Canadian woman. Worth checking out. Old story but still compelling.
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Thank you Kathleen, I’m so glad you’re enjoying the Friday Faves! I haven’t read that but I’ve added it to my wishlist 🙂