Fringe diary #2

There are certain moments where you are so caught up in the Fringe madness, you forget what the real life feels like.

I took a half hour bus ride to finally get a hair cut and here in the south of Edinburgh, it's like the Fringe doesn't even exist.
But then you come back and have a wine and cheese night on a stage where Jason Byrne is just hanging out next to you. This has become my weird August reality. Your team becomes your family and it feels weird when someone has a day off.
You walk home in absolute daylight, wondering how the night went by so quickly. For me the some days only start at midnight, when I'm finished with work.

Edinburgh is transformed during August, there are always people everywhere, all the shops are open late, it is so different than other months.
At the same time, as much as I love Edinburgh and the Fringe, it also make me aware of how much I prefer films and that whole scene. I'm not a theatre person, I hate acting, I can actually fee how different I am from these drama students, performers and theatre obsessed people. I enjoy good comedians, a well written play and an entertaining show, but I think it ends there. Film is much more my scene, I would prefer watching weird films over watching weird Fringe shows any day. Why do I still do it, working at the Fringe? Because festival goers are fascinating and mostly lovely people and helping them pick great shows in this sea of possibilities is rewarding, especially when they come back and tell you got much they loved a certain show. And a month long festival is a one of a kind thing to be part of. That's why.

And again, the shows I watched recently:

1. Rhythmic Circus- Feet don't fail me now


2. Jason Byrne


3. Brazouka


4.The After Party with Alex Rossi and the Rhythmic Circus Band

5. Best of the Fest

TV show obsessions

A lot of times I appreciate a TV show more than a movie, especially if there are fascinating characters that you want to follow for longer than just 90 minutes.
Or you know, if there is just a good concept for a show- I'll pretty much watch anything.

Here are my top 3 at the moment:




Denise introduced me to this show and it is so good. Catfishing is when someone pretends to be someone else on the Internet- and who hasn't heard about that. So Nev and Max go visit people that are not sure if their internet friend is real and actually who he/she really is. They are super funny and really good at making people not feel stupid or horrible about themselves. (The only thing I just do not understand is why people do not just google and find all this stuff out on their own)


A friend recommended this show to me because he knew about my obsession with Texas. I wasn't sure about the whole thing because I am really not in to sport shows or American football at all. The show however is not just about that. It has the most fascinating characters that you just really grow fond of, and I think that makes a good TV series.




This show is something I just recently discovered on TV here. It is a proper British show, if you will. It's pretty simple, it shows people on a first date - but it has a certain sweetness to it and there are such lovely cute people on the show. Cringe moment are definitely in there as well, but I guess that's just part of the deal.


I have so many shows that I still really want to watch, such as The Newsroom, Orphan Black, Utopia and only maybe Game of Thrones, one day.

ROAD TRIP// Covington, Louisiana

When I'm traveling, I love to explore places that are somehow movie/TV related. For me this mostly means finding the places that have appeared on screen. The south of the US has been features loads, and I think we all can think of one movie/series or another. I think of The Notebook, The Lucky One, Sweet Home Alabama, The Last Song, Endless Love, Hart of Dixie etc... After my research I found that a lot of those movies were filmed in Covington. There was even a movie map for the town, showing all the different spots and the matching movie. Anyways, one day we just decided to go there and I didn't have that map with me unfortunately and we had to make the most of it by just googling etc.

Now here is the thing, and I just discovered that days after we went there. The Covington I was looking up was in Georgia, whereas we were in Covington, Louisiana. Oh damn you USA and all those same named towns! We still had a great time of just driving around and finding these absolutely gorgeous looking alleys and little dead end streets. I LOVED IT.
Then we also went to this one lake that was supposedly in The Lucky One but um...I don't think it was it. Pretty though!

Again, loads of pictures of trees covered in Spanish Moss. It's an addiction, don't judge me!

just breathe

I am so happy here that it scares me. Life is so easy here, so good and fun. I love all my people here, I have no difficulties with the Uni work, I love exploring this country and I love to learn that I really don't need that much alone time. Nothing feels better than walking to class with the sun shining in your face, a warm breeze in your hair, meeting lovely people you know everywhere on campus, the beautiful Austin skyline always in the background... the weekends are full of parties, good food and hanging out. And  still I can't stop thinking about the end of the semester- I also still don't have a clue what I will do in my free time in May. Annoying!

Last weekend we danced the night away at The Ranch on West 6th, went to a crazy cliche co-op party at UT (the other massive school here in Austin), enjoyed the almost 30 degree summer weather and celebrated Homecoming here at St. Edward's- with a casino night, basketball games and other activities.

lovelovelove

Gosh, today was/is such a good day!

My social media class was great today, we did a sort of scavenger hunt which is all about St. Ed's! Click on the hashtags to see the tweets or just see this post, I stole some of the prettiest.

#JRLWeb or #COMM3309

Also can I just mention how good I got at YOGAAAAAA??????? My favorite part of the day- walking back from Yoga across the most beautiful campus. 

SO MUCH LOVE AND SUNSHINE!

so see ya'll on Monday, I am off to New Orleans tomorrow!

You're a lizard, Harry!

picture by Julia

After the horrifying 9h bus ride and my terrifying visa interview (they also told me that I am not allowed to get a US work visa in the next two years and even though this is not such a big deal, I am seriously annoyed by it. Telling me I can't get one just makes me want one!) we did some shopping on Oxford Street and then went to Leavesden, where the Harry Potter Studios are located. I've wanted to go ever since it opened and it has been everything I imagined. Some props and sets I have seen before on an exhibition in New York but the studio tour is just so much more. It is definitely worth the 29 quid!
You are allowed to take as many pictures as you want and we did take so many, but I don't wanna spoil everything. So I will just show a few pictures here. If you wanna see more, go to Julia's blog and read her post about it!

The gift shop is masssssive and of course expensive, but I am a big sucker for those things so I couldn't resist. However, I just stuck to a copy of the second book (I am re reading all the books in English at the moment and I love this edition) and Bertie Botts beans in every flavor for my flatmates (they are gone already, it's just so much fun). If I had all the money in the world, I would probably buy a Gryffindor scarf, a million chocolate frogs and Bertie Botts beans, a wand and some of the very expensive but amazing jewellery. Oh well...

What British people say...

 I have read this little chart a while ago on Jo's blog and was amazed at the accurracy of this!

It is a bit scary that I do use some of the phrases as well, sort of well aware what I actually mean. I don't know why I use it, I guess because it's sort of smooth to say.
What can I say- faked politeness just comes natural. 

Scottish Weddings

via x

Oh Scottish Weddings. Sadly I have never been but I really want to go to one, one day. In the beginning I never realised how traditional they can be and how they have all those little quirks. Take the dancing for example. They do ceilidhs.

both via x

I love dancing like this, it is so much fun and creates this feeling of belonging- what's more perfect than that for a wedding party?
Oh and with that goes the band. Bagpipes, harps, violins... aaah I love it.

Then the food.
Haggis, smoked salmon, hot apple cider, whisky, trifle, scones.. mh mh mh!!!


And the venues.
Scotland has a lot of castles (duuh), which are commonly used as wedding venues. Or anywhere in Scotland really makes a great wedding location. It all looks amazingly romantic and old.

via x 

via x

I just love this- I just wish Scotland's weather was more appropriate for outdoor weddings.

Urban Daddy {travel apps}

via x

I would like to introduce y'all to my favorite app when I am in the States- UrbanDaddy.

Whenever you don't know where to go eat or drink you just pop in a couple details and it will give you amazing recommendations for bars or restaurants in your city. The funny thing (and my favorite bit) is that you can add extra information, for example that you are with your friends or your boyfriend or whoever really! The search bar is like you see in the picture, so you can add what you want (drinks, food, burgers, sushi.. and a lot more choices) and answer one more question: And what else..?. That could be 'I am broke', 'somewhere with a view', 'someplace where famous people hang'... and so on, I think you get the drift. 
First of all it's really fun and instead of just wandering around the city searching for a good restaurant, you get really good recommendations instantly.
I have used it various times and every time (!) we found a place that was really. good.

It is a US only app so far, but should you be over there, download it and try it!
It's amaazing and you don't feel like a tourist who doesn't know where to eat out- yay!

A-ca-scuse me?

Ooooh, a cappella singing. I really don't know what it is I like so much about it- maybe the fact that you can see it coming together right in front of your eyes. You know there is nothing else going on, just them singing. No machines messing with their voices, no fakeness. It's all real.

I loved 'Pitch Perfect' so I knew I had to see some a cappella live action at the Fringe. 'Out of the Blue' was a show that I was able to see for free and I am so glad I went! Those boys actually got really far in 'Britain's Got Talent' and that is no surprise, they are reaaaally good!

So I googled a little bit and found a video of their audition-

And also my favorite bit from Pitch Perfect:

USA wish list

Only 36 days left until New York- oh my goooood, I am so so excited.
I am excited for the flight, meeting Miriam in the airport, meeting my family, the kids, going on the train right next to the Hudson River... and all of that is going to happen in the very first couple of days. The part where we are going to spend all our money... yeah thats gonna happen as well- and there are some bits I am soooooo looking forward to buying- for example washi tape, loooads and loads. Dunkin Donuts' Iced Caramel Latte with skim milk and no sugar but whip cream on top.
UV Cake Vodka, as much as Customs will let me bring back (haha)- then all the stuff I need to make those pretty simple golden necklaces- and those hair bobbles from Walmart. God I love them!

And so much more stuff I can't even think of right now. I mean I love shopping here, but shopping in America is just ... my favorite. ever.

my 3 favorite blogs {like ever}

http://www.magnoliaelectric.net

My idol, haha. She is incredibly creative and her posts are always perfectly composed, beautifully written and inspiring in every way. And now she is going to go on a 3 week road trip through California and whatnot. I am so jealous and cannot wait for her pictures.

www.thelondoner.me

I only started reading her blog around 2 months ago, but man... I am obsessed. Rose is pretty, funny, doesn't hesitate to eat loads of amazing (sometimes unhealthy) food, has super handsome friends and a super super cute dog named Custard. Her London tips are great and even better, her recipes. Gotta love her!

hhttp://lastdaysofspring.blogspot.co.uk

Marlous is a 21 year old girl from the Netherlands. Her blog is full of great tips for restaurants or stationary shops (you got me already), lunch inspiration, DIY projects, interior inspiration, travel reports and so much more. She wears beautiful outfits and I love her blog design, I just wish she would write more in English.

Robbie Williams Concert {Take the Crown Tour 2013, Glasgow}

Phueew, I have anticipated this concert for soooo long and all of the sudden it was happening.It was a bit of a shame that I was going by myself, but oh well. The crowd was a bit strange to be honest, mostly middle aged women with pink glittery hats. Not sure who else I excpected though.

Now because he is still touring and I don't want to "ruin" the show for anyone, I will just put the rest of the post behind the cut. Don't read it when you are still going to see the show, I think it would just spoil a lot of the fun.

 

New stuff I love {being a material girl}

  My amazing new perfume, la la love it!

 Best friends just know you so well! Love this luggage tag I got for my birthday .

I bought this notebook (which I am gonna use as a scrapbook) in Hannover, in this Japanese store called Muji. So excited to fill it with all my scrapbooky stuff!

Bought this from Papertiger here in Edinburgh, just because it was so pretty. You can buy this for so many cities, even Edinburgh! Click here.
 

Pretty tin from the flea market and my new headphones.

And this is where I am sitting right now! The weather is unbelievably beautiful at the moment, so I am trying to get a tan from my window spot and hate my downstairs neighbours who are not even using their backyard.