Something She's Not

The other night I was up with Bear and catching up on my telly...as I do.

It was the return of Glee last week, one of the more lighter-hearted programmes that I regularly watch though this week something was said that really got to me.

Two characters were talking about a third, a slightly older woman who was the 'perfect girl'. Sweet, gorgeous and neatly dressed in colourful clothing. Essentially, a 'typical' girl.

And then they found out her ex-boyfriend was taking her to a Nine Inch Nails concert. Suddenly, the image was shattered and not because of the boyfriend. They then accused her of pretending to be something that she wasn't.

This got to me. It's something I deal with often, believe it or not.

You see, you wouldn't know it to look at me, but I like my music heavy. Heavy and loud. But why would you know that from looking at me? Why should I conform to what society says that someone with my taste in music should look like? I don't like that look. I like to wear plain clothes and I don't consider myself any worse a person than the next working mum with two little ones. 

I guess you could say that I was a bit sensitive to the topic but why not? I like fashion, I like my high heels, I like the way I look, I wouldn't want to dye my hair an unnatural colour and cover myself in piercings just so that people know by looking at me that I like alternative music. 

It always comes as a surprise when people I know over-hear my iPod or scroll through my Spotify to put on some tunes and I really don't get why. Once someone went as far as to say to me that they felt 'lied' to. Why? Why does anyone care? Does it really make me that bad a person?

Rant over.

Clare

NMA - Through the Never

NMA - Non-Mummy Adventure.

So Friday was a few firsts for me; first hair cut in about a year, first time I'd made an effort in my appearance since before Bear was born,  first time I'd been to the cinema in over two years and the first time I'd left Bear for longer a walk to the corner shop.

My husband and I drove to Crawley on Friday afternoon to see the new Metallica film 'Through the Never' at the IMAX. I'd left Bear that morning with my husband to go to the hairdressers, but I was only gone for about ninety-minutes and just down the road. Crawley on the other hand is an hour's drive away from our little home and so we were apart for several hours. I will admit I was a bit teary as I said goodbye but only because I wasn't with him and not because I believed he would receive anything but the best care from my mother-in-law.

We stopped off before the film to meet up with a friend and have a cheeky Starbucks. Now, I'm a coffee snob, I'm not going to lie. I wouldn't go so fa as to call myself an expert but work in the industry and I know good coffee. Starbucks is way down on that scale however my husband loves their frappucinos and I will admit their seasonal drinks provide a pleasing novelty. I ended up with a salted carmel hot chocolate with lashings of whipped cream and despite the fact it needed to be hotter and I had to ask for a spoon, it was very nice. I also necked a single espresso in the hope I'd stay awake for the whole movie. 

The film itself was a super-amped, high definition, three-dimensional mega-concert with a bit of a story spliced in. My husband and our friend loved it...I thought it was okay but then again, I'm not a die-hard Metallica fan, whereas they are. I've seen them live a few times, there's only so many times you can hear 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' without being bored if you're not a majar fan. I thought the story would be more present and involved, it was a bit narsacistic but then when isn't something like this? It was odd, gory, graphic and loud...essentially a metal fan's dream movie. Like I said, it was okay.

We finished our evening with dinner at TGIFridays, discussing the film, our up-coming gigs and the big Metallica announcement this week. The men didn't find my attempts at humour funny...I suggested the bad was breaking up, as well as a multitude of cross-dressing-based rumours. I also decided to attempt what I perceive to be the biggest burger, ever (foolishly didn't get a photo) and managed it (but donated half my chips).

I really, really enjoyed myself, however, because although dinner and a movie is quite mundane for most, for me the whole experience did wonders for reminding me who I am, underneath the layer of myself labelled 'Mummy'. It reminded me that I can still look nice, wear clothes unsuitable for breast-feeding in and have my company enjoyed if not talking about anything child-related.

Here's my 'ootd', excuse the toilet selfie!

I'm already looking forward to my next evening out.

Clare

Driving Playlist

Soooo I was tagged to do my ultimate driving playlist, yknow...songs that I love to play in the car...

...except the thing is...I don't drive.

We have a car, my husband drives...but I don't hold a license, in fact...I've never had a full lesson!

Coming from London/Hertfordshire where the cost of living is exceptionally high, and spending the majority of that time as a child or a student, I simply didn't have the budget for lessons, let alone a car when I reached seventeen plus! I moved to Sussex in 2009 and realised that it was a complete different way of life down here. It is SO hard to get around without a vehicle...and the buses are rubbish! Since moving here, every time I have planned to learn to drive, something has come up;

- 2010 pregnant with Moo.

- 2011 money too tight as half of it on maternity leave.

- 2012 we got married so was paying for a wedding.

- 2013 pregnant with Bear.

Will 2014 be 'my year'...?

Still would only have the one car (beast known as a Meriva) as couldn't justify the pollution and cost of running two cars!!

So although I like to listen to music in the car...music is a very big deal in our house, it's rarely my choice. My husband runs *his* car along the theory which is actually a quote from one of my favourite television shows, Supernatural:

'Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cake hole'.

It is a very valid point; a driver needs to be focused and calm and let's face it, they're doing all the work so it's only fair that they pick the tunes and he mostly has good taste. So yes, whilst I like to listen in the car, I don't pick the playlist, so instead I've written my ultimate pedestrian playlist aka I wish I could drive...

These five songs say a lot, it's a mixed bag but I hope that at least one will make you say 'yep, that's a tune'!

1. Say You'll Haunt Me - StoneSour

What can I say? I love, love, love this song! I love StoneSour and this is my favourite track of theirs. The video is insanely odd and I find some of the lyrics deeply romantic, when nothing but the very rawness of your love for someone will do.

2. Not That Beautiful - Papa Roach

Actually, anything by Papa Roach really...as my all-time favourite band, there's yet to be an album that I can't identify in some way and this is a proper angry, quit manipulating me kind of song with a great beat and probably encourages speeding...

3. Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac

Rumours. What an album and this is definitely the highlight of it. I don't really have a specific reason for loving this song, I just do and I don't hint over ever met anyone who doesn't!

4. Turn Me On - Kevin Lyttle

A real summer song, it has so much more of an impact when it's warm and sunny outside! Many a good night dancing to this...

5. Rock This Party - Bob Sinclair

This and a thousand others will always remind me of 2008/09, the two years I spent learning who I really was, what I was capable of and what I could be. After dropping out of university twice, I went to work in seasonal jobs and it was the best decision I ever made! This song will forever remind me of the friendships I formed and the good times we had.

So those are my five top travelling tunes. Like I said, music is a big deal to us and I probably could've picked twenty, there's no Johnny Cash on that list for example, and let's not forget 'Holiday' by Scouting for Girls which is the song that will always remind me of my best friend, the room we shared and how close we are!

I'm not going to tag anyone in this post, but if you think it's something you'd like to give a whirl, please do and link me up!

Clare