Hello everyone!
Our first post of the year. We hope that the first month of 2023 has been brilliant for everyone. Let's hope that those new year's resolutions are coming along all right and nobody's given up just yet! Come on - it's not even February yet! Though a lovely friend did say that it was better to call them 'aspirations' rather than 'resolutions' and I agree. I think aspirations sounds lovely as it's more about achievable hopes and dreams rather than something you absolutely have to do - and things that you absolutely have to do never sound quite so appealing. Maybe that's why most people give up on their resolutions before they've even begun!
In fact this post has something of a resol- sorry, aspiration theme to it. I'm not someone who's big on making resolutions anymore as it never lasts long. But I do have some realistic aspirations for this year...
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
One of them is to do more with this site which is still in its infancy and really build up a community for An Extra Slice of Nostalgia Pie. One of the things I love about blogging and running sites as well as the accompanying social media is that I get to meet some truly amazing people - some of them I'm now lucky enough to call friends. I love the feeling of community that these sites foster where like-minded people come together to share knowledge and ideas as well as a few laughs along the way. We've got a lovely, lively bunch of people over at Nostalgia Pie and I'd love to create the same here.
READ CHRISTIE 2023 CHALLENGE
The other aspiration I've had for quite a while now is to become an avid reader again. I love reading. I've been a keen reader from the time I've been, er, able to read. I was always a real bookworm and I think that's something I get from my dad. When I was growing up, half of the living room was taken up with a bookcase for all of my dad's beloved books. He even had his own little part of the living room with a cosy armchair and a floor lamp complete with fringed lampshade where he used to sit and read his books in the evening - his own little reading nook! And growing up, I always had my nose in a book... which annoyed my parents when we had guests over! Not that I cared... Until I got told off that is!
I continued my love of reading into adulthood especially when I lived in London and had mega long commutes into work. But unfortunately real-life has a habit of getting in the way and being busy often means that these days I don't get to read as much as I'd like to. I actually managed to salvage quite of a few of the books that belonged to my dad and brought them over with me to America. Just looking at them instantly transports me back to my eighties' childhood. But I want to do more than just look at them - I actually want to read them!
My problem is that I often can't focus properly enough to get absorbed in the novel that I'm reading. I often get past a chapter or two before abandoning the book because I've got a million and one other things that I need to do that can't wait. I needed something that would get me back into the habit of reading and help me to become a more consistent reader again. And then it came along...
The Read Christie Challenge...
I decided on taking part in this reading challenge just before the new year began which gave me time to rush out to my local library to grab a copy of the first book on the reading list so that I could begin the challenge in January. The Read Christie Challenge is the official annual reading challenge from Agatha Christie Ltd. During the course of the year, we read and explore twelve of the Queen of Crimes many masterpieces. The theme for this year's books is methods and motives in Christie's novels. The books are then discussed at the end of the month with a live typed Q&A session on Facebook and Instagram.
The first novel was Sad Cypress which I'd never read before. I did wonder if I'd struggle with trying to get through the entire book. Not because I thought it would be a bad read (come on, it's Agatha Christie!) but because I wasn't sure if I'd be able to focus well enough on the book. As it turns out, I breezed through it. I enjoyed it so much, I watched the TV episode and listened to the radio play. If only I'd shown as much dedication and diligence during my English lessons! Sad Cypress is an intriguing tale of jealousy, betrayal and dark secrets (pure Christie!) and I would definitely read it again.
The next novel is Partners in Crime and I cannot wait to get stuck in. Tommy and Tuppence, here I come!
GETTING MY VINTAGE ON!
I have a love for all that is vintage and nostalgic. Anyone who visits my home will see that my love of vintage is quite evident all around the house. That's why I started two nostalgia sites! But to look at me you wouldn't think so as my style is quite, well... not-so-vintage even though it pains me to say it. I look at all these people who adore vintage and incorporate the styles so effortlessly well into their everyday look, and I have to say - they wear it well! The truth is that while I'm not so bad at rocking the eighties look, I've never been very good at hair and make up and trying to recreate these vintage styles has always seemed quite daunting to me. I enjoy watching my favourite YouTubers demonstrate various styles in some very inspiring tutorials that I have yet to try out for myself.
But it's definitely time to change all that. Sure it'll probably be an abysmal flop at first, but it's like I always tell my students - practise, practise, practise! I'm definitely a sixties to nineties kind of girl but I do like a lot of the looks from the twenties to forties. I love a lot of the glamorous styles from these periods so I would love to try them out.
I'm a big fan of the Style Me Vintage books (dying to get my hands on the tea party edition!) And I figured that for a beginner like me, these books might be a great help and a good starting point until I grow in confidence and will attempt more complicated looks. I purchased the three in one Style Me Vintage book from a lovely seller called Ang on eBay. You can check out her fabulous eBay store here.
Photos: Angel Noire
Blog graphics: Angel Noire
Reading is absolutely one of my favourite pastimes and I do spend much of my free time in my little reading nook! I find it very relaxing and enjoyable.
This sounds like a fun challenge. These days though I don't have as much time for reading so I'll have to satisfy my Christie cravings with the TV series!