it's D-A-P-H-N-E

Remember how when you were a kid and on vacation, you'd always go to the gift shop wanting to buy a tacky magnant that had your name printed on it because it was so cool? I was always the kid that never could find my name. I eventually gave up, but it was okay, because I had a cartoon character with the same name. Obviously, Scooby Doo was one of my favourite shows when I was a kid - murder, mystery and me (another reason why I really wanted to be ginger). However, I never thought my name would be a hard name to spell. Maybe because I've had it my whole life. But proven from take outs and well, Starbucks, people can get creative when spelling my name. 

Dafany: I can't unsee this spelling as *crude joke alert* 'da fanny'. Daphne, you dirty dirty mind. 

Daffni: my favourite misspelling, it sounds like it could be the name of an indie-band 

Daffeny: complete with the double f and the y, this is the conclusion of the most common misspellings. 

Dafin: true story, one of my closest friends thought I was called Daphen for the longest time, even after my other friend and I had deliberately repeated DaphNE in her face. I guess she's not the only one that thinks I should be called Daphen - just with a different spelling. 

Dathy:.....I CAN'T EVEN??? How????? And this happened after I spelled out my name for the barista. 

Dephanie: the longest misspelt name I ever got. Kudos to the barista for getting the tricky 'ph' and I guess it kinda sounds like my name? 

Daphney: YOU WERE SO CLOSE PARIS WHY THE EXTRA Y

It's an adventure every time I go to Starbucks and other places that attempt to write down my name. We'll see how creative the world can get. What's the weirdest spelling you've ever got of your name? 

With love, Daphne x

it's gonna be okay.

I've always had a journal for as long as I could remember. I was that nerd kid that would rather get a hardcover journal for Christmas, rather than the new All American Girl doll. Since moving to London, I fell out of the habit of jotting down my daily thoughts - partly because I was too busy keeping up with school and partly because I thought writing my blog would suffice. But months passed and it just wasn't enough. I needed a place where I could put pen to paper and just write. I'm picky with journals, but I knew this was the journal the minute I saw it. I love the reassuring (and quirky) quotes that come on every other page. I picked out some of my favourites and am already looking forward to filling the blank pages up with rambles. 

Are you a person that keeps a journal? 

With love, Daphne x

this week I...#1

...had an 8-hour long self-help slash therapy session with my girl up in Edinburgh. We discovered we both weren't that great at the whole spill-your-guts-out girl talk as we're both pretty guarded people when it comes to matters of the heart. Ugh, boys. 

...also nodded through the list of 10 ways shy people flirt with my girl.

...tricked the flatmates that 'monkey poop' was sold to people that would actually eat them. (they were just chocolate covered peanuts)

...am studiously ignoring the fact that I have to do laundry.

...bought a new drool-worthy handbag.

...am trying to eat more healthy by making my own sandwiches. Yum, mustard. 

...finished reading The Farm by Tom Rob Smith

...remembered how much I loved this song.

...fell in love with this hipster tattoo.

...have been wanting a pair of skinny, ripped boyfriend jeans.

...got a stabilizing answer for where I'm potentially going to be for the next year.

What have you been up to this week?

With love, Daphne x

a day down south

Earlier this week, literally not even a day since I came home from Belgium, I headed down to the south of England with Jaye for another day to escape the hubbub of the city. During the two hour drive, I have to admit that I was a tinge nervous, not because I didn't trust Jaye's driving skills, but well, it was the other side of the road. But fortunately, it was a smooth drive that's allowing me to panic less next time I have to get in an English car. 

We got up fresh and early the next morning and well, being two beauty obsessed people, we spent near an hour just getting ready. And of course, it was the day where nothing was going to cooperate. But out the door and a breakfast later, we found ourselves in the quaint Christchurch. There were private boats and geese everywhere. I had made friends with one and was about to pet it when Jaye advised me otherwise. Who knew that you could bleed from a geese bite? 

We came across a ducking chair which is said to be punishment for women in the old times when they let their tongue loose, and probably not for witches. I'm glad that I wasn't living in those times as I'm pretty sure a regular ducking punishment would be on the calendar for me as I'm not the best at not swearing. 

We came across the old castle ruins where we spent a huge chunk of time oohing and ahhing over a mommy pidgeon and taking some outfit photos in front of the beautiful stone wall. Once upon a king or a lord had their massive dinner in the place where I'm flaunting my new bag.

It was a beautiful day outside and all the flowers were soaking up the sun like we were. Barely two hours after breakfast, Jaye and I were starving. We went to Cheese and Alfies for a breakfast-lunch as we both had pancakes. If you ever find yourself in Christchurch, I strongly recommend going there. Oh the pancakes! We made way down to the beach afterwards, but it was ridiculously cold so a couple of minutes and two quick photos later, we were back into the car.

After mucking around a bit at her place, we went to a discounted homeware store. And well I don't keep the most tidy home, I'm a massive sucker for homeware. Not 10 minutes into the store, and even Jaye regretted taking me there. I wanted to buy everything, but at the same time, I couldn't. Next time, I'm going down south with an empty bag. I still did manage to pick up a few bits and bobs that now proudly sit on my desk, adding a bit of decorativeness to the dorm.

After a barbeque dinner that her dad made, I was off to the train station. After my last incident with the Eurostar, Jaye was terrified that I'd miss my stop in London and end up in Brighton or Manchester. Luckily enough, I think I'm on pretty good terms with the English Rail as I made it back to London just fine.

Other than Edinburgh, this is the first time I've been out of London while still staying in the UK. I'm loving the quaint of the south and definitely want to go back again some time in the summer to enjoy the sun and the beach! Have you ever been to the English south coast?

With love, Daphne x

Five Things

1. Going running with my running buddy and finishing 1.5 miles without feeling like I want to die. 

2. A good therapy-slash-self-help session with my girl up in Edinburgh. We ranted on and on and tried to figure things out for hours. I don't know if we came up with a conclusion, but we definitely both got some things off our chest. 

3. Finished booking my ticket and confirming my trip to go visit Jaye next week. 

4. Going downstairs to reception and asking them to print some things for me (including my train ticket to Belgium!) and getting a free snack while waiting. 

5. My Ramin Karimloo EP finally arriving in the mail! He's another musical singer that I'm utterly obsessed with. Playing Enjolras in Les Mis 25th, and now playing Jean Valjean on Broadway, this guy came out with an EP featuring 2 musical pieces and 2 songs that he co-wrote with Hadley Fraser. Losing is one of my favourite songs, Hadley also covered this in the gig that I went to earlier this year.

With love, Daphne x