Zig-a-zig-ah

When it comes to footwear, I – in the most literal of senses – rarely step outside my comfort zone; you’ll seldom catch me sans my trusty (albeit battered) pairs of Air Force 1s. 

That being said, my alternative “sole” searching sessions have always drawn me towards the classic Stan Smith. Like Nike’s timeless model, the signature sneaker by Adidas is a time-honoured type that works with the contents of practically every closet. 

Having justified the investment to myself – such is key to my buying decisions  – I just needed to decide on the specific Stan variant to go for (Green? Black? Laces? Velcro?). After a lengthy period of deliberating, the choice was then suddenly made very easy at the discovery of their recently released zig-zag design in German concept store Kauf Dich Glücklich. 

Retaining the minimalist aesthetic of the much-loved model, I was drawn to this new embroidered number for its slightly novel, very “me” little touch. While the reduced sole height initially took a bit of getting used to (compared to the raised base I’m accustomed to with the Air Forces), not to mention the whiter than white finish (so fresh so clean), they’ve now reached staple status in my wardrobe. 

Indeed, a couple of months worn in and I haven't looked back: I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna really, really, really wanna zig-a-zig-ah.

Weekly wisdom #15

All of it. However silly, trivial or fruitless an idea might seem in the moment, treat each passing notion as one of potential; part of a process. By putting pen to paper – that is, by always having pen and paper to hand – you can explore each spark of creativity in an entirely organic way. #Nofilter. 

Apart from being incredibly cathartic, the act of capturing flowing thoughts while they’re fresh in our minds prevents us from shutting down concepts that could ultimately grow far greater than the seedlings they originate as. 

Don’t overthink, don’t overanalyse. Record what you see, what you feel, what you experience. Our stream-of-consciousness is messy and unpredictable – our notebooks should reflect that. As I expanded on here, actively using your hands triggers a more open, less self-conscious outpouring of ideas and inspirations.

Whether these ever leave the confines of your notepad or not, you’re quite literally making your mark, in a deeply personal and individualised way. You’re documenting yourself and your thinking process visually, distinctively. 

And who knows where that could lead?    

Beach daze

The spell between late December/early January's always a bit of a blur; all concept of days and dates seems to dissipate. So I can't decide whether it feels like a really long time ago since Christmas, or like no time at all. According to the dates in my camera though, it's been nearly three weeks since I reconnected with my beloved Cozens cousins on England's north east coast.







Having not returned to the motherland since moving full-time to Berlin last June, my festive stint in the U.K. (namely London and Newcastle) was a much yearned for opportunity to catch up with some of my nearest and dearest, not to mention drop into some of my most frequented haunts and hangouts.










As with every year, Christmas was spent hibernating in the company of my Geordie fam. Aside from the obvious perk of spending quality time with Salpal's side of the family, this also granted glorious seaside stomps and scenic morning runs. Nothin' blows the cobwebs away like an eye-wateringly windy walk along Whitburn beach.

Having grown accustomed to regular Toon trips while studying at nearby Durham uni, chances to chill with some of my most cherished chums are now back to being few and far between, making these kinda moments all the more important; having close family (in a spiritual, rather than geographical sense) isn't to be taken for granted.  






 For me, the Christmas period has always been about cultivating priceless memories with those you know 'n' love the most – and in this case, quality time precedes quantity time, every time.

Weekly wisdom #14

We find ourselves in a culture of avid multitaskers; a society in which getting sh*t done at the most rapid rate – while simultaneously working on other life admin – is lauded and applauded.  Whether or not the age-old adage of females outperforming males in this department rings true for you, in my mind we all do ourselves, and indeed the task(s) at hand, a disservice by mindlessly breezing through the tick boxes on our to-do lists. Above all amidst incessant email pings and non-stop notifications, it's no mean feat getting immersed in a single task without the threat of distractions and intrusions. 

I'm far from being a pro at prioritisation, but in practicing the art of cutting back and simplifying what really needs to get done, i.e. establishing what's truly important in any given moment, I'm injecting somuchmore focus into my work 'n' life flow. In turn, this – I reckon – allows me to properly get stuck into assignments, ultimately granting an increased quality of execution too.  

That being said, it's not to say there won't be occasions where this kinda multitasking mindset is unavoidable or necessary. But, but, but: Taking a more mindful, conscious approach and prioritising our daily duties as much as we can will certainly aid our overall productivity, as well as clearing up some headspace in our often cluttered craniums. 

// You can do anything, but not everything (at the same time). //

Do it yas(elf): Christmas gifts

This festive season, I've made a pledge to myself. Intent on imbuing a little extra love into everything I do (even the most mundane of tasks), I'm aiming to handcraft the majority of gifts for my nearest 'n' dearest. 

Whatever time of year it may be – I don't believe these kinds of gestures oughta be limited to allocated calendar boxes – the act of giving sweet, petite tokens to those I know best has always been preferable to being bestowed with presents myself. Not that they go without gratitude, of course, but I just happen to take way more pleasure in the process of gifting others with well-thought-out momentos and (hopefully) seeing them appreciated too.





Above: It's Brogues "no bad days" bags, filled with cheer-me-up quotes + inspiration. 

 That being said, carving out the time to create is in itself a bit of a s(elf)ish act; making things – usually without purpose – is my ultimate mode of relaxation and "me" time. So the fact that this personal Christmas commitment actually bears some kinda altruistic motive is just an added bonus! 

There's also the additional price perk, since the dominant expenditure is time. Stocking up on basic materials – namely canvas bags, paperwares, pens, pretty tape and unnecessary-but-cute items like heart-shaped hole punches – indeed requires initial investment, but the amount of £/€/$ spent really is minimal compared to the crazed consumerism so characteristic of the festive season.   

Of course, part and parcel (ha) of a gift, handmade or not, is also the presentation. I like to take a bit of a holistic approach to my gift givin'; although a quaint idea not to judge a present by its wrapping, it's equally charming to give the gift-wrap a little TLC too. All in all, this – I hope – makes for a one-of-a-kind, highly personal bundle of Christmas contributions that sprinkle some cheer and stand the test of time (at least more so than those novelty socks/multiple body washes/chocolate selection boxes).