clothes

The London Style

Hola everyone.

And welcome to another week. And to December. It’s freaking December. When did that happen? I feel like I’m stuck in between two places right now, where I want both summer back and a load of snow at the same time. But one thing is definitely clear – time is flying by and 2020 is gonna be here in a snap and I still feel like I just moved to London, like, yesterday. Honestly, all of this is way too crazy. And as fast as it all has happened, I still have the slight feeling that London has already taken its toll on me. In a good way. But please let me explain.

I’ve always had quite an interesting relationship with fashion – and yes, this means this post will be about fashion. A true miracle is happening right now. Anyway. I recently talked to my housemate about this. How in my youth I used to buy and wear any stuff that was popular at the time. Simply because I wanted to be popular, because which teen doesn’t want that? So I dressed like everyone else. And, to be brutally honest, we all looked pretty dumb, I’m not going to lie. I still get the shivers when I think about the shirts we all got from the same stores with their stupid cartoons on them or the black tube tops preferably worn with leggings. One fashion faux pas after another.

But then the moment came when I truly realized, for the very first time, that we did, in fact, all look exactly the same and mostly very unfashionable on top. So I started to develop my own style, which was heavily inspired by all the holidays and vacations I went on with my family. I made it my hobby to only buy clothes in and from different countries. They became a type of souvenir. Something I would wear and always connect to a certain trip. And on top of that nearly everything I got was unique, as the chance of someone visiting the same store in the same foreign country and buying the exact same shirt or pair of trousers was incredibly low to non-existent. Suddenly I started looking like nobody else in my class, which was met by mixed reactions – some of my classmates liked it, some, I am sure, hated me for it. But that didn’t stop me from my travels to finding own style.

And then uni and moving to Vienna hit me in the face with the statement “you thought you were dressing in a special way? Ha. Cute.” like a truck. I felt like I had just got a glimpse of the box of Pandora. Of paradise. Suddenly everyone looked special and different and cool and I felt like the ultimate wallflower again. The girl from the countryside in the big, uber-fashionable city. Surrounded by all these new impressions and more importantly inspirations, I again went for a little hunt for my own, new, improved style. Of course, I still kept true to my roots – band t-shirts, black skinny jeans, destroyed Converse – but something had changed. I didn’t shop as much anymore but rather looked for pieces of clothing that had the potential of being in-style for all of eternity and therefore staying with me for my whole life. Obviously, I’m not one of the rich kids that can actually afford clothes that will never show any signs of wear or destruction, but I was still trying my best. I started buying stuff that complimented my style, that I could easily add to already existing outfits and clothes that we like to call basics, which is probably one of the most important rules I ever learned when it comes to fashion. Basics are your friends. Keep them close to you. They will serve you well, trust me.

So I went on my journey, developed my style, stumbled over pieces that I still adore with all my heart and that are still a part of my daily wardrobe, but I knew there was still something out there waiting for me. The big leap. I had to think outside of the box. And that’s when Brighton and more importantly London came in. It is a known fact that London is one of the best looking cities with some of the best-dressed people living in it. And I am in the middle of this huge pile of awesomeness, attractiveness and immenseness of style. And even before moving to this fashion dream of a place, I knew I had to leave my comfort zone once and for all. Or at least widen it. Because London is very out there. And I am not. Or was not. I feel like that has changed in the past week, at least in my own little style bubble.

Here are a few things London and the experience of living here have taught me about fashion so far:

fast-fashion is your enemy, avoid it as much as you can
sustainability for the win
comfort and style do really go together (miracles, I tell you)
you don’t have to follow every trend – they go away anyway
pride and confidence are the best two accessories
you can be and look like anyone/anything you want
be out there, it’s fun

I know, sounds quite cute and all, but it’s actually more difficult to tick all these boxes than you would think. Being out there is a real chore and takes a lot of confidence. And for an introvert like me – who’s slowly becoming an extrovert, funnily enough – fitting in is always a bit more comfortable than sticking out. But when you go to a music university in London, which basically translates to Hipster HQs, the rule is stand out or die (not literally, obviously). So I’ve been soaking up the city and all the other inspirations like a sponge and the result is the style that I am calling mine today. And I am damn proud of it.

You know, for someone like me, who’s from a different country and who recently moved to London, it sometimes is a bit tough to not feel like you’re just a long-term tourist. Suddenly you start asking yourself whether people look at you and think you’re from the city or just someone stopping by. And a few weeks ago I would’ve said the second option, but I’ve had a slight change of mind. Let me tell you why – I went for a little shopping hunt, inspired by all the people and things I’m surrounded by in this incredible city on a daily basis and by all the fantastic outfits I see online, and I found two outfits that have turned my whole world on its head. And this isn’t simply about a shirt and a fitting jacket in the same color. No no. I’m talking about actual two-piece sets, consisting of the most amazing pants and the coolest jackets ever to go with them.

To be honest, I’ve been on the lookout for a nice monochrome set for quite some time. I see it in the city all the time and I felt like it was time for me to be part of the movement. And after a long and exhausting journey that included lots of late-night scrolling through clothing websites and weekend trips to Carnaby Street, I finally found the perfect set on Asos by the brand Daisy Street (click here to check it out). Corduroy. Orange. Oversize. And comfy as hell. It had to be mine. And after a few days of waiting, it finally was. And still is. The moment I put it on, I knew I had stumbled across something very special. Something that would change my style completely. And it did. Because it opened my eyes to a whole other world of fashion that had been hiding in my closet. But it didn’t just end there.

I would definitely say I reached peak coolness when I bought what I would describe as the ultimate two-piece a few days ago. The ultimate suit. The one and only. It all happened during a Lazy Oaf sample sale that I went to with my friend Lauren last Saturday. Some of you might already know this incredible London-based brand that creates anything but boring fashion. In a nutshell, it’s my favourite brand, but usually way too expensive for me. Hence the trip to the sample sale. And there I saw it. The perfect set that I immediately had to get (click here to check it out). In total, we spent over two hours in that industrial building, digging through endless piles of clothes, completely focused on our mission of finding the perfect piece. I’m not gonna say how much I paid for the whole thing (pants + jacket), but I can promise you one thing – if you ever want to find a bargain and feel a deep love for Lazy Oaf, then the sample sale is the way to go. The prices are out of this world. I mean, they don’t throw the clothes after you just to get rid of them, their quality is still way too high and good for that, but compared to the original prices, the whole event is one big bargain.

The set I got is basically awesomeness in the form of clothing. Oversize. The most beautiful colours with the most fantastic check pattern. Wide leg trousers. The perfect fit. Extremely comfy. And literally the best quality. The moment I tried it on in that big hall, I knew it had to be mine. But besides the nice fit and the awesome look, there was something I felt while I was walking around with it still on, contemplating of whether I should get the whole set or not – it made me feel like I was part of London. Something that the first set had already achieved as well a few days beforehand. And that certain feeling is essentially the reason for me writing this post. Because both things make me feel like I belong in and to London. Like I am part of this city, part of its style, part of its people. It makes me feel like I am a Londoner. Like someone who people look at and might think that they live in this city and are part of it. And that is something so incredibly important for me, something that fills me with so much pride and confidence that I can’t possibly put into words how happy it makes me. I’ve always wanted to live in London and be part of this dream. But being here and feeling like you actually belong here are two different things. At least they were for me, but not anymore. And it might sound a bit strange to say that simple pieces of clothing make me feel that way, but I think they did more than just that. They make me a better, cooler, more confident me. And for that, I am incredibly thankful. Also, the Lazy Oaf set definitely makes me feel like the ultimate boss and that’s just the coolest thing ever. But just look for yourself.

So, in short: I’ve been in this incredible city for nearly three months now and I am finally starting to feel like I really, fully, truly belong here, which is simply the most incredible feeling ever. And it might be weird to have clothes be the reason for that, but for me, they are just so much more than that. I’m carrying myself differently and that’s all thanks to this fantastic adventure I’m on right now and to this city. London has changed me. And I’m happy about that.

For those of you who’re currently looking for a bit of a changeup in your wardrobe, I can highly recommend going for a two-piece suit. It doesn’t just look absolutely stunning, but also has the perk of making you feel like a boss. And if you go for a simple one, you can easily add the separate pieces to other outfits and wear them with different clothes. That’s what I call highly functional. And yeah, besides that I can only hope that you enjoyed this post and that it maybe serves as a bit of inspiration for you. As always, I’d totally love to hear your thoughts and opinions, so please don’t hesitate to leave them down below. And, of course, I hope you’re all doing good, wish you a great week and thanks for reading. x

London haul

Hola everyone.

I know, I don’t have anything to explain, you already read the title. Welcome to another haul (yeeeeey). Actually, I’m pretty excited – probably even more than you guys – because I can talk some more about some of my favorite topics. Shopping, books and fashion. And London. I mean, it was pretty obvious that I would be going shopping in London. I tried to stop myself from walking into every single store before this trip, to stop myself from buying stuff, as I needed my money for this holiday and my planned shopping there. That’s what I call dedication.

Clothing

Okay, so clothing-wise I didn’t really plan on buying something, I just knew the shops I wanted to visit ASAP. And one of those was Lazy Oaf. Some of you might know this super crazy clothing label, but if you don’t know, you need to check it out now. Like, seriously, right now. Here’s the link to their website: lazyoaf.com

I personally have a special relationship with this label. I got to know it through two of my favorite YouTubers – Marzia and Arden. They both love the label and wear it pretty often in their videos and pictures and one day I was looking at them and thinking “oh my god, I need to know what they are wearing”. And since then I’ve been checking out the Lazy Oaf website every once in a while, mostly once a week, looking for their newest pieces. I just love their clothing with all of my heart. It’s fun and colorful and literally so out of my comfort zone, it just draws me to it. And it’s based in London, my favorite city ever. So yeah, the label has a lot of pros, but the only con are their prices. I’m usually not the person to spend too much money on clothes, so I mostly just admire Lazy Oaf from afar.

But guys, the wait is now over. I officially own a piece of Lazy Oaf clothing and I’m loving it. I have to say, their store in London is freaking amazing. It’s situated in a small house in Soho and just screams cool. It’s colorful and freaky and weird. I loved it. I don’t know how long we actually stayed in there, but in like the last few minutes me and my mum found this supercool jumper and what can I say, it was love at first sight. And now it’s the moment I have to thank my mum, because as soon as I tried it on, I didn’t want to leave without it and I think she saw that in my eyes and decided to buy it for me. How nice is that? You’re the best, mum. So yeah, I now have this supercool, weird and unique jumper and I can’t wait to wear it. I would have never guessed that I would once own a Lazy Oaf piece, but now I do and I seriously couldn’t be happier.

The second piece of clothing I brought home from London is this amazing vintage blouse. I mean, look at it. I don’t even know what to say. I’ve been wearing it the past days and I just fall for it even more and more, day by day, minute by minute. I found it at this amazing vintage market we came across in Shoreditch. If any of you are into vintage clothing, I can guarantee that you would have loved this market. It was so cool. There were so many different blouses to choose from, I seriously could have bought every single one. But I’m really deeply in love with this one, I think it looks super unique and special. My first vintage piece.

Books

You guys know how much I love books and reading. So books were that part that I had planned to buy in London, as I only read books in English and were do I find more English books than in the UK (duh)? So I dragged my parents into Waterstones at Piccadilly Circus and I don’t know how long we stayed there, but I can tell you, it was pretty long. When I had finally worked my way through the young adult fiction section, I had twelve books resting in my arms. Did you ever have to choose your favorites from a huge collection of already favorites? It’s freaking hard. Not to be dramatic, but it’s nearly impossible. I was standing there, completely alone in the YA section, starring at a stack of books, debating which ones I wanted to keep and which ones I was willing to leave behind. That makes it official – I’m literally the biggest bookworm. But in the end I managed to pick my favorite favorites and here they are:

My Secret Rockstar Boyfriend – by Eleanor Wood
Sunflowers in February – by Phyllida Shrimpton
Truly Madly Awkward – by Beth Garrod
The Book of Loud – by Marshall
Finding Audrey – by Sophie Kinsella
Words in Deep Blue – by Cath Crowley

I’m seriously more than excited to read every single one of these books. If any of you have read any of them, please let me know what you think about them and whether you like them or not. I’ll of course add them to the book club and keep you up-to-date.

This and that

Okay, and here comes the last part – everything that doesn’t fit into clothing or books. And that brings me to one of my favorite moments of the trip – the moment we visited platform 9 3/4. My potter-heart is already going crazy thinking about it. Some of you may know that I’m overly in love with the whole Harry Potter / Hogwarts universe, ever since I grew up with the whole story. So visiting the platform at Kings Cross was a must for me.

But holy moly, I wasn’t the only one. I can’t remember if I’ve ever been into such a packed store, it was literally stuffed with customers. We even had to wait in a line outside. But at least for me it was totally worth it. I got to see all the different wands up close and there was the typical Hogwarts music playing in the background. I don’t know, apart from the people, it just felt like home. And I’m so happy with the stuff I got from there – a Hogwarts pin badge and a ticket for the Hogwarts Express. I know, some of you might say “isn’t she a bit too old for this?”, but all I can say is “silencio”. But all jokes aside, I really love this whole universe. I grew up with it, I pretty much know all the movies by heart and I read all the books. It’s a part of me. And I’m not afraid to show my love for it, no matter how old I am.

Besides that, the other stuff I got were just basic things like newspapers and magazines, but hey, they are from London, so I just had to take them home with me. Oh and I got this supercute “I love London” sign, which was the last sign missing in my collection on my wall and I’m so happy that I finally got to fill the empty spot.

And there you go guys, that’s my London haul. I can just say that I freaking love this city and everything I got and brought home with me. All the pieces mean a lot to me and I’m so proud to own them. But guys, I’m really excited to hear what you think about all the pieces, so please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts down below. Oh, and I hope you’re all doing good and I wish you an amazing week. And, as always, thanks for reading. x

Ps: If some of you may have noticed, yes I indeed did color and cut my hair. It’s now shoulder-length and a rusty-reddish-brown color and I freaking love it. I used Henna again to color it and I’ve always wanted to cut my hair and I finally did it and I couldn’t be happier.

Huge haul

Hola everyone.

The day has finally come. I know I promised to post this already weeks ago but somehow I never got the time to finally do it, but know I did. Hallelujah.

So as you know I was in England for a week with my mum in August – Brighton and Reading – and then I visited my friend Mati in Croatia. And of course I had to go shopping, how couldn’t I? The shopping list started with some clothing pieces and went on and on until it ended with books and some special accessories. So I would like to show my precious purchases to all of you guys. Enjoy.

Okay, actually it’s more like just tops, precisely one t-shirt – the most important piece of the whole haul – and four sweaters. But hey, autumn has already arrived and winter is coming and I have to be prepared.

Right now I’m completely obsessed with the sweaters they sell at Pull and Bear. They are just so comfy and big. The perfect size for being a nice oversize sweater I want to stay in forever. And it fits perfectly and looks just perfect. And besides that they all have some cool embroidered messages on them which make them even more amazing. The first one I bought was in Brighton. I just had to. Mostly because of it’s writing that says “Nobody cares if you don’t go to the party”, which is just so damn relatable and true. I’ve always been that one person that doesn’t go to parties, even though all the others did and called me boring. Because I simply didn’t care t all. That’s why the sweater is a perfect match for me. It emphasizes my lifestyle and the person I am.

The second one I bought was in Zagreb. It’s exactly the same one as the first one, just in a green color and with the Harry Potter related writing saying “I’m busy making a potion”. And let’s be honest, everything that’s Harry Potter related is just pure awesomeness. On the same day I also bought my really special rainbow sweater. I j´saw that one at Pull and Bear and just wanted it to be mine. Not just because it looks freaking amazing, but also because it’s my way of telling the world that I support the LGBT+ community. Most people will just look at me wearing it and see a cool rainbow sweater, but for me it’s my kind of support. And I love that.

The last sweater I bought is some kind of flattery poof black crop top volant type of thing. I bought it at Zara in Reading. Actually I just wanted to try it on and see how it looks but then I stayed it in the whole time when my mum was trying on other things. And that pretty much meant that I would keep it. That’s my thing. If I try something on and keep it on until I have to leave the changing rooms, it’s practically mine. There’s no other way out. And that was the case with this top.

And now the most important piece. My precious. You know that I love Fall Out Boy. And I finally got to see them live at Reading festival. And you know that I love band merch. I always buy one t-shirt whenever I’m attending a concert. And you probably guessed it by now – of course I had to buy a FOB t-shirt. And it’s seriously one of the most valuable pieces of clothing in my whole wardrobe. Because it has such a huge meaning for me. And besides that it just looks freaking cool. I mean, look it at. They band is cool, the shirt is cool, everything about this is unbelievably cool and amazing and perfect. And I love it. With all of my heart.

Other stuff

Now that we all know that clothes are not the real thing on their own, of course I had to buy some other stuff. The first thing on my list were books. I’ve been obsessed with reading good books lately, so I flew over to England with my list of books I wanted to buy and thankfully I did get all of them.

I bought:

This Modern Love by Will Darbyshire
When We Collided by Emery Lord
Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward
Harry Potter And The Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling

I read the Harry Potter one right after we bought it, I just had to. And by the way, it’s amazing. And currently I’m reading When We Collided which is also really really awesome. I can highly recommend it. And all the others too, of course.

Besides that we also bought some other things. When mum and me were strolling around in town in Brighton we walked past a painting pottery cafe which I recognized from one of Marzias blogs (Pewdiepies girlfriend). So of course we had to walk in and the next day we went back to actually paint some pottery. I chose to paint a heart, write Brighton on it and paint some flowers and other stuff on it so it would look nice. And I have to say I really enjoyed it, I loved it to be honest. It was so relaxing and it reminded me of how much I love art and painting. And on the last day which was also the next one I got my finished heart back, which was supercool and so nice of them because I told them that we would leave on this day so they finished it extra fast for me. The heart is now hanging on my wall and I look at it and it places a smile of my face every time.

And when we were at Reading festival I also bought some badges for my bags and other things. That’s like another one of my traditions, I started it when we attended Sziget festival last year. And now even my mum has a badge on her bag. Our stuff is like a display for all the experiences we’ve made. Oh and we also bought three sings, one for mums office, one for our whole family and one for my room. Going shopping in Brighton is really amazing and fascinating, because there are so many vintage shops and little shops that sell stuff you’d never get in conventional stores. And I really love that.

So, there you go. Those are the things I bought in the past two months, some in the UK, some in Croatia. But all of them are amazing and totally lovely. If any of you want to chat about shopping or anything else, I’m here. And until then, I hope you enjoy this post and, as always, thanks for reading. x

Let’s go shopping

Hola everyone.

Today we’re going to be talking about something that everybody likes (at least I hope so). That’s right, we’re talking about shopping. Good old shopping for clothing and other stuff, that we mostly don’t need but just have to buy it, because look at it. So, let’s go.

Forever 21

I literally LIVE in this shop. I think I’ve never loved a store this much. Seriously. I remember walking into it for the first time. I was on a school trip and just went in there for fun and I just KNEW from the very first second on. It was love at first sight. Today like 80% to 90% of my wardrobe are from F21. And I’m not planning on changing that. It just has everything. Basic clothing, some grungy things, some boho parts, the coolest jewelry ever and it plays the best god damn music. I just love it. And most of all their tshirts. Amazing.

Brandy Melville

I again discovered this one on a school trip in Madrid. I went for a lil shopping trip alone and came across this cool boho looking store and just had to get in there. A few months later it all blew up and got like really really big. I have to say, I’m a lil bit disappointed in what it became. Because all the girls who shop there are either 14 or so damn thin that it scares me. Like, girls please EAT. But besides that, their clothes are still freaking amazing. And I looooove the fabrics they use. Sometimes it can get a lil bit pricey, but if you find a good piece, it’s always worth it.

H&M

To be honest, usually I’m not such a huge fan of this shop. Mostly because those in my country are pretty lame. They suck, seriously. But whenever I’m travelling to another city, I just love their clothes. Like, it’s completely crazy. For example at my Copenhagen haul. I bought pretty much everything at H&M. And I know that I would have never found such cool things at home. So, H&M is cool, except at home.

Asos

That’s a shop I found through Zoella. I usually don’t shop online, because I want to try the clothes on and see how they fit me before I spend money on them. But all the things at Asos are so freaking pretty. I actually have like 15 different pieces in my list of saved items, the thing is that I’m never buying them (please don’t question this, I don’t even know myself). Maybe it’s the money or the waiting game as soon as you click buy, which drives me insane. But I’m sure that one day I’ll have the courage to click that button and until then I’ll just fall for their clothes more and more and more.

Urban Outfitters

What can I say about Urban? I’m not such a big fan of their clothing, but I could die for their homeware, oh my god. I literally love every piece they have and would buy it all if it wasn’t so expensive. Actually, I bought a mug in Copenhagen and I freaking love it. It’s amazing. And they just have this cool image, like you just think that Urban is cool, it doesn’t matter if you’ve ever been there, you just think that.

Zara

This is a store my mum actually loved before me, at a time when I was more into colorful, playful clothing. But today I actually really like it – thanks again to Zoe. Two months ago I think I bought a simple, basic striped v-neck shirt there and I love it so much. It’s basic, of course, but it still slays. Oh and a few weeks ago I bought a pair of black jeans. I always wanted jeans like the guys from 5sos – if you don’t know it, their legs are like super thin sticks stuck in superskinny black jeans and I’m really jealous. And I wanted the same jeans. So I went in there and found the perfect pair and they are actually so skinny that they look like I just sprayed black paint onto my legs and the bonus is that they are super comfy. It’s fantastic. And the make your legs and every outfit look bomb. I love it.

Dr. Martens

Let’s not talk around it. The shoes just slay and I’m in love with them. I bought a dark maroon colored pair in Washington last year and I’m melting away every time I look at them. There’s no way you cannot love their shoes.

Pretty much every homeware store on this planet

Oh my god, I love homeware. And decoration. And furniture. And and and. That’s the interior decorator side of me speaking right now. I think if I wasn’t so into journalism and fashion, I would surely want to earn money by decorating and furnishing the flats and houses of other people, because I freaking love it. Whenever I see a cute room or building I can always already image how I would turn it into the perfect apartment. And I could and actually do waste hours of hours in homeware and furniture shops, just strolling through the lanes, checking out what they have in store. Oh and yes, I decorated my room exactly the way I wanted it. I still remember my mum and me spending days in shops looking for the coolest furniture. And since then I’m spending my time decorating my room with pics, postcards and other cute pieces.

So, there you go. Those are my favorite clothing shops including furniture and decoration, which I just had to include. I hope you enjoyed it. Oh and if any of you are into the same shops as me or want to talk, I’d be happy to hear from you. And until then, as always, thanks for reading. x

Copenhagen Haul

Hola everyone.

I mean, I don’t really have to tell you that my mum and me went shopping in Copenhagen, that’s pretty obvious, lets be honest. The weeks before our trip I stopped myself every time I wanted to go shopping (do you even know how hard that is???). Because I knew I had to save all my shopping desires up for Copenhagen, which I gladly did. So I flew to Copenhagen with my plan of buying some pretty cool things, most important dungarees. Dungarees is a trend I tried to avoid or let’s say ignore, but you know me, I can’t ignore cool trends like that. Especially not if my beloved fashion YouTuber Zoella just absolutely nails wearing it. So, I had to get a pair of those. And apart from that I wanted to get an off the shoulder shirt because I simply love them and a cute tea cup from Urban Outfitters. So, that was my plan.

So, the first thing I bought was actually the book called “Beautiful Broken Things” by Sara Barnard, which I really wanted to buy, because it was on my book list. And I always have to stroll through book shops in the cities I travel to and finding the book was just another bonus.

On the third day my mum and me had our big shopping day. A good day, because I actually got everything I wanted to. Dungarees, off the shoulder tops and a cute cup. All of my clothes are from the H&M, a shop I usually don’t really go to because it’s pretty lame in my city. But surprisingly H&M stores are always so much better in other countries, it’s nearly unfair. And yes, I love everything I got and the dungarees just plainly slay. I love them.

Oh and I got my cup as planned at Urban Outfitters and I love it sooooo freaking much. I love the color and it looks so vintage and just awesome. Oh and it feels really nice too.

The last thing I got were two cactuses. It looks like cactuses are THE trend in Copenhagen or Denmark overall, so I just had to get some. I found them at a market close to our hotel and they looked so small and cute and tiny and beautiful and I wanted them. So I bought two and hoped that they would survive the flight, which they did, thank god. They actually are called my two little dwarfs and I absolutely love them.

So yeah, that’s everything I bought. I absolutely loved Copenhagen and I’m so happy that I went there with my mum and that I got all those beautiful things. I hope you love them as much as I do and enjoy my as always artsy pictures. If any of you went to Copenhagen or shopping or want to talk about anything else, I’m here. And until then. as always, thanks for reading. x