26th August 2013

Dress: Topshop

Today is Rich's last day of holiday. He's been off for 2 and a half weeks, and it's been lovely to spend day in day out with him. We popped down to the Co-op today but, other than that, we've just been chilling out on the sofa. 

Sponsor Becky Bedbug in September

This is my "Oh, Lord, is it autumn term already?" face! I'm currently writing this post right in the middle of August and I'm desperately trying not to think of going back to work! I love teaching, I really, really do but I have to admit that it is nice to have weeks off at a time! Still, a new year, new class, new children, I'm moving to a new year group with a new classroom and new team. This is the year of new beginnings! 

And what better way to kick of new beginnings than with a new partnership? Or even a repeat partnership- I love my past sponsors too! Whether you've worked with me before, or you're brand new to the world of Becky Bedbug, I would love to have you on board! 

All sponsors get an advert in my sidebar for 30 days, reaching out to my 1900+ followers across GFC and Bloglovin'. You also get a shoutout on Twitter, viewed by 1850+ followers, and, with some of the options, featured in a sponsor post on Becky Bedbug. 

Prices start from $10/ £6.60 so there is an option to suit all budgets! I'm also happy to host giveaways and review products, so get in touch if this is something you're interested in. Full details can be found on my sponsorship page. 

25th August 2013

Glasses: c/o Specsavers
Top: Vintage

Skirt: Cath Kidston

This is the outfit I wore on Thursday for something very exciting that will be revealed in October. As part of the experience, Specsavers very kindly allowed me to keep these FCUK frames and, even more generously, gave me a voucher for another pair.  

They're perfect for me: My favourite colour and my favourite frame shape! What do you think?

On Dermatillomania

Dermatillomania. Derma-tillo-mania. I'm willing to bet very few of you have ever heard it before, and even fewer actually know what it is. In fact, I'd never heard of it until 2010, and I'd been living with it for 11 years. 

Let me tell you a story:
In 1999, I used my mum's facial steamer thingy. It brought up a little spot right in the middle of my forehead. I'd never had a spot before so it was a bit embarassing. Unfortunately, I picked it. Of course it bled. Then I picked the scab. That bled and scabbed over. Which bled again. So on and so forth. It was of great amusement to the boys in my class. Not so much for me. When it eventually disappeared, several months later, I was left with several round scars in a lightning formation which is pretty cool for a Harry Potter nerd! 

You can just about see the scar in this photo, right in the middle of my forehead.

Then, in 2000, I got nits. (I know, not exactly the most pleasant thing to talk about on a blog. And I'm sorry that I made your head itchy thinking about it. If it's any consolation, it's making mine itch typing about it!) I scratched my head so much that it ended up bleeding. Then forming scabs. Which I picked. Then they bled. Then they formed scabs. Then I picked them... 13 years later, the nits are long gone. The scabs? Not so much!

Eventually this bizarre picking thing expanded. I slowly started picking more and more areas of my body. Eventually, I looked it up and discovered that it was Dermatillomania, a condition related to Trichotillomania. You may have heard of the latter- It's the compulsive need to pull out hair. Dermatillomania is the compulsive need to pick at skin.

Here, have a terrible photo of me in 2011. Just look at that chin! 

This isn't as simple as picking a scab or a fingernail. We all do that. With Dermatillomania, you can't stop until you deem it "perfect", even if it's bleeding or painful. It's similar to OCD in this way. With me, it's "perfect" when the area is flat. Unfortunately, that often means it is actually convex where I have gouged into the skin. If there is any part of my skin that feels raised or bumpy, I have to pick it. Leaving it alone is just not an option.

This is how I describe it: Imagine that you feel a tickle on your leg. You look down and see a spider. Rather than flick it off straight away, you leave it. Every time it moves, you become more and more aware of the sensation and your discomfort grows and grows until you can't take it anymore and you have to get rid of it. That's exactly how it feels when I try not to pick. It's not as easy as just leaving it alone.

Here's a more recent photo of me completely minus make up when I was in a less picky place. You can see the scarring under my make up. 

I actually consider myself very lucky. Although there are days when I am scared to leave the house because of it, or I'm wiggling around on the floor in pain and covered in blood, it doesn't interfere with my daily life. I've never had to take a day off work for it and my "picking spots", as Rich and I call them, are generally in hidden areas. My scalp and my inner ear are the worst by far, although I'm still sometimes prone to picking my chin, feet, arms and legs. My lips are always chapped in winter because of it.  

There are some worries. I'm a little concerned about my hearing- It's definitely not as acute as it should be, my ears are often painful and I'm a little afraid that my picking is damaging them. As I said before, it's often painful and, because I can't stop myself doing it, I'm sure I look crazy in public sometimes. However, it's a part of me and there's nothing I can do about it. I've just got to put up with it and carry on! 

Grammar for Bloggers

Ok, guys. We all know I'm a teacher. In true stereotypical style, I am obsessed with correct grammar. It's something I've never found difficult but I know that some people do struggle. For this reason, I've decided to create a bloggers' guide to grammar. Bookmark it for future reference. Print it out and keep it on you. Make a poster and hang it above your bed. Whatever you decide to do with it, I hope it helps! 

FF LIII

I know I'm more of a Pepsi girl but this advert is adorable! 

Viviana's apartment is my idea of heaven! 

I love Sinead's cushion designs! 

Although I refuse to accept anything with those three dreaded words (Back to school!), I do wish I was one of Ella's daughters because I want to wear this cute uniform! 

I'll be bookmarking Dina's guide to Edinburgh. 

This is the cutest comic ever... and definitely me through and through! 

I'd never heard of GISHWHES until Kate Gabrielle posted about it but I will definitely be getting involved next year! 

After posting my review of Murakami's Norwegian Wood earlier today, Leanne linked me to this Murakami Bingo. It's amazing- "Ear fetish" is my favourite and definitely something I've observed. It's actually available as a poster, which I will definitely be buying come payday. 

I love the new M&S campaign, if only because it's amazing to see Tracey Emin hailed for her contribution to art as a woman. 

Book review: Norwegian Wood

Norwegian Wood- Haruki Murakami

 I read my first Murakami around 2009, and I fell in love instantly. I loved the subtle surrealism- not strange enough to venture into science fiction or fantasy- and the beautiful descriptions. I recently returned to Murakami's novels with Dance Dance Dance and had high expectations for this one.

I was not disappointed. Norwegian Wood marks a departure from the surrealism. This tale is a straight up love story, with love triangles, dilemmas and the standard lost-and-confused male protagonist that is becoming a trademark of Murakami's novels as I read more of them. Watanabe is an unusual student, torn between his love for his late best friend's girlfriend and his fondness of a fellow student on his course.

At first, I was confused by the characters. I couldn't understand why Watanabe (somebody who seems to speak perfectly normally to me, despite the repeated references to his odd way of phrasing things- something that I assume has been lost in translation) was so hung up on Naoko. She's still mourning the suicide of her boyfriend- Watanabe's best friend- and is driven to mental illness as she struggles to cope. I almost felt that he was preying on her vulnerability. Compared with Midori, the spunky- yet still vulnerable- student with a penchant for tiny skirts and dirty talk, I couldn't see the attraction. 

I was rooting for Midori through the whole novel. The other main characters- Watanabe, Naoko and Naoko's psychiactric room-mate Reiko- lacked depth for me. They seemed pretty bland and two-dimensional. I could relate to Midori and began to feel quite attached to her. When Watanabe messed her around, I felt angry at him. 

However,  as I dwelled on these apprehensions, I realised that the novel was making me think more deeply about it than most others do. I caught myself mulling over these doubts as I lay in bed at night, as I commuted to work, as I bathed. Perhaps Watanabe was clinging to Naoko in a desperate attempt to feel closer to his best friend? Perhaps Naoko was doing the same in reverse. It forced me to consider the interrelation between love and death: How people cope in the aftermath of death and how unpredictable these reactions are.

The ending swept me up in bittersweet triumph. As sad and desolate as it was, there was a joy and a hope glinting beyond the final paragraph. Another Murakami text that I loved. Now I just need to decide which one to read next. Any recommendations?