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A few things that surprised me about Mykonos
I know that Mykonos is on a lot of people’s bucket lists, and after going to Santorini last year I was excited to go and experience some more Greek chilled out beauty. Although I liked it, there were a few things that I wasn’t expecting to come across during our trip that I thought would be worth sharing in case these are things that would be useful to know if you’re thinking of going, or that might even a deal breaker to you deciding go at all.
I’ll be honest and say that I probably compared Santorini quite a bit whilst we are there, but only because they’re often mentioned in same breath and I thoroughly enjoyed our time there last year. Even so, here are ( in no particular order) the key things that stuck out that I’ve not noticed anybody really mention before:
- The Scenery 🏞
Don’t get me wrong, Mykonos is a gorgeous island, but there’s a very clear ‘Instagram v Reality’ vibe about it. On one side is what you see all over Instagram (including my Instagram feed a little bit) whitewashed buildings, blue accents, flowers and clean cobbled streets. The reality is definitely there, the photos you’ve seen ain’t fakes, but they only show you the heart of Mykonos Town which is just a small part.
And then there’s the reality (some of which I’ve also shown on my insta feed) – lovely clean beaches, crystal clear water and gorgeous sunsets.
again, all gorgeous features to have on holiday, but there are plenty of places in the world you can get them. Away from Mykonos Town, you could basically be anywhere in Greece.
- The Busy-ness 🛵
(this is a stock image doesn’t really do the situation justice, it was much busier than this, however I was too focussed on getting through it safely than snapping a pic of it so this will have to do!)
This is an understatement! I visited in August, peak summer holiday time, so I knew there’d be lots of other tourists and cruise ships docking and was prepared for the streets to be a bit crowded. And they were, but usually not overwhelmingly so, you could still walk comfortably but getting a photo in some parts was tricky. What I wasn’t prepared for was the traffic – cars, mini vans, buses, ATV’s and Vespas, they are EVERYWHERE. It’s difficult to cross the road, there are limited pedestrian footpaths next to the roads so walking next to traffic can feel a bit dicey at times, and the constant noise of vehicles beeping and speeding round corners kind of takes the shine off the serene and beautiful environment in certain areas.
The torch app on your phone will be a literal lifesaver if you’re staying out of the resort centre, some of the roads aren’t lit so it’s a good way to keep yourself visible.
- The prices 💸
Before went to Mykonos we were told it was expensive, but we were told last year that Santorini was expensive and found that perfectly reasonable when we got there (without having to do a lot of work researching places off the beaten track to eat and drink). Turns out, Mykonos really is expensive! Expensive to me worked out at mid/higher end London prices – 15-18€ for a cocktail, 30€ for a steak and 30€ for 15 minute taxi ride. We spent about 50% more in Mykonos than we did in Santorini last year, definitely no issues with the Greek economy in Mykonos!
It did mean we had to compromise a little bit on a few things such as the amount of drinks we had each day, how we travelled and where we ate. We didn’t compromise on anything we wanted to do though; if there was a restaurant we really wanted to go to we just planned ahead and had cheaper eats at other times to make up for it.
Couple of tips I’d impart to anyone hitting Mykonos that I found useful:
– Apart from our hotel bar we only found one place that sells cheaper drinks which is a bar called Mex, cocktails here were about 8€ so half the price but it’s only open late evening and is a little too ‘Magaluf Weekender’ for me. Other than that, drinks are virtually the same price whether you have a premium view or are in a side street, so you may as well head for the more boujee places with views of Little Venice and the Windmills.
– Taxis are well known for not being clear about the price until the end of the journey which makes budgeting hard, I discovered a taxi app called i-Move that was useful. It’s a bit like Uber so you can track your driver, but unlike Uber it guarantees an exact price when you book.
- The sea 🌊
Gorgeous colour and beautifully clear….but choppy as hell! We enjoy a boat trip on a summer holiday so made sure to book one before we travelled, but we learnt the hard way that the sea in these parts is hella not suitable for a relaxing day. Shortly after this picture was taken, we spent about 20 minutes almost vertical and being lashed with salt water (I’m not talking just a gentle spray that you sometimes get, it felt like someone was stood throwing full buckets of water over us. We, and virtually everything we had in board with us, got absolutely soaked). We were told by the crew (who were very lovely and attentive) that the sea is always like this, so definitely NOT THE PLACE TO BOOK A BOAT TRIP.
It’s not just being out at sea, in some places you’re not safe from the sea either! Walking along the front at Little Venice, the waves are still a little wild and frequently splash up and in to the walk ways and bar seating areas. On the way to dinner one evening we took a risk and walked across the front, but it didn’t pay off and I got an absolute soaking (though I dried off quickly in the heat). It can also get a little bit slippy, health and safety nightmare.
I hope this post doesn’t come across as too negative, realistically only the sea straight up ruined any part of the trip. The other stuff was absolutely no problem and could be worked around to ensure we enjoyed ourselves, this is just meant to be a bit of an FYI so hope its of some help if you’re planning any Mykonian adventures in the future!
Thanks for reading,
J 💋
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Where to eat/drink to get the best views of Mykonos
Last year after my Greek getaway I posted my guide to Greek food which is something I can’t really add to, however as people usually go to Mykonos to get the iconic views they see on Instagram (or at least in my experience they do) I thought it would be useful to share some of the places we visited. Myself and the Mr enjoy a good spot by the sea and a lovely sunset, so finding places to experience these are always a priority to us, and the are some good options below that are fairly easy to get to and aren’t eye wateringly expensive…Sunset cocktails – The Garden
We were so lucky that this place turned out to be about 700 meters away from our hotel, and the fact that it’s accessed via a fairly long walkway lined with flowers and lights makes you feel like you’re about to discover a secret hideaway. When you actually get to the bar area it has a very laid back and cool aesthetic (think wood, beanbag chairs and fire pits) and a wide veranda looking out over the Mykonian coastline.
We headed here about an hour before the sun set to have the opportunity to settle in, take photos and choose our drinks. We requested a seat right at the front of the veranda to get the best possible view of the sunset which has a 20€ per person minimum spend stipulation (other tables not style front do not have a minimum spend that I’m aware of) which the equivalent to a couple of drinks each.
The cocktails we had were served in these cool tiki style glasses (mine even had a bloody biscuit on top!) which added to the upmarket/Mahiki feel.
When we visited we were not given any time limit for our table or made to feel like we were being rushed, the staff simply checked back in every now and then to see if we needed anything.
Little Venice and the windmills
We visited quite a few places around this area that give good views of one or both, but these two were my favourite:
Veranda is a bar in the heart of Little Venice that has a completely open seating area right on the water (what I mean by this is that the tables were placed right towards the edge and there wasn’t any kind of wall/barrier between this and the water) in addition to a regular patio seating area.
From here you can get a great view of the iconic windmills of Mykonos town (I do have some better, more zoomed in photos, but wanted to give a realistic idea of distance for this) on one side, on the other you can enjoy the rest of the waterfront buildings that make up the Little Venice area. Coupled with the sound of the water, it’s a thoroughly nice place to stop for a leisurely drink or some nibbles.
(again, this phot isn’t zoomed in, it’s exactly how I could see it from my seat whilst leaning over a little bit). Drinks prices are fairly standard for Mykonos, between 10-20€ for an alcoholic beverage.
Is a large restaurant at the foot of the steps towards the windmills, meaning you can see them much closer up and all of Little Venice from across the bay.
Drinks prices again are fairly similar to Veranda, though here I chose to have fresh pomegranate juice (fresh juices seemed to be a thing in Mykonos Town and I’m here for it) which was about 8€. We also enjoyed quite a large lunch here, with the average Mail meal costing 15-20€.
There are two key differences to this location to be mindful of over Veranda – if you sit close to the sea front (it’s across a small beach shielded by a low white wall) there’s no cover so can get extremely hot, secondly it attracts co start foot traffic from people visiting the windmills, walking to Little Venice and taking endless photos.
Relaxed romance above Mykonos Town – Karavaki
For our last night we booked a table at this restaurant, which is part of the Vencia hotel. Stepping out on to the lower level terrace and seated at our table, we greeted with a birds eye view of the whitewashed houses below us. The sun was setting as we arrived, although we didn’t have a perfect vantage point as we did at The Garden it was still really beautiful.
Food here was a little more pricey than other places we’d been – we paid 120€ for two starters, mains, one dessert and three alcoholic drinks (drinks wee average Mykonos prices) which is similar to if you were dining somewhere in Central London.
The views were great, the quality of the food was great, the service was great, so we felt it was money well spent.
Top tips for getting the best views
- Book in advance, either on resort or before you travel if you’re that organised. If you’re not comfortable e-mailing or calling yourself because of language barriers, staff at your accommodation will probably be happy to assist as they did with us.
- Be tactical about the times you visit – check what time sunset is going to be so you can allow time to fully watch it set, perhaps consider visiting places for food at less busy times of day such as breakfast time. A lot of cruise ships dock in Mykonos too which can make these extras extremely busy, so it may be worth checking the official cruise schedule to see how ships are in port on any given day.
- If you’re chancing walking into a venue without booking, have a quick look at the seating before you choose your spot to make sure it’s not in the ‘splash zone’ (I unfortunately found this out the hard way) if there’s a seat available right at the front but the place is already busy, think about why others haven’t sat there first!
- If you do get lucky enough to sit right at the front, particularly to one side, be prepared for other tourists to be constantly standing very close to you or shimmying down the side of your table to take photos. This has the potential to be quite annoying since you e planned in advance to be there and paid for food/drink in order for your prime spot where they haven’t, but as long as you’re aware and manage your expectations accordingly it’s usually fine.
if you’re heading to Mykonos I hope this is able to help give you a head start on your holiday research!
Thanks for reading,
J xx
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Is Nanoblading right for you?
About 9 months after I had my last microblading treatment (you can read about my microblading experience in full here) my eyebrows had considerably faded, to the point where I was back to using product in them each day. It was time to get booking in the next round of procedures. But this time I wasn’t 100% certain that the same procedure was the right thing for me and my awkward ass skin. So I did a little exploring to see what other options were out there.
During my research stumbled across nanoblading, which I thought could be a good technique to consider.
What’s the difference?
Nanoblading involves a tattoo machine making precise brow strokes, but these can be applied in various different directions to produce a fuller and even more natural looking result. With microblading the hair strokes are applied using a manual needle (i.e. No machine to power it) but the strokes only go one way. It still gives a more realistic look, but is restricted due to technique.
My new brow kween
For my next round of treatment, I went to see Lesley Wilks. I was impressed by her website and treatments lists in the first instance (she also does LVL and dermaplaning which are other treatments I want to explore this year) however after my initial consultation (and a wee bit of Instagram stalkin) I discovered that she has quite the client list! As well as many loyal locals she regularly travels to give treatments to celebrities, which recently included Scary Spice herself, Ms Melanie B.
I think all this means I was in pretty good hands!
I want to make it clear that I have no issue with my previous brow lady whatsoever,I didn’t return to her for 2 reasons. Firstly, because she doesn’t do nanoblading and I wanted to explore this as a alternative to a simple top up, secondly because she only works part time and her hours are simply not compatible with times I can be free around my current job.
Initial consultation
Lesley invited me to her salon for an initial consultation a few days after reaching out to her for advice, and we had a pretty in depth chat. I told her all about what I’d had done before, why I felt it didn’t 100% work for me and what I was hoping for from my new next round of procedures.
I found Lesley both very reassuring and honest – she explained what she thought would stand the best chance of working for me this time around, however she was also very clear that this came with no guarantees as ton how my skin would take to it, whether hairstyles would remain perfect and how long the pigment may last on skin before further procedures may be required.
From this consultation, we concluded that nanoblading would indeed be the best route to take, and booked the treatment in for 3 weeks later.
The transformation
After microblading and before nanoblading
I was warned in advance that the discomfort level was a teeny bit higher with this procedure, so I was given a few minutes of pre-numbing cream to help ease this. I look so pretty…
During the treatment my eye area kept flickering involuntarily which could have hindered the straightness of the strokes, but luckily it didn’t seem to. I could have opened my eyes, and at times it felt like they were just going to fly open, however I was paranoid about seeing what was going on (there was really no need to be worried and the tattoo gun was above my eye line and I wouldn’t have seen anything)
After treatment 1
As you can see they look pretty full and textured, this is because of the multi-directional strokes nanoblading can create. Lesley also did add in a few microblading strokes to help create depth to the overall look.
Pain-wise, nanoblading nicks a little more so can be a little more painful before numbing. If you have a low pain threshold like me, you’re going to need to find a way to go to a happy place and breathe through it at points, but it’s bearable. The sensation and noise also feels different – like a bee buzzing around you and a vibration the same as any tattoo gun feels.
Aftercare and healing
As wit microblading you’re not supposed to get your brow area wet or sweaty for the first couple of weeks after the treatment. During this time I also made sure to sleep on my back so that I reduced the risk of areas rubbing away during the scabbing process.
You’re not going to believe this, but I managed to f**k it up within 24 hours. I completely misheard Lesley’s instructions, and gave them a firm but gentle wipe with a damp cotton pad the following day before applying tattoo nourishing jelly (which is really good btw). I wasn’t supposed to do that! Luckily paranoid me had already sent a little video to Lesley to ask her how I was doing, to which she politely but firmly told me to never do that again and just use the jelly. Shit.
I genuinely thought I’d effed up good and proper here, but luckily it wasn’t a problem. Lesley very kindly let me pop in on Day 5 so that she could have a little look at them and give them a good firm clean for me. That way, I could leave them to heal for the next 5 weeks until I saw her again.
After 6 days
Treatment 2
(I’m a bit rubbish and forgot to get proper photos of this stage)
Because my skin had taken to this treatment much better than microblading there wasn’t much additional work needed in the second appointment – the left tail needed some redefinition as it had faded more (this is the side I sleep on so I thought that this might happen as it did with microblading) as well as the bulbs with that being a problem area. Because I’m quite cool toned and that’s how the colour had taken on my skin, Lesley used a slightly warmer shade to add a bit of extra depth.
For the aftercare treatment this time I got a creamier formula that was like moisturiser to apply sparingly for the first few days after the procedure. After that it was just the usual keep ’em dry for two weeks and then go about normal business.
After treatment 2 with 7 weeks healing
What’s the verdict?
They’re blooming brilliant! The colour is stronger and the overall shape has been redefined. The bulb section has held so much better than it did with microblading, although the defined lines still don’t seem to want to take in this area they still look better than they did before. I definitely struggled with pain more during this procedure because of my low pain threshold, but I’m prepared to tough it out again for the end result.
So, is nanoblading for you?
Possibly. I’ve learnt that no one procedure is right for everybody – we all have different skin that changes and accepts/rejects the things done to it differently. Just because it’s cool and looks fire on one person doesn’t mean it will on anyone. It could be the best option for you, or one of the many others could be a better fit.
Cost
I paid £395 for the procedure and 1 top up, which was £50 more than I paid for microblading (1 treatment and up to 2 top ups). This was paid in 2 installments – £100 in advance at the consultation to secure the first appointment which was non refundable, the remaining £295 was paid at the end of treatment one. There was nothing to be paid at treatment two.
I perceive there to be more work involved in the nanoblading procedure, both in terms of the amount of strokes made and the additional placement precision, so I was happy with this small uplift in cost to get a better result.
My advice if you’re considering more percent brow solutions
- Visit a reputable practitioner that offers a variety of procedures. If you have choice you have options, and if you have options you’re going to stand the best chance of being pleased with the result.
- Be open an honest in discussing what you want from your procedure – how you want the end result to look, details of any previous experiences etc. This gives your practitioner the best chance of recommending the best way forward.
- Ask questions and make sure you 100% understand exactly what you need to do before you leave the salon. Write them down and say them back out loud to be clear.
Thanks for reading,
J xx
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7 Outfits I wore in Mykonos
Items gifted in this post are marked with a *If you follow me on social media (if not, feel free to head over and do it now) you’ll have clocked that I’ve recently been on holiday to Mykonos. Last week I shared one of activities I enjoyed there, this week I’m giving a little roundup of a selection of my vacay outfits (there were more than this, but I spent a solid 90% of the time looking like a hot sweaty mess so couldn’t get any more pictures). Enjoy!
Out Of Office mode: activated
Jumpsuit, New Look (Sold out)
Heading on holiday and set for a day of travelling, I wanted to wear something bright but comfortable. I have a few of these soft culottes jumpsuits fro NL and wear them all the time out of work, and this one felt the most holiday (it’s been on my Instagram feed before). The only downside of this look is that I was wearing a new bra that put my boobs where they’re supposed to be, and it lead to me nearly popping out for the entire day…oops!
JC the explorer
T-shirt*, Truffle Shuffle / Shorts, Boohoo / Sliders, Adidas
for my first full day exploring I wanted to be comfortable, so I went for an entirely light material outfit. The shorts I’ve had since last year in Santorini and found them great for walking around in the heat (a bit easier than denim shorts which are rougher and could be uncomfortable) so figured they’d be a good shout, and paired them with this adorable yet funky Stitch t-shirt (you can see the print better on the second pic). The t-shirt also has a front knot as a design feature which meant there was no need for tucking in (less bulky and more ventilation) and that created an nice line break between the pieces. Footwear was a simple choice – plain black, good grip and comfortable to wear, they are my holiday hero item.
Blending in with the scenery
Dress, Dorothy Perkins / Sandals, Next (Same style different colour here)Cards on the table with this one – I was on the DP website browsing for holiday dresses, saw this and thought “oooh, that’ll look really nice in a ‘gram pic with the flowers” and I was right! It’s jersey material so lightweight, I often gravitate towards skater and Bardot styles as I feel they’re most comfortable and flattering. The sandals were a birthday gift from my mum to stop me stealing her pair – they’re woven with pink/green/blue/tan pieces and were a perfect match as well as being super comfy. I also had a natural colour Topshop basket bag over my shoulder (the one everyone lost their minds over in 2018 and an item I used every single day)
Always room for a versatile jumpsuit
Jumpsuit, ASOS / Sliders, Adidas / Sunglasses, Noughts and Kisses
jumpsuits are definitely my jam for a bit of a lazy styling opportunity – I wore this one a couple of times for a daytime boat trip (dressed down with sliders, shades and hair up) and out for dinner (dressed up with heels, handbag and red lippy)
Florals, florals and more more florals
Dress, Dorothy Perkins / Sunglasses, ASOSThis is what I wore when I visited the Vioma vineyard from my last post. I didn’t want to go completely casual but also didn’t want to dress up as it was very hot. This dress is light jersey so was very comfy and has the skater shape I like, it also reminded me of the patchwork Topshop dress that’s sold out everywhere but would mean I could wear a bra (the Topshop one has an open back). I’ve also had this dress in a black Daisy print for a while, which I adore.
Be more Greece?
Jumpsuit, ASOS (also available in Curve and Petite) / Shoes, Dorothy Perkins (Similar here) / Sunglasses, ASOS
another cards on the table look; spotted browsing on ASOS I thought “wow, this is like Greece in an outfit, think how cool it’d look in photos!”. I was definitely right, however getting a good photo proved problematic so this was the only one close to making the cut. Immediately after this I marched down the path behind me to get some shots on the white stones near a blue door, unfortunately I was hit by an errant wave en route which put paid to my mission.
Travel home
T-shirt*, Truffle Shuffle / Skirt, Dorothy Perkins (Similar here) / Sliders, Adidas / Sunglasses, Boohoo
I wasn’t sure what weather was going to be like in the UK (it had been warm and sunny, but it’s been so erratic lately that could’ve changed) and still wanted to be comfy for travel, so I kept it simple with a denim skirt and tee combo. The slogan above Dumbo reads ‘don’t just fly, soar’ which felt appropriate for taking a plane trip!
Hope you enjoyed having a nosey and getting some outfit inspo for any sunny trips you have coming up.
Thanks for reading,
J xx
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A visit to Mykonos Vioma Farm and Winery*
Items in this post were gifted or provided at a discounted rate, I also spent some of my own money on items shown. All opinions are completely my own.
Welcome to my first Mykonos post!
After thoroughly enjoying our wine tasting experience in Santorini last year, the Mr and I were keen to see if we could do something similar on this years Greek adventure, and after a bit of research we came across Mykonos Vioma Farm and Vineyard. A family business established in the countryside of Mykonos (yes, there’s more to the island than the white pebbled streets and windmills!) that offered the opportunity it’s chill out, drink some wine and try some local nibbles. Sold.
We travelled to the Vioma partly by local bus (from Mykonos Town to Ano Mera which took about 15 minutes and cost 1,80€ per person) and the rest by taxi (this took about another 10 minutes and cost 17€. It is walkable in about 25minutes but it was hot and we didn’t know the way, alternatively if you contact Vioma in advance they can arrange return transfers from Ano Mera for 5€) .
The vineyard is only open to visit until 5pm, so unlike last year we visited around lunch time. We started things off with a tour of the property by Marianna, the daughter of the owner. The farm and vineyard are organic, so their approach and their appearance is quite different from other vineyards but was really interesting to hear about how they do things. They also try their best to adhere to a zero waste policy as much as they possibly can, which is fantastic to hear from a small family business. They also shared that they used a more unusual method to grow and cultivate their vines – they have placed speakers throughout the property that play classical music . Totally true; we saw the speakers and heard the music for ourselves!
We also got to meet some of the farm animals including the beautiful and gentle donkey, chickens, goats and a sheep. There are also 5 dogs kept as pets on the property which were wandering about everywhere during our visit and were very friendly to stroke and interact with (as I’m not allowed a dog at home, this part was a lovely extra treat for me!
(just as an FYI – many of the farm animals are likely to be in pens during visiting hours, this is to protect the grass and herbs/vegetables being grown on the property but we were advised that there are periods of the day they can have some time out and many months where they have free reign over the property. They all looked healthy and were happy to interact and take food from us)We were also able to see the storage and furnace for the grapes , which this guy is carved into the side of – Dionysus, Olympic God of wine, vegetation, pleasure, festivity, madness and wild frenzy. Definitely the right person to be watching over it!
Now time to chill. We took a seat in the dining area with a birds eye view across the grounds and the Mykonian countryside. Bring on the wine and nibbles!
There’s a small menu to order both food and drink from, so you can really tailor your experience. We chose to order a rich garden plate which costs 26€ (there are a variety of options that vary in size and price, the most expensive being about 44€) and included a selection of local and ‘farm to plate’ produce including salad, meats, cheeses and breads. As these wee served to us Marianna gave us a walk through of everything on our plate and explained what it was, where it had come from and any history it had within Mykonian culture.
It was all delicious, I loved everything on the plate equally and (best of all) The Mr let me have most of the cheese.
Also – I’m not quite sure if you can see well in the above photo, but each table was painted with a different colourful image of Mykonian culture, which is a quirky and cute touch.
So, let’s talk wine. We went for the four wine tasting; a single glass of wine cost between 5-6€ so this is better value and allows you to taste a few varieties of wine on offer. First up was the white, which we enjoyed with our food…
Next came the rose…
The red…
Finishing off with a lovely little dessert wine
What I liked about this tasting compared to my Santorini experience is that the wines were brought out at different times rather than all at once, meaning they we served and drank at the right temperature and weren’t left out in the heat. The staff asked us when we were ready for the next glass rather than bringing it out to a set schedule which meant that we never once felt rushed could just relax and enjoy the surroundings. The wine measures were pretty decent too at around 175ml for the first three and smaller for the dessert wine as measures are a bit different for this.
All wines available to drink on the day are also available to buy from then vineyard, I think this was priced at around 7-10€ per bottle.
This was a lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon – we got to try some yummy fresh food, try lovely local wine and got a little extra Mykonian history and culture thrown in for good measure. If you like to take things at a gentler pace on holiday and relax but still want to have some time off from the beach or pool, this is definitely one for your to do list if you’re heading to Mykonos. We were there for about three hours but a trip could be longer or shorter depending on how much time you have and how much wine you want to drink.
You don’t have to book your visit to the Vioma but I would advise getting in touch to give them a heads up as to when you’d like to go – as Mykonos is a popular cruise destination there are certain days were they have an increased number of visitors which makes the place super busy (Marianna was kind enough to advise of which dates during our stay would be busy so we picked a day that avoided this, there were about another 10 tourists visiting at the same time as us).
Thanks to Marianna and the lovely team at Vioma for hosting us as part of our Greek getaway!
Thanks for reading,
J xx
About Me
I’m Jenny, nice to meet you. I’m a thirty-something who likes fashion, holidays and wondering about life. A lot.
