Blogs j'adore: Living Reflection of a Dream

Two weeks after receiving the email, I've decided to finally share with you, the third installment of Blogs j'adore! As soon as Sophie's name appeared under 'followers', I was instantly captivated by her blog. Named after one of my favorite Zeppelin tunes, and always quoting an awesome number, each post bubbles over with sensational icons -- usually dating from the 60's and adorned with stylish get-ups. As one of the handful of bloggers I can't wait to virtually visit, Sophie was a given choice for numéro trois. Now enjoy her titillating answers, most of which could have come from my own mouth! It truly is a Living Reflection of a Dream, xo.

Name: Sophie

Blog: Living Reflection of a Dream

Location: South Wales, UK

Occupation: Lover

What to expect upon viewing your blog: Anything and everything.

Three favorite artists that started their recording career before 1980: The Who, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Three favorite artists that are actively recording: Arctic Monkeys, The Stereophonics and Pendulum

Five favorite songs of the moment, any era (Title, artist, album, and year of release): "Brain Damage"- Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, 1973: "The March of the Black Queen"- Queen, Queen II, 1974: "Wasn't Born to Follow"- The Byrds, The Notorious Byrd Brothers, 1968: "20 Dollar"- M.I.A., Kala, 2007: "Lovely Rita"- The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967.

Five favorite albums of all time, off the cuff (Album, artist, year of release): Shout at the Devil - Motley Crue, 1983: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1969: The White Album - The Beatles, 1968: Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin, 1971: Who's Next - The Who, 1971.

Five favorite films of all time (Title, director, year of release): Weird Science - John Hughes, 1985: Gladiator - Ridley Scott, 2000: Robin Hood (Disney) - Wolfgang Reitherman, 1973: Almost Famous - Cameron Crowe, 2000: Calamity Jane - David Butler, 1953

Three favorite books of all time (Title, author, year of release): The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (It is one story so I'm counting it as one book) - J.R.R.Tolkien, 1954: Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier, 1938: The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test - Tom Wolfe, 1968.

Top two female style icons: Liv Tyler and Sienna Miller

Number one male style icon: Keith Richards

Top five crushes of all time, off the cuff: (In their prime for the first four) Keith Moon, Pete Townshend, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Joaquin Phoenix.

One deceased person you'd love to have a drink with: Janis Joplin

That person in three words: Brilliant, beautiful, missed.

Last album you listened to in it's entirety (Title, artist, year of release): Revolver - The Beatles, 1966.

Favorite quote: "I only swear at people I love… so fuck off, all of you!"- Pete Townshend

Have you ever been to the US? If so, what did you think? Unfortunately I have never been to the US but it is on my list of places to visit. You two major cities I want to visit and they are San Francisco and New York. I'm in love with both cities. I will go there one day. I would also love to visit Graceland and see the Grand Canyon. I sound like the ultimate tourist don't I?

What do you love about the UK? Tricky question. I've lived in the UK all my life and because of that, you do take for granted the things you have access too. I suppose what I most love and am proud of is the history we have here, both musically and our own history e.g. wars, kings, queens et. cetera. The music aspect, well, I could waffle on for days. We gave the world The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd....and so on. I could go on and on. I like knowing that we have such great talent in this country and produced such fantastic music all those years ago.

Secondly, the actual history of Britain is fascinating. I'm a history buff and do read a lot of history books but British history is an area I keep coming back to. We have over 2,000 years worth of history and it's so vibrant, exciting and interesting. It's very easy to get lost within it all.

Favorite blog you'd like to share with the world: http://www.whatisrealityanyway.com/


While on the topic of Brits... London, you may be finally meeting my acquaintance in a month or two. Let's hope because it's about time!!!

"This week I'm a gypsy. Maybe next week it'll be glitter rock."

"I've never turned blue in someone else's bathroom. I consider that the height of bad manners." - Keith Richards.

Keithism: The Twenty-Six Ten Commandments of Keith Richards. (Or: How Keith Richards Can Save Your Life) Excerpted from Jessica Pallington West's What Would Keith Richards Do? Daily Affirmations from a Rock 'n' Roll Survivor.


1. Know yourself.
"To me, the main thing about living on this planet is to know who the hell you are and to be real about it. That's the reason I'm still alive... I've lived my life my own way, and I'm here because I've taken the trouble to find out who I am."

2. We are all the same under the skin.
"The skull -- it has nothing to do with bravado and surface bullshit... Beauty is skin-deep. This is what we are all like under the flesh, brother. Take off the hair, pull off the skin, you're looking at I and I."

3. There are no secrets.
"I've got nothing to hide. Nothing's a state secret with me."

4. Accept the Rolling Stones as your metaphorical overload.
"There's the sun, there's the moon, there's the air we breathe, and there's the Rolling Stones."

5. The construct of the band is a model for interaction.
"Chemistry was one of those subjects in school that I was never good at... but I think it's the unknown bit -- the mysterious spark -- that does it. It's the same with the Stones. I mean, line 'em up against a wall, and they're the most unlikely good rock 'n' roll band that you could find! ... There's something to be said for a certain chemistry between people that makes for a certain kind of music."

6. Accept (or at least tolerate) your inner and outer Mick.
"Mick's rock. I'm roll."

7. Nurture your inner Charlie.
"If only Mozart had had a really good drummer..."

8. Accept your addictions, view them with humor, and leave off the guilt.
"I don't like to regret heroin because I learned a lot from it. It is something I went through and dealt with. I'd regret it if I hadn't dealt with it."

9. Make use of the music around you, your antenna, and your inner guitar.
"I don't think I write the songs; I'm an antenna. Actually, you receive the songs... You just sit around a piano or pick up a guitar, and for me, after about ten or fifteen minutes, something that I haven't heard before starts to come out, and then I just sort of put it into shape and then I transmit it, you know."

10. Put the ancient art of weaving to work.
"We had two guitars weaving around each other. We'd play these things so much that we knew both guitar parts. So when we got to the crucial point where we got it really flash, we'd suddenly switch. The lead picks up the rhythm, and the rhythm picks up the lead. It's what Ronnie and I call the ancient art of weaving. We don't even have to look at each other, almost. You can feel it."

11. Own the classics.
"Everybody starts by imitating their heroes."

12. Get out of your head and feel it.
"This is one of Ronnie's: 'Sometimes I have the feeling that thousands of people are watching me. Am I just paranoid?'If you thought about it too much it would paralyze you."

13. Even if you have to do it in secret, be kind.

14. Appreciate a nomadic life -- Even if it's within the confines of a small town.
"I like to see the ways the world's going 'round."

15. Embrace and live with both the past (the greater history) and the future (possibility).

16. The creative inhale -- Breathe in what you love.
"I snorted my father. He was cremated and I couldn't resist grinding him up with a little blow. My dad wouldn't have cared. It went down pretty well, and I'm still alive."

17. Be tough, be brave, and don't give in to the dictates of authority.
"Ever since I left school, nobody has ever heard a 'Yes sir' from me. Apart from a few exceptions: in court and in jail."

18. Value family and friends, despite the nuttiness they can provide.
"The only way you can be like me is to have a good family."

19. Speak up. Honesty is medicinal.

20. Talismans have power.

21. Accept Max Miller into your life. (Or: It's all a fucking joke. Laugh.)
"It's great to be here. It's great to be anywhere." - Max Miller

22. Experience is "the price of an education."
"Whatever happened -- even if it was a drag -- I learned lesson from it. And I got something from it... I never worried about who took who from where. I figure it's the price of an education."

23. Live and let live.

24. Shit happens.

25. When you despair, remember: There's always the future.

26. Pass it on.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! The evening is over. We hope you all enjoyed yourselves and we'll see you all again in 1974. Good evening!"

Yesterday, I bought a book called What Would Keith Richards Do? Daily Affirmations from a Rock 'n' Roll Survivor by Jessica Pallington West. It's basically a how-to on encorporating his badass no-bullshit philosophy into life. I also got a shirt for $10, which has the Eagles 1975 Rolling Stone cover on it. Despite the fact that it's a little large, it makes me happy.