Sunnier times past... and not far off now 🌞

It's a rainy, cold Monday in June. Yes, I also expected to be sipping negronis into the sunset on a rooftop somewhere impossibly chic, but I'm feeling optimistic. This weekend, the sun's back in London and so am I. Shall we make it a date?

It's spring! 🌸 Blossoms are here and so are sunnier skies. Of course there'll be rainy afternoons too but that's what gallery visits and pauses in coffee shops are for, right? 🖼️☕️

“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it… Joy is not made to be a crumb.” Mary Oliver – from “Don’t Hesitate” What makes you feel joy? #photography #humpday

What's your bedroom music hot take? Drop your thoughts in the replies. Are playlists sexy or silly? What's the worst song that's ever killed the mood? Let's discuss (and maybe laugh about our most cringe music moments).

Shameless plug time! I've created my ultimate bedroom playlist that I think avoids all the shuffle disasters - no awkward tempo changes, no lyrics that'll put your flow on pause, just (about) 60 minutes of perfectly curated vibes.

Maybe there's no wrong answer here. Whether you're team playlist or team au naturel, what matters most is that you feel confident and connected with your partner. The right soundtrack is whatever makes you feel like your best, bad-arse self.

And in a way, it can create pressure to perform on a timeline. What happens when the playlist ends, do we just stop, too, or put Portishead back on shuffle?

But what if all of that thinking pulls you out of the moment? Nothing kills the mood like that nagging worry of whether or not my lover thinks I have good taste or not! (I'm pretty sure I do, but we're talking in *theory* here)

I adore the idea of putting thought into a special moment by creating the mood: the choice of a soundtrack can be just as deliberate as the sheets I put on the bed or the scent I wear.

On one hand, there are some songs that are a total confidence boost. I've definitely taken notes from Ari Lennox, commanding her beau to "kiss it for me" in 'Chocolate Pomegranate'.

Ok, music lovers: it's getting to that time of the year. But if you're anything like me, does your Spotify Wrapped revealing your "intimate moments" playlist has 47 plays have you feeling a little inauthentic?

🍁 Discover my hot spots for a discreet date in London. Autumn's the best time to get lost in the city together. All the details are here on my blog: alonewithlola.com/embracing-au... 🍂