the stockport hotel //

linotype // the film.

2012-02-10T19:42:00.000+08:00

linotypefilm

Linotype: The Film is a feature-length documentary centered around the Linotype type casting machine. Called the Eighth Wonder of the World by Thomas Edison, it revolutionised printing and society.

The film tells the surprisingly emotional story of the people connected to the Linotype and how it impacted the world.

This documentary is definitely one way I'd love to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon! Visit Linotype's website and twitter.

gold-tipped feathers.

2012-02-09T18:51:00.000+08:00

bleubird

Images from James and Aubrey's November 2011 wedding. See more here and here.

angela stella.

2012-02-07T19:14:00.000+08:00

Aspiring fashion photographer Angela Stella's website portfolio is overflowing with photographs that are reminiscent of a simple, almost dirty, careless youth. Inspired by fashion magazines, the 1970s, vintage, diversity and old-school, Angela's images take me back to a time in my youth that I dearly miss but probably wouldn't choose to revisit.

angela stella

Visit Angela's website and flickr page.

a handwritten note.

2012-02-05T08:22:00.006+08:00

Participating here. Note inspiration found here.

alexa chung.

2012-02-04T09:05:00.001+08:00

unknown

I know people have favourite actors, musicians and authors, but is it possible to have a favourite model?

photo-a-day challenge // february 2012.

2012-01-31T18:09:00.000+08:00

In December last year Chantelle from Fat Mum Slim created a photo-a-day challenge for this January. Read more about it here. I had intended to take part but missed the start date and, being somewhat of a perfectionist, didn't want to join in halfway through. The response to Jan photo-a-day was huge, so Chantelle created a February version - which I intend to take part in this time!

1 // Using the list as inspiration, take a photo each day.
2 // Share it on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #FEBphotoaday. You can also share on your blog or on Facebook... or even keep the photos privately for yourself.
3 // Check out other people's photos and like them or comment on them.

Learn more about February photo-a-day and how to take part here. I'll be sharing my photos on my Twitter. Here's hoping I can stick to it and don't forget a day here or there!

my secret undercover identity.

2012-01-30T07:21:00.000+08:00

Office worker by day, gun pumpkin & raisin scone baker by night.

Participating here.

travel (un)comforts.

2012-01-29T08:50:00.000+08:00

nirrimi hakanson

I miss this. Seven months without it is too long.

louisville elopement.

2012-01-28T17:06:00.001+08:00

Jesse and Hannah of Rough Draft Farmstead tie the knot in Louisville, Kentucky.

We tried to use a lot of friends and focus on places that supported our farmer friends in Louisville. Overall, by thrifting a lot and the support of friends, the whole day cost under $1000.

My dress was made by Aryn K from a small boutique in Lexington, but everything Jesse was wearing was thrifted. I made my own bouquet/hair pieces. We stayed at the Brown Hotel in Louisville and visited amazing places with emphasis on farm-to-table and local ingredients: Hillbilly Tea, Harvest Restaurant, Louisville Beer Store.

It was a super casual day in some ways, but also really special. I am confident that we will always be able to remember every perfect detail of it... whereas I feel like most couples experience a sort of whirlwind on their wedding day after all the buildup and expectation and planning and money. It feels like a blur! Having a small and intimate wedding, even an elopement, can still be special and extra-memorable. I think in some ways it is more special. It is not for everyone, I am aware, but for us, while we are putting every penny towards our new farm and generally trying to live lives of small-impact, it just made sense.

Do what you want - not what you think is normal or expected. It is your day and about your happiness.

tim harris

I really quite like this. A lot.

breathtaking.

2012-01-25T18:11:00.000+08:00

Breathtaking beauty.
Individuality. Style.
Freedom.
Something cute, something delicate, details, your own.
Comfort in your own skin.

angela stella

but, honestly.

2012-01-23T19:16:00.001+08:00

One of the things I love about my blog is that this is a place where I choose to be positive. A place where I can put memories into words and post photographs to look back on. That said, my blog is only one aspect of my life and not the whole story. I have bad days. Some days I lack creativity and motivation. I am one side of a fight or argument. I leave the dishes in the sink, don't make the bed, can't be bothered exercising, forget to shower.

I think too often, as authors of these personal and pretty spaces, we blog about the good things and simply gloss over the bad. I'm not suggesting we focus on the negative or difficult aspects of our lives, but just that we perhaps - every now and again - acknowledge their existence. The mess, the mundane, the true reality of our day-to-day lives.

So that's what I've chosen to do today. Share, honestly.

1 // I don't wash my sheets nearly as often as I know I should. Once a week? No. Once a fortnight? No. Once a month. Um... no...

2 // My hair is so thick and heavy that living with me is kind of like living with an invisible bigfoot who leaves mysterious hairballs pretty much everywhere.

3 // Vincent rarely gets washed, largely because it's so windy and dusty in this town that he's dirty again just hours after I've chamois-ed him to sparkling perfection.

I know these few things are nowhere near the most rotten or unforgiving habits out there. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and keep quite a clean space. But they are not-so-perfectly-pretty aspects to my life, nonetheless. Share yours, if you're up for the challenge!

Participating here.

set your alarm for 6:30am.

2012-01-20T17:49:00.000+08:00

julianbialowas

1 // Set your alarm for 6:30am. Don't groan when it goes off and pull the covers over your head - get up and start your day.
2 // Put on a top and running shorts. Go downstairs and pour yourself a nice big glass of ice water.
3 // Go outside. Stretch for 5 minutes. Walk for 30 minutes. When you get back do 50 situps.
4 // Get in the shower. Use a nice smelling shampoo and matching conditioner. Shave your legs and wash your body. Exfoliate your face.
5 // Get out of the shower and look in the mirror. Do you like what you see? If you do, good for you. Do this every day and you will continue to love yourself. If you don't like what you see, do this every day and pretty soon you will.

Being lazy might feel good at the time, but being active feels better in the long run.
How badly do you want it?

hearblack.

2012-01-19T17:35:00.000+08:00

Every now and again I come across a blog that is so beautiful in its simplicity that it almost knocks the breath out of me. Nathan and Katie's little space on the internet, HEARBLACK, is one such blog. It has such an honest, clean, ethereal quality to it and I find it immensely inspiring.

I love how they describe it as, "...an outlet for creativity; a place where we share photos of the people we love, and the things that we enjoy most." It's what a blog should humbly be at its heart, isn't it?

I encourage you to check out HEARBLACK. Today!

hearblack

the beauty project.

2012-01-17T17:35:00.003+08:00

I missed the cut-off date for Carly's Beauty Project, but to be completely honest it's likely I wouldn't have taken part anyway. Not because I'm afraid or ashamed, but I do prefer to keep certain things (such as photos of my body) contained to my blog rather than spread out all over blog land. So I thought I might share my 'submission' here, instead.

1 // Send in a photo of yourself.
2 // State your favourite physical feature and tell us why you love this part of yourself.
3 // Then state something you love about yourself that's not physical.

My favourite physical feature(s) are my shoulders. They're broad, strong and covered in freckles (I embrace my freckles!). They're noticeably broad enough that when I was a toddler my dad would refer to me as "Amazon baby" whenever I apparently came crashing through our bush backyard.

My favourite non-physical feature is my willingness to give almost anything new a go, as long as it's not clearly dangerous or life-threatening.

If you want to join in and write your own post-cut-off-date Beauty Project post, please leave your link as a comment so I can check it out! See the completed project and all submissions here.

today symbolises...

2012-01-16T07:25:00.000+08:00

...the beginning of my long-awaited journey towards achieving these.

click photos for source

maximalism.

2012-01-15T09:36:00.000+08:00

trendland

Isn't it so irresistibly loud?

Scandinavian minimalism has ruled interior design for such a long time. Vaguely modern, but earthy, warm, white, wood... a pop of colour here or there. It's classic, so it's bound to stand the test of time, but I'd love to see maximalism (in interior decoration terms) elbow its way in proudly and shout, "Check me out, you guys!"

These are photos of English model Agyness Deyn's loft. I admit it's surely too busy for my personal taste, but doesn't it have personality? Style, guts, substance? Imagine attending a party or dinner at a place like this!

tuvalu.

2012-01-14T09:43:00.001+08:00

angela stella

Author // anonymous

A businessman was at the pier of the small Tuvaluan island when a boat with a fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were fish. The businessman complimented the Tuvaluan on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The fisherman replied, "Only a little while."

The businessman then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish? The Tuvaluan said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The businessman then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" The Tuvaluan fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a nap with my wife Puna, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitars with my friends; I have a full and busy life."

The businessman scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. You could sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would need to leave this small fishing island-nation and move to Australia, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise."

The Tuvaluan fisherman asked, "But how long will this all take?"
To which the businessman replied, "15 to 20 years."
"But what then, sir?"
The businessman laughed and said, "That's the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and make millions, flying around on your own corporate jet!"
"Millions, sir? Then what?"
The businessman said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing island where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a nap with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your friends."

The fisherman, smiling, looked up and said, "Isn't that what I'm doing right now?"

thirty day song challenge: days xxi-xxv.

2012-01-13T10:25:00.002+08:00

I saw the thirty day song challenge on Facebook and although I assume you're supposed to post the corresponding song for the day on your Facebook profile, I've chosen to take a bit of a different approach and split all thirty songs up into groups of five and post them sporadically on my blog.

Here are days twenty-one to twenty-five...

21 // a song that you listen to when you're happy

She & Him's In The Sun. Just watch the video. You'll understand.

22 // a song that you listen to when you're sad

This is my favourite song from Florence + the Machine and I love this live version. Whenever I'm feeling a little down I put this video on and it always lifts my mood. She has the most incredible voice of any female vocalist I've ever heard and I love the passion she has for the music in this video.

23 // a song that you can play on an instrument

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to learn the drums. My dad used to mess around on the drums as a lad and he'd tell me stories about The Who drummer Keith Moon and his unusual style of drumming. Unfortunately I'm not much of a musical individual, so the only instrument I ever learnt to play was the recorder (I'm sure every Australian schoolchild remembers the recorder) as well as a few notes here and there on the piano. Therefore the only song I can legitimately play on any instrument is - you guessed it - chopsticks.

24 // a song that you wish you could play

Paul McCartney wrote Blackbird about the civil rights struggle for blacks after reading about race riots in the US. He penned it in his kitchen in Scotland not long after Little Rock, when the federal courts forced the racial desegregation of the Arkansas capital's school system.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl told Q magazine that he feels this is the greatest Paul McCartney song. He commented, "It's such a beautiful piece of music, perfect in composition and performance, and in its lyrics and in the range of his voice. Just learning that song made me a better guitar player and gave me a better appreciation of songwriting. To me it's just musical bliss."

25 // a song that makes you laugh

I love so many Flight of the Conchords songs (Hurt Feelings, Most Beautiful Girl in the Room and of course Business Time), but I think my favourite might have to be Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros. I love Jemaine, he's absolutely hilarious. "Did Steve tell you that, perchance? Steve..." and "Be more constructive with your feedback, please."

Days one to five: here.
Days six to ten: here.
Days eleven to fifteen: here.
Days sixteen to twenty: here.

jewellery cluster.

2012-01-08T17:38:00.000+08:00

design shimmer

New blog design tweaks. New inspiration. Happy weekend!

A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful. - Karl Kraus.

i love this lady!

2012-01-07T10:18:00.001+08:00

I smiled almost the whole way through this video.

I sometimes stand on the street and I see people pass by with the most incongruous things. I think we live in a time where advertising has taken over and everybody wants a new thing. And they must have it. But if you don't have it, we're not going to die. It's a wonderful thing not to need to have something. - Ilona Royce Smithkin.

ten weeks.

2012-01-06T13:32:00.000+08:00

joanne coyle

top five regrets.

2012-01-03T17:38:00.004+08:00

I read the top five regrets of the dying from the Arise India Forum some time ago but came across it again today. I want to share it here because it's possibly one of the most powerful articles I've ever read.

It's the start of a new year. Be inspired.

delightfully tacky

Author // anonymous nurse

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected: denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though - every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1 // I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2 // I wish I didn't work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities - ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3 // I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4 // I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks - love and relationships.

5 // I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

newspaper nail art.

2012-01-02T16:24:00.003+08:00

I happened upon this little tutorial on how to create newspaper print nail art on Pinterest last week and decided to try it out today. It was a lot easier and quicker than I thought it would be!

The original instructions:

1 // Put on a base coat first.
2 // Paint on a light grey nail polish and let dry.
3 // Dip fingernails into rubbing alcohol one at a time for five seconds.
4 // Press a strip of newspaper onto your alcohol soaked nail.
5 // Pull off slowly and be really impressed with yourself.
6 // Use a cotton bud and nail polish remover to clean skin around nail area.
7 // Paint on a clear top coat.

Mine turned out pretty nicely for a first go!

I used Opi French Quarter For Your Thoughts as it was the lightest grey I could find, but next time I think I'll use a French beige as I don't particularly fancy coloured polishes on my fingernails. I'll also go ahead and skip the base coat next time too because when using a light varnish colour I personally find base coats rather pointless.

Regarding the actual process, I got the best results when I quickly shook my hand to flick off any excess rubbing alcohol from my nail and pressed the newspaper strip on immediately. Don't let the alcohol start drying on your nail (this happens within seconds) otherwise the newspaper will stick. Just flick, press the paper on, pull it off.

I'm thinking comic strips next time!

dance like nobody's watching.

2012-01-01T07:47:00.003+08:00

This is my new year's resolution.

a good year for goals.

2011-12-31T07:54:00.002+08:00

On January 1 this year I wrote a new year's resolution list, of sorts. I don't usually make new years resolutions. I've always been of the opinion that you don't need to wait until January 1 to make changes in your life, whether big or small. However, this year I decided to pick a few things from my Thirty before 30 list and compile them into a mini-list just for 2011. So they weren't new year's resolutions per say but existing goals that I wanted to work harder to achieve throughout the year.

On January 1, the list looked like this:

Start playing beach volleyball again.
Get two new pairs of glasses.
Get fit and maintain a healthy weight.
Go to California again to visit my friends.
Take a dance class.
Dye my hair red.
Manage my headaches and maintain treatment.
Complete a meditation short course.
Ride in a hot air balloon.

This year, I managed to achieve three of those goals: get two new pairs of glasses, get fit and maintain a healthy weight and go to California again to visit my friends.

There were circumstances that prevented me from achieving a few of the goals, such as money restraints and certain activities being unavailable, but you know what? That's life. I approached this mini-list with the attitude that although I would aim to achieve all nine goals, I didn't have to reach them all.

Each new year brings with it new challenges and I'm faced with circumstances that I may not have planned for. Life is ever-changing. Therefore, my Thirty before 30 list is active and ever-changing according to where I'm currently at in my life and what my dreams and aspirations are.

But above all else I try to remember that what I consider the most important goal for my life, long term, is to live simply, sustainably and joyfully.

storytelling in thirty photos: part two.

2011-12-30T08:00:00.007+08:00

I've seen this on a few blogs I follow so I thought I'd join in. It's basically just thirty prompts you answer with a corresponding photo. Thirty is quite a hefty amount, so I decided to break it up into two posts with fifteen photos in each. Find part one here.

16 // an unusual picture

New(ish) work boots!

17 // a picture of my spare time

18 // a picture of people who are closest to me

My mum and younger sister.

19 // a picture of a person who is always there

Sam and Louise.

20 // a picture of a time in life I miss

An old friend and I at a house party, 2005.

21 // a picture from last summer

Sam and Louise's Christmas visit, December 2010.

22 // a picture that makes me sad

23 // a picture I always laugh about

Both of these shots of the girls during high school always make me chuckle. There's a third photo of the two of them posing in sunglasses, but they'd kill me if I posted it.

24 // a crazy picture

Leanne and I, Kalbarri 2003.

25 // latest picture of myself

26 // a picture of my parents at my age

Circa 1978. Dad was 30, mum 22. I'm 26 currently, so this is a good average.

27 // a picture from the best days of my life

Gap year in Geraldton, 2003.

28 // a picture from my favourite vacation

California, March 2011.

29 // a picture of an accomplishment

Losing 25 kilos [55 pounds].

30 // a picture I'm satisfied with

the problem with pinterest.

2011-12-28T16:55:00.006+08:00

I joined Pinterest earlier this year because I wanted one central place to collect any inspiring images I came across without having to store them all on my laptop like I'd been doing. I treat Pinterest like an online inspiration scrapbook or reminder corkboard. Most of the time I pin images that I want to refer back to later for inspiration or DIY tutorials.

I have six boards so far: fashion, hair, accessories, beauty, tattoos and, yes, a wedding board.

There's been a bit of talk recently about Pinterest and how it's a bad influence for young women, especially in regards to imaginary future wedding aspirations. Thousands of women are collecting images on their Pinterest boards of their 'dream wedding', despite not yet being engaged or even having a boyfriend to get married to. How can a woman plan her dream wedding when there isn't even a groom? I understand that most women fantasise about one day getting married and can't help but imagine what their wedding might be like, but to plan it down to the last detail on Pinterest is somewhat unnerving to me. It's entirely unrealistic and, in my opinion, kind of unhealthy.

My wedding board exists because there are a few elements that are important to me that I want to document. It's realistic and it's unplanned. Women are always going to consider wedding elements that they favour, Pinterest or not (hell, we all do it when we attend someone else's wedding!). But Pinterest is a tool that takes a few harmless preferences and turns them into unrealistic plans and heartbreaking goals.

The other issue with Pinterest that I wanted to address is the countless boards dedicated to body envy. Images of slim, toned, tanned, hourglass-shaped women are being pinned as inspiration for weight loss and fitness. Some, but few, of these images show healthy women in various states of exercise. Most are of skinny women in bikinis or underwear, many emaciated. This is what our young women are striving to be, and Pinterest is the perfect tool.

I'm not suggesting Pinterest be closed down. These images will be shared regardless, one way or another. I guess just knowing that there are so many women so unhappy with their bodies, with such low self esteem... it's so disheartening.

And that's the problem with Pinterest.

minimalism.

2011-12-27T22:41:00.004+08:00

julianbialowas

Tonight I read a post that I wrote back in August this year. I wrote it spontaneously one night after being inspired by a series of photos I stumbled across by a flickr user. It's one of my very favourite posts that I've ever written on this blog because it comes directly from my heart and it truly describes who I am and what I crave.

In that post I wrote, "[I] crave the simple life. A simpler life than I have now, if that's even possible."

I've identified as a minimalist for several years now. Living the minimalistic lifestyle wasn't really something I made a conscious decision to pursue or follow - I've always lived a rather simple, straightforward life and was never one for unnecessary material possessions or living in excess. But as the years went by, I recognised that the natural way that I approach life and the things that I value are in harmony with the minimalistic lifestyle. And as time went on, I wanted less things in my life in order to get more out of it. I started to truly follow the minimalistic way of life.

Minimalism isn't about owning the least amount of material possessions as possible. It's about ridding your life of the unnecessary in order to focus on what's really important and what you truly value. I've always lived light, travelled light and kept my life stress and clutter-free because that's what comes naturally to me. And the more I simplify and minimise, the lighter and freer I feel. I'm more confident, motivated and energetic. I value the things that I do have more. This includes both material possessions and non-physical things like friendships and my health.

My greatest passion is travel, experience and adventure. Even if I'm not physically going anywhere, I crave an almost-constant state of freedom. I feel tied down, weighted, when I own too many things and have too many responsibilities and obligations. My joy is found in the freedom of possibility. Minimalism helps me maintain that and achieve it.

To know that you only own what you need and what you really love is a very freeing feeling. I encourage you to think about it. Go here to read a FAQ on minimalism and the minimalistic way of life.

what if...

2011-12-25T08:42:00.001+08:00

And the Grinch, with his Grinch feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. - Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

storytelling in thirty photos: part one.

2011-12-24T11:42:00.000+08:00

I've seen this on a few blogs I follow so I thought I'd join in. It's basically just thirty prompts you answer with a corresponding photo.

I don't keep all of my digital photos from the beginning of time on my computer. I print out the best ones and put them into photo albums, keep my very favourites on my hard drive and delete the rest. Yes, I delete my digital photos. Never to be seen again. So when completing projects like this one I need to scan many of my photos! It doesn't bother me though, as I like the 'authentic' look of scanned photos.

Thirty is quite a hefty amount, so I decided to break it up into two posts with fifteen photos in each.

1 // someone I spend a lot of time with

Ramsey. Very little face-to-face time, but time nonetheless.

2 // a picture of myself

3 // a picture of someone in the family

My dad, Christmas 2010.

4 // a picture of something that makes me happy

Fog in Long Beach, March 2011.

5 // an old picture of myself

Angry with my laptop! Summer 2007.

6 // a picture of a sibling

My sister pulling a face, just for something different.

7 // a class photo

Grade 12 ball, autumn 2002.

8 // a random photo of me and my significant other

9 // a picture I’ve never posted before

Sam and I in Sale, Victoria, July 2011.

10 // a relative of mine

My mum's sister Les and her (6'6") son Tom.

11 // a person I can tell everything to

12 // a picture from everyday life

Typical view from my daily walk.

13 // a picture from a place I love

Long Beach, California.

14 // a picture that reminds me of old times

Gap year in Geraldton, 2003.

15 // a picture from a great night

Louise and Jake's wedding, January 2007.

I'll post the second half next week!

moving forward.

2011-12-23T08:34:00.003+08:00

I received some very good news on Tuesday.

News that allows me to properly settle into my new home, gives me stability and very likely allows me the opportunity to travel overseas in March.

liis klammer

I secured a job at a very well regarded electrical company in town. Full time. Good pay. All the benefits. I start in January and even though it's in an industry that I'm familiar with (the blue collar service industry), the position of full time administration is new to me and I still have a lot to learn.

Twenty-four days until my next major challenge. Sixty-nine (or eighty-seven?) days until my next adventure.

little elephants.

2011-12-20T16:10:00.001+08:00

I often ask people what their three favourite animals are. Mainly just for fun, but it also reveals quite a bit about the person, especially if you ask the reasons for choosing each animal. My favourites are the elephant, crow and polar bear.

My space is dotted with elephants. Little statues, keyrings, cushions and jewellery boxes. Earlier this year I bought an elephant print from Etsy seller Black Baroque to frame and display in my home. I didn't actually get around to doing it until today!

The elephants are printed on the page of an antique reading and writing book entitled "The Art of Writing". The page was too big for the space inside the frame, so I had to cut it to size. I placed the glass from the picture frame over the print and used the grid on the craft ruler to line it up.

I marked around the edge of the glass with a pencil and cut the excess off each side using a rotary cutter and cutting mat.

I placed the page inside the frame with the glass and backing board, tightened it back up and it was ready for display (after only about eleven months)!

Hm. Elephant overkill? I don't think so...

fortune favours the brave.

2011-12-19T15:02:00.002+08:00

atypical type a

Or, 'favors'.

These images are just so relevant right now. And a perfect, timely reminder. Please cross your fingers for me!

stanford & lucille breadman.

2011-12-16T16:03:00.016+08:00

I've been wanting to make a gingerbread house from scratch for months, ever since I came across this recipe by Karen of Globetrotter Diaries. The recipe calls for the dough to be prepared and then refrigerated overnight before baking, though, so I was always put off. When I do something I want to do it now, not wait a whole day and a night.

But last night I took another look at the recipe and figured that since it was already quite late in the evening by that point, I could whip up the dough in under an hour and it'd be ready to go in the morning. So, at 8:30pm I started cooking.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
3/4 cup molasses
1/2 cup butter
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 1/2 cups plain flour

I halved the recipe because I didn't have enough flour. In fact, I only had two cups of plain flour and had to substitute the remaining 1 1/4 cups with self raising flour. I knew this was going to result in a somewhat cake-like consistency, but what was I to do? I just considered it a challenge and a mystery. I also didn't have molasses, but 1 cup of molasses can be substituted with 3/4 cup dark brown sugar and 1/4 cup water.

I combined the sugar, water, butter, spices and salt in a saucepan over a low heat, stirring with a spoon until the sugar dissolved. I stirred in the milk, removed the saucepan from the stove and poured the mixture into a large mixing bowl with the baking powder and flour. I like to combine wet and dry ingredients with a fork before using an electric mixer, otherwise the dry part flies out of the bowl and coats my kitchen! After mixing on low speed until everything was well combined, I divided the dough into four parts, shaped them into disks, wrapped them in plastic, put them in the fridge and went to bed!

This morning I pulled the disks out of the fridge and got to work! I preheated the oven to 180°C and rolled out each dough disk on a lightly floured surface until it was approximately 1/2 a centimetre thick.

Because I'd halved the recipe it was going to be more of a gingerbread cottage rather than a properly sized gingerbread house. I sized the walls by folding an A4 piece of paper into quarters and sized the ends by measuring the height of the walls on another quarter of paper and cutting the pitch of the roof from what area was left. I used the wall stencil for the roof pieces also, I just made them narrower and longer (the whole thing was pretty much guesswork). Then I cut out a few fun characters by hand!

I lined a tray with baking paper and baked the pieces for about 15 minutes or until slightly browned, rotating the tray halfway. I had some leftover dough so I rolled it into balls and put them in the oven after the house pieces in the hope that they'd turn out to be some kind of edible creation.

After the pieces had cooled I made the royal icing.

Ingredients:

2 cups icing sugar
1 large egg white

Because I'd halved the dough recipe I made the icing with only 1 cup of icing sugar. I beat the egg white in a bowl until foamy and added the sugar, continuing to beat until it was white and glossy. I scooped the icing into a sealed zip lock bag and cut a tiny hole in the corner. Then I got decorating!

The icing needs to be hard in order for the pieces to be handled for assembly without ruining the patterns, so I waited until it had completely dried before assembling the house. I drizzled the remaining icing onto the gingerbreadcakecookie creations I'd baked earlier. Don't they totally look like something that was supposed to happen?

Most of the gingerbread houses I've seen have been assembled with icing, but the recipe I followed uses caramel. The icing/caramel acts as the glue that holds the house together, and I've actually seen gingerbread houses with icing as the glue suddenly collapse for no reason at all. Caramel sets rock hard, so considering this was the first time I'd made a gingerbread house you bet I was going to use caramel!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar
a small squeeze of lemon juice

Again, because I'd halved the gingerbread recipe I used only 1 cup of sugar. I put the sugar in a saucepan and cooked it over high to medium heat, stirring until it started to caramelise. You know it's done when it's smooth and turns a deep amber colour. I removed the saucepan from the stove and poured the caramel into a shallow dish and started assembling my house (cottage) immediately, as the caramel hardens quickly!

I dipped the edges of each wall piece into the caramel and held them together for about 10-20 seconds until they hardened enough to continue. I used the tip of a knife to apply caramel to the tops of the walls to attach the roof pieces. I used a lot of caramel because my pieces were on the puffy side due to the self raising flour and didn't fit together entirely cleanly, so there's quite a lot of caramel drizzle down the sides!

After the caramel had hardened sufficiently I added the finishing touches for display. I sprinkled a thin layer of icing sugar (the snow) on a plate and placed the cottage on top. I re-heated the remaining caramel and applied it to the bottom of the tree and characters I'd made, pressing them down onto the plate in order to create a flat stand for them to remain upright. I sprinkled another layer of icing sugar over everything and my gingerbread house was complete!

I named the characters Stan and Lucy, and Ramsey gave them the titles Stanford and Lucille Breadman. They mightn't be able to fit inside their front door without crouching and their windows may be a little obscured (a result of me forgetting to cut the holes until the pieces were halfway through baking), but they look like a mighty happy young couple to me!

seventy-seven.

2011-12-15T10:01:00.004+08:00

julian bialowas

I refuse to quit.

skin care // makeup.

2011-12-14T09:24:00.004+08:00

I was 19 or 20 the first time I really went shopping for makeup. Prior to that I'd never had much interest in either fashion or makeup, mainly because I was a bit (a lot) of a tomboy. After I moved to the city and started going out and meeting new people, though, it eventually got to a point where I needed a few staple beauty items and simply didn't know where to start. So I dragged my sister along with me to Target.

I've come a long way since I bought my first foundation, blush and mascara on that shopping trip. I've found what works best for me and what suits me, and stick with my favourites religiously. I don't wear a lot of makeup and really only prefer the basic essentials. I want to share my skin care regime and favourite beauty products here as recommendations to other women who are looking for no-fuss, good quality and reasonably priced products.

My skin care regime is very simple and consists of only four products: face wash, tinted moisturiser, body moisturiser and makeup wipes.

1 // I don't often use foundation because I don't see it as a daily necessity, instead opting for a tinted moisturiser. I use Formula 10.0.6 Face The Day tinted moisturiser every morning. It evens out my skin tone just as satisfactorily as a foundation does and it's SPF 15+. I wouldn't recommend it to women with anything lighter than a medium/olive skin tone, though, as it's reasonably tan.

2 // I use St Ives 'Timeless Skin' apricot scrub twice daily. This particular face scrub comes in two other varieties, but one is far too gritty for my liking and the other not gritty enough!

3 // Johnson's 3-in-1 facial cleansing wipes are the best makeup removers, hands down. They're gentle and highly effective, removing even waterproof mascara. I use them twice daily, after the St Ives.

4 // I'm not very picky with my general body moisturisers and have been using Vaseline products for quite some time now as they're cheap, effective and have a no-nonsense subtle smell (I don't like heavily perfumed products).

When it comes to makeup, I only use three products daily: eyeshadow, eyeliner and waterproof mascara.

5 // Revlon's Colorstay 12 Hour Eyeshadow Quads are by far the best eyeshadows I've ever, ever used. They go on bold, smooth, don't clump in the creases of your eyelids and truly do last for over 12 hours. I use 'Neutral Khaki', but do favour 'Coffee Bean' also. They're pricey, at $25.95 each, but last a long time and are worth the money.

6 // In my experience, the majority of mascaras are quite disappointing despite advertising to the contrary. Maybelline's Full 'n Soft waterproof (there's no point otherwise) mascara goes on cleanly and doesn't clump inside the bottle after a couple of months. Maybelline are the mascara professionals.

7 // I favour wind-up eyeliners because they don't constantly break off while being sharpened like Kohl pencils do, but they don't last as long so they end up being expensive in the long term. So I use Designer Brands Cosmetics' Retractable Pencil eyeliner. It's cheap, but just as good as the real designer brands!

Lastly, there are a few more products I use from time to time: foundation, body bronzer, powder bronzer and invisible zinc.

8 // Sportsgirl's Body Glow Instant Body Bronzer is pretty much magic in a tube. It's a wash off liquid bronzer that's highly effective if you want to add a deeper colour to your skin tone just for the day (or night).

9 // I use Invisible Zinc when I'm at an outdoors event such as a party or festival during the summertime. Sunscreen is oily and smelly, but an application of Invisible Zinc across my nose and cheeks sits dry and will last all day. It comes in light, medium and tan, so it's suitable for all skin tones.

10 // I do wear foundation sparingly in addition to my tinted moisturiser on special occasions such as parties, weddings and nights out. I also treat it as a concealer when need be. I use Maybelline's Pure Makeup foundation as it's made with 50% water instead of oils, so it's very light and smooth. Unfortunately it's been discontinued, so if anyone has any recommendations for a similar product please let me know!

11 // Many powder bronzers aren't gutsy enough, or they flake and break apart in the container. Rimmel's Natural Bronzer has substance, is generous in application and doesn't flake apart. I use 'Sun Glow' but it also comes in another, similar, shade. I use the Manicare Bronzing Brush for application because it's absolutely gigantic and gets the job done in a matter of seconds!

Footnote: this is not a sponsored post. I do not accept sponsored posts. These are the products that I use along with my real, honest opinions on each.

last tuesday, this happened.

2011-12-13T08:35:00.000+08:00

Before: After:

I simply woke up and decided it was time for a change. I'm no hairdresser and it is a rough job, but I don't like my hair flat, shiny and perfect anyway. I like it wavy, messy and thick. I even managed to cut layers into it! Perhaps I've found my new profession...

holiday comforts.

2011-12-12T11:13:00.001+08:00

Unlike in the northern hemisphere, where Christmas is celebrated in a climate that for the most part is chilly and snowing, down here in the southern hemisphere we celebrate Christmas right in the middle of our summertime. We still put up a Christmas tree and may hang snowflake ornaments due to the commercial nature of Christmas, but there's no apple cider, pumpkin pie, log fires and hot chocolate to be had. Traditional United States and Canadian holiday comforts are foreign here.

And it got me thinking about what holiday comforts we do enjoy in Australia at Christmastime. But I wouldn't call them comforts, because that conjures up images of winter - a time when we really do crave simple things like eating soup and reading while snuggled under a warm blanket. Instead, I'd call them holiday pleasures.

So, here are some of my favourite things about this time of year...

Happy hour at home.

Days on the beach.

Beer and barbeques.

Good old fashioned fun.

click photos for source

We really don't need much to be happy and content. Good food, good company, our health and a roof over our heads. We need to create our own happiness and contentment with the things that the world provides us with, instead of always turning to manufactured things to satisfy and entertain us.

charmaine olivia // studio portraits.

2011-12-09T10:43:00.000+08:00

I wrote about San Francisco artist Charmaine Olivia around this time last year, featuring a number of her artworks that I particularly loved.

In that post, I wrote, "I love how Charmaine chooses to draw tattoos on the subjects in her paintings. They're a feature in most of her more recent works and are just so delicate and perfect. I think one of my favourite things about the way Charmaine works is her choice of clothing."

I re-visited Charmaine's website today and came across a number of portrait photographs of her both posing and working in her studio. She's acquired a few tattoos of her own in the last twelve months and her distinctively feminine fashion choice still remains. Although her artwork itself is beautiful and Charmaine is a highly talented artist, I'm fascinated in particular with her personal style. I've seen very few artists work in such distinct clothing choices, instead usually opting for casual wear.

Charmaine's painting style has also evolved in the last year. Although her works have always been very intricate, they've become much more detailed and delicate over time. I just absolutely adore her paintings. They're edgy and raw, but still very elegant and feminine.

charmaine olivia

You can view more of Charmaine's artworks on her website, follow her blog and find her on Facebook. You can also purchase her artwork from her shop.

the simple things.

2011-12-08T14:43:00.000+08:00

peter parsons

Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realise there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. - Lao Tzu.

pros & cons of the apple iphone.

2011-12-06T09:19:00.000+08:00

kate gazaway

Pro: instagram.

Con: It's an iPhone. Read number one for a glimpse as to why I will never own an Apple product, ever.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas.

2011-12-05T10:50:00.000+08:00

A few photos I snapped over the weekend of our humble Christmas decorations and sparkling Christmas tree. There are precious few presents under the tree at the moment, but that is soon to change!

Participating here.

twitter // pinterest.

2011-12-04T11:49:00.005+08:00

Just thought I'd let you know that you can also find me on twitter and pinterest.

Both accounts are permanently accessible via the little links just to the left there, under my profile pic.

Feel free to follow along, if you wish. I've been active on both for a little while now, but I'm not big on self-promotion (but you have a blog, Megan, isn't that the epitome of self-promotion?), so I kind of just let the links sit there and do their own thing, before admitting that I was being entirely ridiculous and there's no harm in telling people. After all, those who choose to visit my blog do so because they're actually interested in what I have to say or they have similar interests to me (or perhaps they just got lost).

shop asos.

2011-12-03T15:18:00.003+08:00

I thought I might share with you a (possibly poorly-kept) secret. Have you heard of ASOS? If you're looking for good quality clothing at reasonable prices, I highly recommend them. They're an online clothing store based in the UK and they have a huge range of men's and women's clothing, as well as shoes, accessories and gifts. And they offer free shipping worldwide. Permanently.

asos

I bought this dress for £30 ($45AUD as of today) with free shipping right to my front door. It's absolutely beautiful and I plan on wearing it to a wedding in the US next year. I'm not picky with my wardrobe; I don't particularly care what name is on the tag as long as it's reasonably priced, looks good on and doesn't fall apart after a few washes. Why should I buy an almost identical item in Myer or David Jones for $250?

ASOS also run a number of sales and specials throughout the year, and they're good sales. None of this "10% off last season's range" nonsense that regular walk-in dress shops offer. ASOS regularly have 25% or 30% off entire current collections.

I've bought a few things from ASOS and in my experience I've had about a 75% success rate. I'm not a fan of their shoes, but I've bought a dress, skirt, belt, socks and tights with no problems whatsoever. Being an online store it's a little bit hit-and-miss, but as long as you select items that you really love, you can't go too wrong due to the free delivery. Delivery to Western Australia takes approximately 10 business days (less to the eastern states).

A tip with sizing: UK dress sizing is the same as Australian sizing. For example, an Australian women's standard size 10 is also a UK women's standard size 10. The shoes, however, are two sizes smaller. An Australian women's standard size 9, for example, is a UK women's standard size 7.

Happy shopping!

Footnote: this is not a sponsored post. I do not accept sponsored posts. I genuinely do love ASOS!

studio castillero.

2011-12-02T10:24:00.003+08:00

I came across these engagement session photos by California-based wedding photographers Rachel and Rico Castillero and just had to share a small handful.

I'm not much of a fan of professional engagement photos, but regardless of the occasion for this set, they're just beautiful. Simple, elegant and casual, with a gentle, washed-out style that relies on natural light.

From Studio Castillero's About page:

We love making new friends. We enjoy turning life's moments into art. We are addicted to camera gear (and dancing). And we live for taking pictures. So we're wedding photographers... it just makes sense.
So, if you're looking for a photographer to give you an editorial, modern-vintage flare AND perhaps to make some new friends, then let us know because we pretty much die of happiness shooting weddings, it's true. Seriously though, we’d love to partner with you in remembering your wedding for the years to come, and if you're not getting married and just want to hang out, we're down for that too (margaritas anyone?)... just a warning though, hanging out with us almost guarantees you’ll get your picture taken.

They sound pretty fun and down to earth! Take a look at Studio Castillero's wedding portfolio here, or follow their work on their blog and Facebook page.

it's time.

2011-12-01T10:21:00.000+08:00

Video by GetUp!, an independent Australian not-for-profit, grass-roots community advocacy organisation. Follow their blog here.

it's in the bag // summer 2011.

2011-11-30T09:27:00.006+08:00

I've posted in the past about the contents of my handbag, but it's been over a year and both my handbag and its contents have changed (I've simplified and minimised, although it mightn't appear so!), so I thought I'd do it all again...

1 // My bag is a basic black leather handbag with a detachable sling from Sportsgirl. The charm hanging from the strap is a silver elephant with a leather tassel that my mum brought back for me from her trip to Bali last month.

2 // Nutrimetics hand and nail cream. I always carry a hand cream in my handbag but I'm not picky about them, usually just using whatever I happen to have spare when the last tube runs out.

3 // Vintage-inspired leather wallet with floral embossed design from Sportsgirl. By far the best wallet I've ever owned!

4 // Blank A6 Moleskine soft pocket notebook and silver gel pen from kikki-K.

5 // Miscellaneous: tissues; nail file; comb; allergy tablet (I'm allergic to cats so I always carry a tablet with me just in case); mobile charger; a pair of spare contact lenses; painkillers; and a bobby pin.

6 // Vintage fabric covered hand mirror from a homewares store in town.

7 // Burt's Bees beeswax lip balm. I very rarely wear lip balm or gloss - it irritates my throat and applying lip gloss over-hydrates my lips and dries them out even more. This Burt's Bees balm, however, is the only one I've ever used that I've really liked. I highly recommend it!

8 // Wrigley's Extra gum in Winterfresh, a flavour unavailable in Australia. I first had Winterfresh on a visit to the states five years ago and it's been my absolute favourite ever since. Ramsey brought me a whole stack of them when he visited last month, so I'm pretty much all stocked up right through to next Christmas!

9 // My keys. The little doll keyring is Tomo the Kimmidoll, whose spirit brings opportunity and success to her owner. There are at least 70 Kimmidoll characters, so check out their website!

10 // Lucas' Papaw Ointment. I keep this on me in case of cuts or burns, or to treat more serious dry skin that has lead to cracks or inflammation.

11 // Leather coin purse from Tree of Life in Carousel Shopping Centre. Their stock is authentically hand made in Australia, Guatemala, Vietnam, Thailand, China and Indonesia but the majority of it is made in India by fair-paid craftspeople (read about it here). I don't use this coin purse for coins, though! Can't tell you what I do use it for... it's secret girls' business.

Things missing from this picture: 14 mega pixel Olympus digital camera and my Nokia C5 mobile phone (forgot, oops!). I only ever buy Nokias because I find them so easy to use and they're no-nonsense phones that do everything I need them to do!

I also carry a bottle of water with me wherever I go. You will never, not ever, see me without a bottle of water. I truly believe that the reason I have clear skin, don't gain weight and don't get sick often is because I drink at least two litres of water each day.

What's in your bag?

less.

2011-11-29T10:00:00.000+08:00

jenna gray

The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less. - Socrates.

I relate very strongly with this.

studio inspiration.

2011-11-28T12:44:00.000+08:00

Images of New York artist Cara Livermore's studio for her Etsy shop Shshh. I find this space absolutely inspiring. It's just my style.

Check out Cara's entire portfolio here and read her full studio tour interview here. She also has a blog and twitter, and writes a vegan food blog.

ten essentials.

2011-11-24T09:16:00.014+08:00

julianbialowas

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits (I've mentioned Zen Habits on my blog in the past) also writes a blog specifically about minimalism: mnmlist. I recently went through mnmlist's entire three year archive; it's my new favourite blog. Babauta's 10 essentials post in particular, where he names ten things that he considers essential to his life, really grabbed my attention.

And I was inspired to write my own list.

1 // Water. I drink a lot of water and always have a water bottle with me. Always. Not because I'm making a conscious effort to drink water, or forcing myself to. I just really like to drink a fair amount of water throughout the day. The recommended daily amount of water for men living in a temperate climate is three litres. For women, two. I probably drink, on average, between two and three litres of water every day.

2 // Coffee. It certainly wouldn't make my list of five essential items, but it features here. I like my coffee strong, sweet and in the biggest mug I can find.

3 // Laptop [with internet connection]. I don't watch a lot of television and could quite easily live without a TV. The only benefit I can see to owning a TV is that you can watch DVDs on a larger, clearer screen (providing one also owns a DVD player, of course). But almost anything I could watch on TV I can also watch on my laptop. Plus I have access to the internet and all documents.

4 // Clothing: denim shorts. Short shorts are my absolute favourite clothing item, and my wardrobe staple. Denim shorts in particular. I prefer cut offs, and usually make my own by cutting the bottom off a pair of second hand jeans.

5 // Clothing: t-shirts. I prefer basic, classic cut t-shirts without any added unnecessary flair. T Bar is my favourite store for t-shirts.

6 // Books. I love to read. I tend not to purchase books and don't like owning many, preferring to loan them out from the library. Doing this ensures that I don't spend money on books that I end up not liking or never reading again (who reads the same book multiple times, anyway?). And, if I end up really loving a certain book and want to own it for myself, then I go out and buy it.

7 // Digital camera. Photography isn't a huge passion of mine, but I do love to capture experiences and adventures with the people I love. Memories alone are all good and well, but I want to look back on my life with fond memories and have it been documented through a camera lens, too.

8 // Mobile phone. I don't need my mobile on me every minute of the day and it rarely bothers me if I accidentally leave the house without it, but I do consider it to be an essential item as I like to stay in touch with friends and family, schedule appointments and be contactable.

9 // Fruits and vegetables. I'll count these as one, because although they're strictly considered two separate food groups, they're often bundled together regardless. I do eat dairy, grains and meat, but if I had to choose one essential food type it would always be fruits and vegetables. They provide the highest nutritional value and there's just so much choice!

10 // Exercise. This isn't exactly an item, I suppose, but it is a thing. I can't imagine living a sedentary lifestyle completely lacking in physical exercise. I'm certainly not a highly active or extremely fit person, but I'm naturally energetic and do try to get at least 30 minutes exercise every day.

What are your ten essentials?

double figures.

2011-11-23T10:11:00.015+08:00

julianbialowas

Ninety-nine days 'til March.

this is only the beginning...

2011-11-22T09:46:00.005+08:00

...I believe an uncontrollable obsession is developing.

fall // winter.

2011-11-21T10:26:00.004+08:00

I think that sometimes, wanting the things that we can't have is good for us. Novelty, newness and uncharted territory are often the strongest of motivators.

click photos for source

bird song.

2011-11-20T10:27:00.000+08:00

Florence Welch singing an a cappella version of Bird Song, a bonus song on the Deluxe Edition of her first album Lungs. Listen to the original here (don't mind the fan made video). It's my very favourite Florence + the Machine song at the moment.

life lately...

2011-11-19T22:11:00.000+08:00

...via my 3.2 mexapixel Nokia C5 camera.

iPhone? Instagram? Psht.

one day at a time.

2011-11-18T19:29:00.000+08:00

julianbialowas

Life. It's kind of a mix of hard work, choice, luck and fate.

pale blue dot.

2011-11-17T12:19:00.000+08:00

We succeeded in taking that picture [from deep space] and, if you look at it, you see a dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you've ever heard of, every human being who ever was lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering; thousands of confident religions, ideologies and economic doctrines; every hunter and forager; every hero and coward; every creator and destroyer of civilisations; every king and peasant; every young couple in love; every mother and father; hopeful child; inventor and explorer; every teacher of morals; every corrupt politician; every supreme leader; every superstar; every saint and sinner in the history of our species, lived there — on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner. How frequent their misunderstandings; how eager they are to kill one another; how fervent their hatreds. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity — in all this vastness — there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. It underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the only home we've ever known. The pale blue dot. - Carl Sagan.

An excerpt from Sagan's Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space. It talks about the photo of the same name, taken by Voyager I on February 14, 1990.

one hundred & seven.

2011-11-15T08:34:00.007+08:00

Late last month Ramsey came to visit. We'd been waiting almost seven months for this time together. He was only in Australia for two weeks, but we squeezed as much into those mere fourteen days as we could. We did a lot of driving and a lot of walking.

We spent hours in Fremantle, lunching on Perth's best burgers (very highly recommended), perusing the markets, sampling local beer and eating ice cream.

Ramsey was so impressed by our beaches. He said, "You have no idea how good you have it here." It wasn't suitable swimming weather the day we visited Cottesloe beach, but we walked out to the end of the pier, enjoyed the feel of the sand between our toes and of course ate ice cream.

We spent a very sunny morning at Scarborough beach relaxing on the grass and enjoying lunch. Ramsey had a couple of quick dips in the ocean while I sat in the sand and let the breeze tangle my hair. That same afternoon we headed up to Hillarys Boat Harbour where we had coffee, a stroll around and dinner at a seafood restaurant. We ate so much we couldn't even fit in ice cream!

A lot of our time was spent wandering around local spots like Kings Park, the Bell Tower, the city centre and the South Perth foreshore, simply spending time together... talking, relaxing, laughing, eating, being.

We took a trip up to Geraldton one weekend so Ramsey could meet my parents, sister and my sister's boyfriend. Beer, barbeques, American football, coffee, sightseeing, swimming, fish and chips on the foreshore and the best ice cream I've ever had.

Ramsey also met a couple of my friends while in Perth. We had one too many beers with Trystan at the Moon & Sixpence one night and missed the last bus home. I ate so much pasta when we went out to dinner with Janine that I just about had to roll myself back to my car. We even bumped into Jake (who lives in country Victoria, no less) at Perth airport! Ramsey told me later, "You have really great friends."

click photos for source

I miss eating too much ice cream with you. March just can't come soon enough.

a murmuration of starlings.

2011-11-11T09:52:00.004+08:00

Talk about being in the right place at the right time. A chance encounter and shared moment with one of nature's greatest and most fleeting phenomena. A murmuration of starlings caught on camera by Liberty Smith and Sophie Windsor Clive on Ireland's Shannon River.

A murmuration is the collective noun for a group of starlings in particular (like how 'school' is the collective noun for a group of fish). More images of a murmuration of starlings by flickr user ad551:

ad551

freedom.

2011-11-10T10:46:00.004+08:00

julianbialowas

We think we want a lot of choices, but really we want freedom. There's a difference, and the overwhelming number of choices in our lives these days leads to confusion, paralysis and unhappiness. - Leo Babauta

sky lanterns.

2011-11-08T22:34:00.001+08:00

yang tee mon

Images from last year's Loy Krathong Floating Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Just absolutely stunning.

the bliss is over.

2011-11-06T23:55:00.003+08:00

My fella flew back to the United States on Friday. We'll see each other again in a little more than four months from now, fingers crossed. I filled my car with my worldly possessions (sans furniture) and made the move from Perth up to Geraldton yesterday. A clean slate, a new beginning.

I'm living out of a suitcase until I can collect my furniture next month, but the somewhat bohemian storage devices I've adopted suit my style perfectly. I quite like my new tiny space, really.

Think positive and look forward to what the future may hold.

checklist.

2011-10-21T12:55:00.001+08:00

annette pehrsson

✔ Wash my car.
✔ Clean the house.
✔ Do the laundry.
✔ Wash my hair.
✔ Have a coffee.
✔ Do the dishes.
✔ Do the grocery shopping.
✔ Fuel up.
✔ Go to the bank.
✔ Fold the laundry.
Pick Ramsey up from the airport.

skin.

2011-10-20T10:51:00.003+08:00

natalie kucken

An accidental sun burn. Peeling skin. Beauty in imperfection.

shoreline.

2011-10-19T10:02:00.000+08:00

Absolutely loving this as a humble, simple and personal short film.

three.

2011-10-18T14:52:00.001+08:00

anna amphigorously

Call me morbid, but I find this series of photos by sixteen year old Californian Anna Hatzakis fascinating and inspiring. There is so much beauty in the world, but very few can find it - and capture it - in something that most of us would find purely revolting.

Click for Anna's website, flickr and blog.

etsy acquisitions.

2011-10-17T13:38:00.002+08:00

click photos for source

With Christmas approaching, friends' birthdays to buy for and a new year on its way, Etsy truly has been my home away from home over the last few weeks (no wonder the Australian dollar weakened recently!). I'm continuing to save hard for my move next month, however I've taken this opportunity to pick up a few items that I've had my eye on for quite some time.

Simplifying your life and living more with less doesn't mean depriving yourself of all material possessions. It means owning only the few things that you really love and use, and nothing more. I'm getting ready... one day at a time.

thirty day song challenge: days xvi-xx.

2011-10-16T08:17:00.005+08:00

I saw the thirty day song challenge on Facebook and although I assume you're supposed to post the corresponding song for the day on your Facebook profile, I've chosen to take a bit of a different approach and split all thirty songs up into groups of five and post them sporadically on my blog.

Here are days sixteen to twenty...

16 // a song that describes you

I had a hard time choosing a song - one song - that describes me. How can a single song successfully describe the many, often complex, aspects of a person? But I finally settled on The Naked and Famous' Young Blood due to the effect it had on me the first time I watched the music video.

The song itself has so much spirit, but the song and film clip together seem to embody youth, possibility, adventure and freedom. Uninhibited joy and experience. You can do anything and everything. Your whole life is ahead of you and nothing can stop you. You are alive and the world is yours. It really resonates with me and speaks to my soul. This is my soul.

"we lie beneath the stars at night,
our hands gripping each other tight.
you keep my secrets hope to die,
promises, swear them to the sky."

17 // a song that you hear often on the radio

One thing I love about Boy & Bear's music videos is the way they incorporate worlds of childlike make believe into the real world. They did it with one of their early releases, Rabbit Song (a favourite of mine) and again with a recent single, Milk and Sticks. Their music videos are classic and clean, and many are set in worlds from decades - even centuries - ago. This is the case for Feeding Line, the first single from their debut album Moonfire, which has claimed the #1 most played position on Triple J over the past few months.

18 // a song that you wish you heard on the radio

I was introduced to Sigur Rós seven years ago by a friend who I met online while at college, but I only properly got into them a couple of years ago. I absolutely adore this song. I love love love the intro and the build-up that starts at 2:17 'til 3:32. I never hear it on the radio and it's a shame.

Inní mér syngur vitleysingur translates to "Within me a lunatic sings" and is the second single from their fifth studio album Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust ("With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly"), which was released back in June 2008. Please check them out if you've never before!

19 // a song from your favourite album

My favourite album of all time is Odyssey Number Five, Powderfinger's fourth studio album, released in 2000. I featured one of my favourite songs from the album, These Days, in days one to five, so this time around I'll share My Kind Of Scene - yet another of Powderfinger's songs that really resonates with me, mainly due to the lyrics.

20 // a song that you listen to when you're angry

I love punchy, powerful songs with a strong beat and the minute I heard Tilly & the Wall's Pot Kettle Black on Triple J a year and a bit ago I absolutely loved it. I can listen to this song on repeat multiple, multiple times and it never fails to put me in a better mood simply because it's so gutsy and ruthless. Especially if I listen to it while driving and can punch the steering wheel during the chorus!

"oh my god, did you hear, yeah,
about that bitch and what she did?
I don't believe it, oh,
what a ho, what a tramp, what a slut."

Days one to five: here.
Days six to ten: here.
Days eleven to fifteen: here.

summer is coming.

2011-10-15T16:45:00.006+08:00

Last year Perth was treated to approximately two weeks of true spring weather. I'm not even exaggerating. The cool temperatures and occasional rainy day disappeared remarkably fast and it was only a short couple of weeks before we were experiencing uncomfortably hot days and balmy nights. To be completely honest, I felt rather ripped off. "I know they say that Australia only really has two seasons - summer and winter - but this is just ridiculous."

This year we've had at least six weeks of spring weather so far. It approached slowly, as it should. First the extra blanket was removed from my bed, then the heater was put away. Eventually it became too warm for sweaters in the early evening and, finally, my jeans were traded in for shorts. Today was the first day since winter ended that I've pulled out the sunscreen.

I went for a walk through the park opposite my house late this afternoon and the colour scheme was true to Perth in early summer: browns, yellows, oranges and fading greens. Summer is coming.

Participating here.

one week today.

2011-10-14T12:05:00.016+08:00

jenna gray

Seven days, to the minute.

learning to let go.

2011-10-13T21:01:00.001+08:00

anna amphigorously

Change has considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. - King Whitney Jr.

the nocturnal migration.

2011-10-12T20:39:00.000+08:00

How good is the new Tooheys Extra Dry commercial? So, so good.

my sunday.

2011-10-09T20:38:00.013+08:00

I'd seen this "a day in pictures" style blog post around and wanted to try my hand at it. So I hope this glimpse into a typical Sunday isn't too boring!

I woke up at 7:30 this morning to a thunderstorm. There was very faint thunder in the distance and the rain was coming down in sheets. Quite possibly the best way to wake up, ever. I even heard hail dropping onto the bathroom skylight while I showered. By the time I'd made my breakfast (eggs for breakfast every Sunday, without fail!) and sat down at my desk with a coffee, the sun was starting to come out. I checked my mail, my messages and updated my budget in preparation for the new week. I then got lost in Facebook, eBay and blogs for a couple of hours (oops).

By mid morning the rain clouds had completely disappeared and it was warm and clear enough to go for a walk. Rob had promised to shout me coffee today, and you better believe I wasn't going to refuse that offer! As I'd already had a coffee, I figured a bubble tea was in order, as there's a store only a half hour walk from our house. I always get the same: regular hazelnut with chocolate sago, less ice. It's amazing.

Last month I shared a tutorial by Erica of Honestly...WTF on how to make a braided hex nut bracelet. I'd bought the brass hex nuts last week and finally managed to find some suitable thread (although not quite as thick as I'd like) at Spotlight yesterday. I'm quite happy with how it turned out, but due to the length of thread I bought (1.8m) I only managed to braid two loops worth of bracelet when I would have preferred three. Still, I rather like it. Don't you?

After a late lunch (spinach and rocket, roma tomatoes, red onion, mushroom, avocado, lemon juice, mayonnaise, balsamic vinegar & sweet chilli salad with a glass of apple juice) I did a few household chores I'd been putting off and spent the remainder of the afternoon packing up the bulk of my things for my move. Everything bar bedding, cushions & blankets, clothing, shoes and furniture fits into just three boxes. I rewarded myself for all my hard work by baking a scone with butter and strawberry jam for afternoon tea (you can find the simple recipe I use here).

Unfortunately evening photos on my point & shoot aren't as crisp due to a lack of natural light!

My evenings are generally relatively uneventful. Shower, beauty details, dinner (chicken, mushroom and asparagus risotto with peas and corn), some quick situps and pushups, time on the internet and possibly a couple of episodes of whatever television show I'm watching (currently Mad Men) or a movie. My day ends in bed with a few chapters of a good novel. But, these days, I like it that way.

Participating here.

sound advice.

2011-10-08T17:15:00.001+08:00

babymac & unknown

honey & jam.

2011-10-07T19:54:00.001+08:00

honey & jam

I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of food blogs. I can cook perfectly fine, but it's just not a passion of mine. But every now and again I stumble across a food blog that really inspires me. Hannah's little space on the internet, honey & jam, is one such blog.

Although the photography is beautiful, the layout simple and appealing and the recipes amazing, it's the honesty and modesty in her about me page that really made an impression on me. I encourage you to check out honey & jam. Right now!

craving something.

2011-10-06T10:31:00.001+08:00

I saw these photos on mucho mucho bueno bueno today (one of my new favourite blogs) and I was once again struck with that nostalgic feeling I get when I view photos that signify my kind of freedom. The freedom of youth, adventure and road trips. Unbrushed hair, comfortable clothing, music, friends. Beer. Simple, pure memories that are captured through a viewfinder.

mucho mucho bueno bueno

I haven't been blogging regularly lately, I know. And, when I do, it's been of little substance or has made little sense to those who don't know me personally. When you're looking forward to something that means so much more than pretty pictures, the little inspirations in life become somewhat insignificant. The photos, clothing and art that others make doesn't excite you like it once did.

My blog has always been a place to document my life and share things that inspire me, but I can feel that its focus is starting to shift. Less 'things', more 'life'. Less 'pretty', more 'real'. Less 'them', more 'me'. So many things in my life are changing at the moment. I guess this is just another.

decisions.

2011-09-28T11:45:00.009+08:00

On the I-15 in the Nevada desert, March 2011

I remember when I was a kid and adults would say, "Gee, doesn't time fly!" I never understood how they could possibly say such a thing, because it was only term two at school and Easter was forever away, let alone Christmas, and I had to wait until at least 3:30 to go bike riding with Larissa. But when you're a kid you have no real perception of time. Your existence consists of waking up, going to school, playing, eating and going back to bed. There are no bills to pay, no job to keep, no meaningful relationships to maintain and no real responsibilities (except, of course, feeding the guinea pigs).

"Time flies" in adulthood because time isn't a liquid and changeable state anymore. It's a solid, binding reality. There are a 52 weeks in a year, seven days in a week and 24 hours in every day. 48 of those weeks you work, 5 days of that week you work and 8 hours of each day you work. The hours in between are spent taking care of your adult responsibilities, with a little play thrown in here and there (usually on the weekend). And before you know it, it's Christmas. Gee, doesn't time fly!

I started part time at my current job four years ago as a means to make a little money while studying full time. It was only ever supposed to be a temporary job that I would eventually move on from. After completing my studies in 2008, however, I stayed on and before I knew it, a further three years had passed and I was still working in this "temporary" job. I was renting a small house in the suburbs and every now and again I would catch up with friends. I had allowed the circumstances of life to guide my decisions and actions, and was living a contented life instead of a happy one.

In March this year I took a solo trip overseas and my whole life was thrown into chaos and turned upside-down. That trip, and the knowledge I brought back with me, forced me to re-evaluate my life and what I wanted from it. I had allowed four years of my twenties - my precious, youthful twenties - to disappear without following my dreams or passions, without living the life I wish to lead. I was living someone else's life. I'm not a home maker and my joy is not in leading a comfortable life. I am, at the very core of my being, a wanderer. Travel fulfils something within me that nothing else even comes close to. I want to explore, to see, to experience.

So I've chosen to challenge myself, rid myself of my crutches and take hold of what I want with both hands. I'm trading in my comfortable, stable life here in Perth and moving back to my hometown of Geraldton to save money so that I can reach my goals sooner. I'll be making the move in the first week of November and although I'm entering a period of uncertainty, I'm looking forward to it. I'm taking only a car's worth of possessions with me as well as a few pieces of furniture. I have a dream and I'm willing to make the necessary sacrifices in order to achieve it.

The clock is ticking.

double exposure sunrise.

2011-09-26T14:47:00.001+08:00

natalie kucken

100% unedited.

one month.

2011-09-21T15:03:00.001+08:00

natalie kucken

Exactly one month from today my next adventure begins. Questions, excitement, contentment and love are arriving from overseas and exactly two weeks after that are being replaced with uncertainty, familiarity, comfort and the unknown, which will call for endurance, strength, confidence and understanding (on my part).

Counting. down. the. days.

money can't buy me love.

2011-09-20T20:59:00.002+08:00

apartment therapy

But it sure can buy me all the pretty things in this room.

one two three.

2011-09-19T16:59:00.002+08:00

jenna gray

1 // Quit my job.
2 // Take a holiday.
3 // Move to the country.

inspiration.

2011-09-14T20:39:00.002+08:00

My top five from 55 inspiring quotations that will change the way you think:

click images for source

interactive robotic painting machine.

2011-09-11T16:36:00.002+08:00

This is amazing.

Interactive Robotic Painting Machine is an installation by American artist Benjamin Grosser. The machine uses artificial intelligence to paint its own body of work and to make its own decisions about what it does, while listening to its environment and considering what it hears as input into the painting process.

Grosser says, "To understand this, I suggest you consider the machine an artist in its own right. Just as a human artist is influenced by what they hear, the machine is influenced by what it hears."

benjamin grosser

Grosser says of his work, "I combine my passions for art and technology, and my varied interests in other fields to create new work - sometimes with lofty cultural or political goals, and other times in service of practical needs."

See more of Grosser's projects on his website and watch more videos on his vimeo.

how does one write an 'about me' without sounding entirely self-involved & pretentious?

2011-09-07T09:10:00.003+08:00

jenna gray

Seriously.

one hundred quotes in doodles.

2011-09-06T18:45:00.005+08:00

Five of my favourite doodle quotes from the notebook doodles' 100 doodles in 10 days set on Flickr (funnily enough, they all feature the same theme: love).

the notebook doodles

I wrote about the notebook doodles back in October last year. The artist behind the notebook doodles (who chooses to remain anonymous) features her work primarily on her blog. Check it out. She also has a tumblr and twitter.

genetic portraits.

2011-09-05T12:19:00.009+08:00

Cousins: Justine, 29 & Ulric, 29

How much do you and your family members really look alike? Genetic Portraits is a project by Quebec, Canada-based graphic designer and photographer Ulric Collette where he explores the genetic similarities between different members of the same family. By splitting their faces in half and then splicing them together, he creates interesting new people that are sometimes quite normal looking and other times... not so much.

Mother/Daughter: Francine, 56 & Catherine, 23

Sisters: Catherine, 23 & Veronica, 29

Daughter/Mother: Veronica, 29 & Francine, 56

Sister/Brother: Karine, unknown & Dany, 25

Brothers: Christopher, 30 & Ulric, 29

Father/Son: Laval, 56 & Vincent, 29

Father/Son: Denis, 53 & William, 28

Twins: Laurence & Christine, 20

Brothers: Matthew, 25 & Ulric, 29

Son/Father: Nathan, 7 & Ulric, 29
ulric collette

How did you come up with this series?
I came up with the idea by accident while I was doing "an image a day" type of project as a method of teaching myself photography, studio lighting, etc. My first genetic-related image was the one of me and my son, who looked very much like me when I was a kid. So I was trying to age my son with Photoshop and while experimenting I came up with this result. I thought it could be very interesting to use genetic resemblances and aging as a main factor in a photographic research project.

What did you learn?
I learned a lot of things while doing this project; a lot about working with Photoshop, mostly about editing skin and hair, and a lot more about studio lighting and photography. And there's always something, a particular physical trait or characteristic that helps merge siblings together. Sometime it's the eyes, nose or mouth and sometime it's only the facial structure.

Is the project finished or ongoing?
This project is ongoing; I don't think I'll ever stop. There is so much more potential and so many variations and other ideas related to genetics, so maybe this project will age and change on its own.

---

I find the father/son mix of Laval and Vincent the most fascinating of all the spliced images, because there's a 27 year difference in age, yet Vincent looks almost identical to his father. The father/son mix of Denis and William is also interesting because they, too, are almost identical, yet Denis's skin just falls so dramatically. And I'm not sure whether the twins, Laurence and Christine, are identical or not, but the only difference I can spot between the two of them is the shape of their noses.

What a fascinating project. I'd love to do something like this with my family, if I ever had the chance!

mine.

2011-09-04T08:31:00.003+08:00

daneechi

As of yesterday.

You mean... a bikini top? A real live stylish bikini top? One that's not being held up by thick, heavy straps out of necessity? A bikini top that doesn't look like a bra? In a light-support bandeau style? An actual two-piece bikini instead of the standard midriff-obscuring one piece? Really?

Yes. Really.

diy braided hex nut bracelet.

2011-09-03T13:00:00.003+08:00

No, I haven't tried this DIY for myself, but once I have the time to string two thoughts together (I've been working a lot over the last two weeks) I am so, so, definitely going to try this out. It's so my style. My style is a little bit hippie and a little bit industrial, so this bracelet suits me perfectly. You won't find me wearing feathers, but neither will you find steampunk-inspired jewellery hanging from my wrists and fingers.

I thought I'd just share the DIY with you now despite my not having attempted it yet, because it has really inspired me - so hopefully it can do the same for you!

honestly...wtf

It's pretty clear from the pictures exactly how this bracelet is put together, but you can find the full tutorial over at Erica's blog, along with a number of other clever DIYs. For now, I'm off to the hardware store...

forty-nine.

2011-09-02T19:00:00.001+08:00

.asli.

Seven weeks.
Forty-nine days.
1,169 hours.
70,140 minutes.
4,208,400 seconds.

six blog recommendations.

2011-09-01T12:25:00.003+08:00

On Blog Day bloggers will post a recommendation of 6 new blogs. This way, everyone will find themselves discovering new, previously unknown blogs thanks to the viral effect of social media.

Although I'm a day late (Blog Day was yesterday, August 31), I still want to share six of my favourite blogs. A few of these blogs are long-time favourite reads and a few are relatively new discoveries. So they're not all strictly "new" blogs, but they are my current favourites all the same.

Click on the banners below to view each blog in a new tab.

Enjoy!

eternity.

2011-08-31T15:52:00.017+08:00

Eternity is a wall mounted sculpture by American artists Alicia Eggert and Mike Fleming consisting of thirty electric clocks rear-mounted to a large sheet of white acrylic. During installation, the black hour and minute hands of the clocks are aligned to spell the word 'ETERNITY', and the clocks are plugged in to a series of power strips on the floor. The hands begin to move as soon as the switch on the last power strip is flipped and the word almost immediately becomes a jumble of moving black lines.

'ETERNITY' doesn't reappear until the hour hands return to their original positions twelve hours later, and even then it only lasts a mere split second.

alicia eggert & mike fleming

This is a seriously creative piece of artwork. I love that I can continually be amazed and impressed by the creative minds of others.

You should also check out Eggert's other similar work, Wonder.

public interventions.

2011-08-30T11:39:00.001+08:00

egor kraft

a reminder.

2011-08-28T14:06:00.001+08:00

russh magazine

off the map.

2011-08-23T12:17:00.002+08:00

unknown

This is what it means to be an adventurer in our day: to give up creature comforts of the mind, to realise the possibilities of imagination. Because everything around us says no you cannot do this, you cannot live without that, nothing is useful unless it's in service to money, to gain, to stability. The adventurer gives in to tides of chaos, trusts the world to support her - and in doing so turns her back on the fear and obedience she has been taught. She rejects the indoctrination of impossibility. My adventure is a struggle for freedom. - Hibikina Chickena and Kika Kat, Off the Map.

trees.

2011-08-22T11:30:00.005+08:00

I recently stumbled upon these prints by American artist Margaret Kilgallen. They were part of an exhibition of her work at Ratio 3 art gallery in San Francisco this (American) summer.

I love their clean simplicity. The colours, the materials and mediums used. The form. Everything. Just beautiful. I'd love to have this set framed in my "one day" house.

margaret kilgallen

Go here to check out more from the exhibition.

untitled.

2011-08-21T07:21:00.015+08:00

laura olivia baker

I'm feeling very melancholy.

I found these photos last night and they really resonated with me. They display that youthful irresponsibility of freedom that I miss from time to time. Don't get me wrong - I still have a lot of freedom now, but I've grown up. I'm not afforded the luxury of not having to plan for tomorrow. To stay up late and sleep in late, to set off anywhere I want to go at any time, with whoever I want. I miss it. And it makes me crave the simple life. A simpler life than I have now, if that's even possible.

I might talk about "dream houses", but I don't want anything like that until well into the future. I want to live in houses with dinky little kitchens, with saucepans that burn the rice. I want to sleep on a mattress on the floor with you, and spend our evenings on the lawn/verandah/balcony with a cold beer and good company. I want to live in camper vans and cross state lines with you. I don't care if the couch doesn't match the wallpaper. Just as long as you're in the room.

abc.

2011-08-18T11:15:00.003+08:00

I've seen the ABC game here and there and thought it might be a little bit of fun to share twenty-six things you may not know about me.

Age: 26. 27 in April.
Bed size: Currently, queen. I used to sleep in a king (bliss) and will soon be downsizing to a double.
Chore that I hate: Vacuuming. I keep a very tidy and clean house, but I abhore vaccuuming to such an extent that I will live with dirty floors and carpets for weeks.
Dogs: I don't own any but would love to one day, when the time is right. I love German Shepherds, Jack Russells and dachshunds. I wonder if it's possible for a Jack Russell dachshund cross (a Jackshund) to breed with a German Shepherd...
Essential start to my day: Breakfast and coffee. I don't understand how some people can function on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.
Favourite colour: Green. Particularly olive and pea green.
Gold or silver: I don't particularly like either, but prefer silver after it has worn and tarnished and turned an oxidised copper colour. My favourite metal to wear is brass.
Height: 5'7 1/2" or 171cm.
Instruments I play: Does knowing how to play Chopsticks on the piano count?
Job title: Sales and administration.
Kids: No thank you. Children make me seriously uncomfortable until they're well into their teens. I choose not to think too much about when and if I'll ever have kids, preferring to just wait and see if the time will ever come that I feel like having them.
Live: Perth, Western Australia.
Mother's name: Frances.
Nicknames: Megs, Meegs, Meegsie, Meegertons and a number of others that shan't be listed here.
Overnight hospital stays: A few times when I was quite young (a toddler? early primary?) for asthma.
Pet peeves: "I could care less." It's couldn't. Also misplaces apostrophes, like: "CD's", "1970's", "photo's". In fact, any major grammatical error really gets my eye twitching.
Quote from a movie: Anything from Liar, Liar. Especially, "I'm kicking my ass! Do you mind?" and "Here she comes to wreck the daaaay!"
Right or left handed: Right.
Siblings: One sister, younger than me by sixteen months.
Time I wake up: On work days, 7am if I'm working in the morning and between 7:30 and 8:30am if I'm working in the afternoon. On my days off, generally between 8 and 9am. I feel that sleeping any longer is a waste of the day.
Underwear: Basic cotton, please. No frills, lace, ties, bows, love hearts, flowers, and especially nothing unbreathable like polyester or silk.
Vegetable I hate: I don't hate any vegetable that I've tried. But I don't eat ginger (a root and spice, not a vegetable) or coriander (a herb).
What makes me run late: I'm rarely ever late, and consider it exceptionally rude to keep people waiting. My time is no more valuable than anyone else's.
X-rays I've had: Teeth, middle finger, wrist, ankle, knees.
Yummy food that I make: Spaghetti bolognaise. I know, apparently everyone can make a great spag bog, but you just havn't tried my spaghetti bolognaise yet.
Zoo animal: Tiger. I'm not sure why, because my favourite animal is the elephant.

one day you will be mine.

2011-08-17T13:14:00.004+08:00

Mark my words.

move. eat. learn.

2011-08-16T09:19:00.003+08:00

Rick Mereki is an independent filmmaker and illustrator based in Melbourne, whose short films "Move", "Eat" and "Learn" have become somewhat of an internet sensation in the last week or so. I'd only stumbled across and watched "Move", until a friend sent me the link to Mereki's Vimeo page, where I watched all three short films. They're simply stunning.

The films were commissioned by STA Travel, a travel agency targeted to students and the under-25. "A trip of a lifetime", indeed.

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films...

Visit Mereki's Vimeo or check out his Twitter.

she.

2011-08-15T11:16:00.004+08:00

laura makabresku

She (being me) is in desperate need of a haircut. My hair has often been referred to as "Go Go Gadget Hair" and is now waist and butt crack length (most similar to the first and fifth photos here). Unmanageable! And it's a two week wait at my hairdresser...