Tuesday 27 March 2012

health food section

I have recently rediscovered my addiction for VEGE chips. I feel that my love for them is justified as a healthy addiction as the location for these delicious delights in the supermarket is the health food section. I have a sense of respect for any food from the health food section as I believe some product researcher has labelled that product as healthy enough to justify its placement in said section. This therefore removes any guilt I may have from consuming said foods from the health food section.

I write this post as I enter the final chip count in my packet. It has been a wonderful guilt-free journey and I look forward to many in the future.

Sunday 25 March 2012

Oh to be a dreamer

This video from the Joy of Books (and also posted on Frankie) is a beautiful tribute to books and the mystery that they hold within their covers. I could watch it over and over again and still be mesmerized. Makes me want my bookshop even more.


[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8&w=853&h=480]

Saturday 24 March 2012

Williams Street Market

Sunday, in avoidance of doing any uni work what so ever, I ventured out into the big wide expansive world and caught up with some lovelies for lunch and then discovered the William Street Market in Northbridge. Now it may not be the Notting Hill Markets, but it was still lovely to see Perth getting a bit dolled up and becoming a bit more cultured. Here is how my day went down.



First I had an iced chocolate at a lovely cafe called Cantina 663 (go there, it is amazing). I also ate what was named a "corned beef sandwich". I would refer to it as a deluxe, gourmet, plate of deliciousness.



 After that, I caught the train for the first time in a hundred years into the city with Alyssa from SewFemme and Ruth from Join me, Ruthie. We then ventured into Northbridge and found the William St Markets.


(P.S at this point, I should let you know that a bobby pin just fell out of my hair and onto my neck - i practically died of fright! Just needed to share. Sorry. Continuing).



Perth brought out its BEST weather for the day. This is looking across the intersection so it looks quite empty - was super busy though!!!



Alyssa got excited when she found this scarf at Vintage Dori. She promptly bought it.



It got hot so we bought snow cones. I had a green one.



Then we found the most amazing little shop. Hiding away. Upstairs. With only a little sign to show you the way (and a whole lot of clothes hanging out the window) Oh Henry! Vintage.



The shop was AMAZING. Cutest little place ever. And best kept secret (secrets will be exposed in May)



We all found dresses that we adored! Doesn't Alyssa look like a 50s housewife! She even had the pearls on and hair styled appropriately.




And on the way home, back to the train, Ruth found this precious suitcase at We Heart Vintage Perth. She is not quite sure what it is going to be used for yet.



All in all it was a lovely outing. I was super proud of my restraint I showed myself. I ended up leaving with a compact and doiley from the Retro Vinnies and we all left with our beautiful dresses from Oh Henry! Vintage.


Definitely worth checking out the markets next time they are in town. Apparently the William Street Market happens once every few months.


Anyway, enough procrastinating for me. I am off to find some cake with my little brother.


Night all xxx

Sunday 18 March 2012

Mon Amour Monday | On a Sunday

This past week has been stupidly busy. I don't like stupidly busy days. I prefer to feel as though my body isn't being pulled in different directions by all the things I need to do. So, sleep kinda took priority (sleep is generally my #1 priority regardless) and Mon Amour Monday had to wait a week. This weeks Mon Amour has taken on a sort of "up-cycle" theme. So here it is.


Coming in at number one// This lighting installation at a Taco place at the boat harbour near my house. It looks a hundred times better in real life and talk about up-cycling! I also ate a giant piece of chocolate cake (appropriately named the "Big Fat Chocolate Cake") and my friend Jon got the berry cheesecake.




Number Two// Bringing life back to old thrifted earrings. For the tutorial click here. (Please excuse the elephant skin appearance of my poorly moisturised hands - I am lazy).



Number Three// Feeling absolutely inspired and creative in my new little desk space after I gave it a mini makeover last weekend. It kind of was looking a bit like a storage facility that I was attempting to work in (Blake had previously used it as a dumping ground for parts for his Simulator and had sorta not moved anything even though I had to study at the desk). It now looks beautiful, clean and most importantly Simulator parts free. I LOVE it!



Number Four// Girls nights in and chocolate brownies and mexican food and wine and everything amazing. Spice girls also somehow made it there and a lot of planning happened for an upcoming July girls trip. Yay! (And yes, lollies in martini glasses are essential!)




Number Five// This photo. I just want to smush her! 



And....

This post about all the pretty flowers featuring in current interiors. So jealous of the northern hemisphere as they head into Spring.

These GOURMET chocolate chip cookies. They are simply made better through the use of the word 'Artisian'. I think I will have to make them sometime this week - will keep you posted.

Super cute Easter DIY's. I love Easter holidays. They always have perfect weather and I love getting my craft on over the extended public holidays. And of course, the reason behind Easter. It is just a beautiful time of year.

My super amazing green glitter St Patrick's Day Shoes! Check out the tutorial over here and see the rest of my costume.

And finally this post over at Cafe Cartolina. Don't you just love the little yellow teapots?

Friday 16 March 2012

Latest Girl Crush

Sorry my dear Blake but someone else has come into my life. Her name is Emilie Sandé. She is INCREDIBLE. Hailing from Scotland, the girl has some serious talent. She has a set of vocal chords that are soulfull and liberating. I get tingles just listening to her. She is my latest iTunes most repeated played song.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nwdjQmc_N8&w=853&h=480]

Tuesday 13 March 2012

dear customers

I work in retail and some days I just feel like getting some customers and taking them to a seminar or some boring lecture of sorts on how to be a good customer. I am not saying that all customers are bad. Gosh, I am a customer a lot of the time and I would hate to be thought of as a bad customer, but some people SERIOUSLY need a lesson in being a normal customer. So I felt a public service announcement of sorts might be necessary. Here goes. My letter to all those terrible customers out there.

March 13 2012

Dear Painful Customers,

It has come to my recent attention that there is an increasing level of rude, arrogant and just simply painful customers. I am not sure whether the issue lies with the increasing availability of technology, the decreased level of common courtesy or just simply a complete lack of common sense/increased moron-ness (I don't think that is a word but it is now).

My role within the 'retail sector' is to 'assist you' in finding the most suitable product for your needs (within reason) - this is according to my position description. It also includes things like 'maintaining a tidy store appearance' and 'reconciling the point of sale at the end of the day'. NO-WHERE within my position description does it say 'putting up with customers crap'. However, the vast majority of the time I do, because I suppose that is what retail is all about.

What I feel is necessary in order to achieve a good service to the public and my fellow retail assistant is make this proposition: That everyday, when I go to work, I will do my best to be the politest, most helpful and patient person I can be on the condition that you will attempt to follow the following five 'guidelines'.

Number 1: Say hi back when I say hi to you and ask you how your day is before you bombard me with questions.

Within the retail sector, we have 'steps' that our company enforces for us to 'engage' with the customer. 99.9999999999999% the first step is to 'warmly greet said customer'. I have to greet hundreds of customers everyday and general do so with a smile. What I don't appreciate is when I have put all this effort in to provide you with a fantastic opening line and you just shut me down. I know a lot of people know the feeling of having a cracking opening line (aka Joey from Friends "How you doin?) and then just having it totally squashed back in our face with "_______________ (blank face)" or "I'm looking for (insert product/thing/stupid thing we would never even stock). We are just saying hi. Following procedures. Just say hi back. PLEASE. It makes me feel ten times better about having to repeat myself consistently. I will not bombard you with the latest products or sales or whatever. I personally hate being hassled so will leave you to wonder the store by yourself UNLESS you need help. I will always ask if I can help you find anything if you look lost/confused. Just say hi back.

Number 2: Get off the phone/take your headphones out if you want to talk to me.

I cannot begin to understand the amount of times that people ask me a question and then return to their phone before I have even answered and then look at me blankly when I don't answer them. I have been raised to not interrupt others. If I have taken the time to listen to your question, PLEASE take the time to listen to my answer. Secondly, TAKE THE HEADPHONES OUT! It is like talking to a person with ear plugs in. You can't hear me when I give you an answer and I really don't enjoy repeating why the glue you have selected is going to eat the polystyrene foam ball you have because it contains acetone. I prefer to do my grocery shopping whilst listening to music because it seems to make it go faster, but unless that track you are listening to is instructions on how to breath (inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale) I don't think it is necessary to keep them in whilst you are talking to me.

Number 3: Take note of the refund/exchange policy.

It is there very a reason. To protect you. And to protect us. Please don't try and return things simply because you bought too many or that they were the wrong thing especially after we have told you that you have more than enough or that it won't work. We tend to "know what is best" as this is generally our area of expertise. We are kind of trained to know the products we are selling. Further more we will not return/exchange the following items: Products you have destroyed by not following the instructions properly (instructions are there for a reason) , products you have simply destroyed by not looking after them, paint that is the wrong colour (seriously, it costs $2.99 - its not that much of a disaster), your 1c refund because you bought the wrong size and paid cash and the credit not takes into account not cost of the product and not the fact you paid cash and finally the oil based paints that require turpentine to clean up that you gave to your four year old (who has now destroyed your couches) which you bought because they were on special and we warned you not to let a child use them.

Number 4: Listen to our advice/let us help you (it's kinda our job) and keep an eye on your kids. 

We know where the products in the store are so please don't insist on attempting to drag your dual child carrying monster truck of a pram through the store. We will go and get the product for you and show you all the options. We also know what is appropriate for your needs and that plasticine is not the same as silicone mould compound and that I wouldn't recommend pouring plaster into it. The alternative is screaming children, broken fixtures/products and you getting cranky with us for having a store that is too small for your needs. In reference to children, please supervise them. I swear that the number one cause of lost stock in our store is not from theft, but from stupid children (I love children, I promise) insisting on squeezing the paints all over the aisle floor whilst left to run loose. I have also seen children pull the stock pegs off the shelves and bash siblings with them and another child who insisted on using a shelf as a stage and then fell off, smacking her head on the concrete floor. Not cool.

Number 5: Don't expect me to be an information bureau or a tourist information desk. I am not the Yellow pages/Google. 

I will happily tell you where the toilets are in the shopping centre (because I go to them and the alternative of a child busting for the loo in my store is something I don't even want to think about). I will probably be able to tell you where a lot of shops in my shopping centre are. I am not however, Google. So please don't look at me like I am a boring because I have no idea where to by "that thing that you use to do that thing". Also, if you don't like my suggestions because you have already tried there/they are too far, don't ask me if I have any more ideas as to where you could get said "thing" from. I have already exhausted my information services. Furthermore, don't ask me if we sell bathmats, phone credit, prescription glasses, corn cob holders, novelty mugs, batteries, light globes, cutlery, calendars, diaries (dates etc), greeting cards or invitations that are already made (then again, products that are already made/painted/created/ready-to-go). Please read the name of our store. It does quite clearly explain the products we contain. We are not a dollar store. We are not Mary Poppin's carpet bag.


I trust that you will take the above advice without being too offended. I am fortunate enough to get at least one customer every day who is like an angel sent from Heaven. The perfect customer. Thank you to those customers that make my day seem a lot less painful. I also apologise for the length of this letter however, for my fellow retails assistants, it had to be said.

Warmest Regards,

Lindsay

Retail Assistant

 

 

Wednesday 7 March 2012

The world according to Marley


I am Marley. I am two and a half in people years. I provide love and affection and don't like being left alone.


Likes


Anything that you are eating. And I am mean ANYTHING. I will ask for, but not eat, the following: chocolate, lettuce, toast (except vegemite toast), grapes, tomato and potato. I have a partial liking for cheese and icecream.


Snoozing on the big people's chair. In front of the tv. Preferably with Dr. Phil or the sorts on. Actually, just sleeping in general. I don't however, like  the Kardashian's and will relocate my sleeping location if they come on.


Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Morning Tea. Afternoon Tea. Elevensies. High Tea. Midnight snacks. Whatever time it is, it is an appropriate time to need food. Basically I LOVE food.


The park next door to my house. If you open the front door, or even slightly head in the direction of the front door, that signifies I have a free right to go to the park. With or without your permission. I also like walks. Especially ones without a lead.


Kisses!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE giving kisses. Whether you want some or not, I will give you kisses. I have gotten the art of camando sneaky kisses down to a T and will not fail in my mission to give you kisses. My favourites are ones to your nose and when your mouth is open.


DISLIKES


Being relocated because you want my sleeping spot for sitting/sleeping. Yes your bed is the most appropriate place for me to rest and yes I believe that you should sit on the other couch because I was here first.


The magpies at the park. They swoop me. They are mean.


You making me think I am going somewhere exciting when really you are just trying to get me in a) the car or b) the house.


The sun that seems to follow me when I am sitting in the car when we go on drives. I can't escape it. It is hot and disrupts my sleep.


My adoptive dad finding it amusing to pull a sock over my face while he gets ready for work. How would you like it if I put a sock over your face?


That is all. Snooze time.


xx


Monday 5 March 2012

Mon Amour Monday

I have decided that in order to give the week a lovely start, Monday will forever be known as Mon Amour Monday Loves day for the following reason.


Monday has the word 'mon' which is French for 'my'. So that means that Monday really is "my" day. The idea of having a day dedicated totally to oneself is both slightly exciting and significantly obnoxious. Thus, I decided to have a bit of a further thing and figured that 'mon' does make up one of my favourite sayings "mon amour" which is also obviously French meaning "my love" or "my sweetheart". So without further ado, I present to you "Mon Amour Monday" aka My Loves Monday.


One// These super cute vintage floral tags from over at Packagery. I have printed them off onto white textured cardstock and they look oh so sweet! (Photo is from Packagery as I have not used them yet)




Two// Pineapple flowers on a Hummingbird cake from over at FoodComaNot only do they look super dooper sweet, but they are easy as pie to make.




Three// This pin that is oh so true. Oh how the simple things make us happy.




Four// This is probably my favourite quote from one of my favourite movies. It is so simple yet it is so powerful. Gosh I do love Abileen and The Help.




Five// My best friend with four legs. She is precious, sweet and most of the time human (until she eats, then she turns into the cookie monster)



Finally, last loves for the day.


Message from friend to go meet her potential new husband (love seeing my friends happy)


Despite it being a public holiday today that us university students don't get off, I am excited to go to class with no traffic, stupid amounts of parking and feeling like I still achieved something while the rest of the state has the day off.


Old frames made new again with a coat of white spray paint. My desk now looks AMAZING.


The clear blue sky outside and the sea breeze signifying that the best of summer is here (despite it being the beginning of Autumn).


That is all for today. Have a lovely Monday and enjoy the fabulous start to a wonderful week.


xxx

Sunday 4 March 2012

Super Dooper Cute Tea Cosy


I have been wanting to make tea cosy's for quite some time now. There is something about them that is so warm and comfortable looking. Kind of like a favourite scarf. And of course I do love tea in a tea pot, no thanks to my fathers obsessant  need for "proper tea" from a teapot or my love of making a cup of tea in a teapot for when I study (basically I do the tea, sugar and milk all together). But I will not continue with my reasoning for the need of a tea cosy (aside from it's obvious feature of keeping your tea warm) as I fear it may continue into my love of tea cups and why they are still a necessity as this is a whole other blog post.


 I have recently started making an embroided/patchwork owl tea cosy which so far is looking super cute and coming together nicely. A friend of mine linked me to the website Patons which is home a wide range of patterns for both cross stitch and knitting (cross stitch I have never, and the pessimist inside of me believes will never, grasp the understand/technique of). I found this tea cosy pattern and not only do I love the mono-chrome black and white colours (obviously you don't have to do these colours) but it looks relatively simple to make (my knitting is limited at scarves - one continuous lot of knitting. Nothing fancy as my brain cannot comprehend it).


So, I just thought I would share it with you all because I do like it ever so much. On a blogging note, go check out my friend Ruth's new blog Join me, RuthieShe, unlike can crochet however, we do share a love for crafts, Etsy and FINE coffee and food. She has just kicked off Cafe March in which she basically goes to a few new cafes every week in March (it is a part of her New Years resolution which you can read all about over on her blog (last month she was a vegan). Super lovely read and looking forward to watching her blog GROW.


On the home front, life has been super busy. Spent Friday at the Hyatt with Blake for a bit of a stay-cation. We ate WAY to much food. Was lovely. Yesterday we went to the Ideal Home Show for a bit of a peruse to see what is new in the home building industry and have taken a liking to the idea of building a Passive Solar Home (read about that here). Last night we went/helped out at a friend's charity trivia night for the Suicide Prevention Council of Australia which was hugely successful. Today I am recovering (we got home at around 2am - FYI I am a total nanna and find being in bed passed midnight as a HUGE night regardless of whether I was studying, at a charity night or actually out in the city).


So, that is about all for today. Nothing too interesting. Just a catch up for the week.



P.S Last week was Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week. Jump across here to the Ovarian Cancer website to learn about all the important work that the Ovarian Cancer Australia group do and how you can support them. March 15-17 is World's Greatest Shave is on and friend Emma Kitching is going to be SHAVING her long locks off! (girl is BRAVE) so PLEASE head over to her sponsor page and drop in a little bit of molla. Every little bit counts (even $5) and it all goes to vital cancer research and support (we all know the benefits that these charities especially when someone we know has been affected by cancer).


Okay that is all now I promise. Until next time xxx