Thursday 31 May 2012

A day of study

Today was my third day of proper studying - my brain did die three hours in. So in order to avoid complete brain explosion, Marley and I went to the park. It looked a little bit like this.



I was also recently introduced to a website called 8tracks. This site is essentially a students music heaven! Well it could be anyone's heaven, however, the music is free to stream, thus, poor students heaven.


May two current favourite playlists these two.


[8tracks width="200" height="322" playops="" url="http://8tracks.com/mixes/768098"] [8tracks width="200" height="322" playops="" url="http://8tracks.com/mixes/791991"]


Both of them are super cheesy but I love them. I have been studying amazing well whilst listening to the music. I think it has helped that there are a lot of instrumental cover pieces rather than instrumental and voice - when someone is singing it makes me want to sing.


I apologise for the random changes that are happening to my blog. As a reward for studying today, I am giving it a bit of a reshuffle.


Hope you enjoy my playlists and have a lovely rest of the day!


xx


Tuesday 29 May 2012

On the home straight

Today I began studying for my second last set of exams at uni. I remember counting when I had 36 exams to go until I graduated (second semester of my first year) and now I am into single digits - 8 to go! I begin my first one next Tuesday and thought that I would pull together some motivation to power through these exams.


So this is what I came up with :)


motivational


motivational


motivational


motivational


yes!


Motivational


Motivational.


Motivational


The above one is my new desktop background. I am giving new things a go this year - next month I will be giving up sugar (artificial & cane) and using other natural low GI sweetners instead such as honey.


AND in other news, a winner has been named for the name the squirrel comp. Ruth from Join me Ruthie scored the winning name with Eugene (I promise it was all fair - boyfriend picked the name and he has no idea what I blog about - thank goodness!). The Bluebird Vintage bangle and tea cosy is heading your way! 


BUT, I have a second winner too. Katie Ek decided on Avo and to celebrate the launch of my little Etsy store early next month, I shall be sending a tea cosy over your way too! YAY!


So lovelies, keep an eye out for my little store. I shall be linking it up on here when it is LIVE!


Night all xxx

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Bluebird Vintage

If you go down to Cambridge street, you're sure of a big surprise.


If you go down to Cambridge street, you're better be in disguise.


For every bear that ever there was, will gather there for certain,


because you will find down there a shop called Bluebird Vintage!


(Think of the Teddy Bear's Picnic song - lame I know, but awesome at the same time).



Bluebird Vintage is quite possibly the coolest shop in Perth.  I actually have to restrain myself from visiting it out of fear of going broke. I discovered it a little over a year ago on my way home from the dentist and the residual local anaesthetic soon wore off once I entered this amazing little shop.



This shop is so beautifully presented in such a way that despite the sheer volume of cruios and objects, clothing and critters, everything has an absolutely perfect place. Run by Deb and Steven, the love for Bluebird Vintage and the history that each piece has is evident within the care and creative displays that is given to each object. Deb herself was more than happy to polish and clean some little Indian/Turkish silver containers that I had found during an earlier trip to Margaret River in the south-west.



Featured on We Love Perth in November last year,  the store feels as though you are entering a home. Racks of clothes, shelves of cameras and a myriad of taxidermy animals leaves you wanting to see every possible item within the store. Every visit leaves you finding new and interesting objects that were probably there on your first visit, but you managed to miss.









How cool is the fox? He has some serious attitude.


All in all, you got to let this shop speak for itself. If you live in Perth, pop down to Bluebird Vintage 288 Cambridge Street Wembley. I bet that you will not leave without buying something. If you don't live in Perth, move here or come on holiday. I promise you will not regret it.


As a special give away for Lily&Grace readers and because I am excited about my guest post over at Living in Yellow, I have this gorgeous teal snake skin bangle from Bluebird Vintage to give away, along with a tea cosy made by me (I will be opening up an Etsy store sometime next month to show case them).



All you gotta do is give this little guy/girl a name. Most creative wins. Easy peasy. Just make sure you are following Lily&Grace on Facebook and then leave a comment on either there or here with your chosen name. Winners announced 29th of May.




Have a wonderful day!


Monday 21 May 2012

Visual Journaling

About a year ago I went to a conference hosted by ANZATA (the Australia and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association) just to see what it was all about. We took part in all sorts of things from learning how the therapy is implemented in special needs schools, Indigenous communities and from a personal and therapeutic perspective.


One of the most interesting things I learnt was visual journaling. Until today, I had never really attempted to do a visual journal or even a page since the conference. I am not sure why. Time maybe? However, today I felt like a just needed to do it. So I did. I found that for an hour, I just sat and thought about my day and what I had done. I thought about the different things I had learnt (I like to learn new things everyday - be it about myself, Blake or just the world around me) and I just reflected. It was a very calming and relaxing process and I now feel ready to tackle the crazy week ahead.


So I thought I would share my very first page with you today (its nothing special, just what sort of came out). I am going to try and do a page every few days to keep my creative juices flowing and also just reflect on the days past.


For some videos on how to get started, have a look at Teesha Moore or head over to Daisy Yellow to get the 101 on Art Journaling






For some inspiration, go have a look at visual artist Amber Gibbs.  It looks a little like this. Pretty amazing stuff. Maybe one day I can be this cool :)



Sunday 20 May 2012

Bikram yoga.

Picture this.


Wednesday evening last week. 14 degrees Celsius outside. Shorts and a singlet. One hour. One 40 degree celsius room.


This is Bikram Yoga. I experienced my first class after my over-enthusiastic mind (who I am not talking to any more) convinced me that it would be a good idea. I was at the tail end of my icky flu and I must admit that the class kicked that flu to a place of no return, however the process was torture!


I started out looking relatively normal and finished looking like this



(That is my lovely friend Ruth who invited me along - she looked like a pro doing it)


Granted, I am still smiling but inside I am still melting. The ads for the class make it look like this, which I could deal with



(this is not an actual picture from the website, just what I imagined it would be like)


However, after the first five minutes and realising that the most appropriate position to be in during the standing poses was sitting, I began to resemble a poster that illustrated the warning signs of heat stroke.


Realistically, the class looks more like this



All in all, I think I will attempt another class. I think my biggest problem was in my effort to drink 3 litres of water before attempting the class, I forgot to eat. Big mistake. So next time, lots of food and water during the day.


Next attempt is on Wednesday. Wish me luck!



For people who live in Perth, I did the class at Bikram Yoga Joondalup where they have a 10 day unlimited pass of $20.


Wednesday 9 May 2012

Appetite Returns

So today is a very exciting day - my appetite has returned! For some, this may not be that exciting, but for me, an avid food LOVER, it is.


My appetite has returned after almost a week of being M.I.A. thanks to the evil man flu that I contracted.


Bung eye has gone (conjunctivitis it was not - blocked tear duct it in fact was). Sleep is still my #1 priority, but I can deal with that. Industrial phlegm (yes gross I know) production is dissipating  and I am beginning to feel less ugly-step sister, and more Cinderella again. Yay!


Okay, so returning to my appetite, I felt it was necessary to share with you the exact food that brought it back. Namely one specific carrot cake. Mmm! So in honour of said carrot cake, I am sharing the recipe with you. Try it. You cannot fail and it is AMAZING (it also uses 3-4 carrots which I conclude as a very beneficial dose of vitamin B and vitamin C).


Carrot Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting



Prep & Cook time 1 hour 45 minutes


Serves 12


Ingredients


1 cup (250ml) vegetable oil


1 1/3 cups (295g) firmly packed light brown sugar


3 eggs


3 cups firmly packed, coarsely grated carrot


1 cup (110g) coarsely chopped walnuts


2 1/2 cups (375g) self-raising flour


1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)


2 teaspoons mixed spice


lemon cream cheese frosting


30g (1 ounce) butter, softened


80g (2 1/2 ounces) cream cheese, softened


1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind


1 1/2 cups (240g) icing  (confectioner's) sugar



Method


1. Preheat over to 180C/350F. Grease deep 22cm (9inch) round cake pan; line base and sides with baking paper.


2. Beat oil, sugar and eggs in bowl with electric mixer until thick and creamy. Sit in carrot, nuts and sifted dry ingredients.


3. Pour mixture into pan; bake about 1 1/4 hours (check after an hour). Stand cake in pan for 5 minutes before turning, top-side up, onto wire rack to cool.


4. Meanwhile, make lemon cream cheese frosting. Once cake is cool, spread frosting over and sprinkle on some left over chopped up walnuts.


lemon cream cheese frosting


Beat butter, cream cheese and rind in a bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sifted icing sugar.


Tip You will need about three large carrots (540g) to make this recipe. Also, buy a 150g bag of walnuts and use the leftover 40g to sprinkle over the top - perfection!


This recipe is from the Australian Women's Weekly Cake Stall Cookbook


I am yet to fail at cooking one of the recipes in the book - a first!



 



Sunday 6 May 2012

June 1989 Bracelets


(Above image from Living in Yellow)


Go over to Living in Yellow and check out the June 1989 bracelet give away.


Story behind the bracelet (see above) is tragic but beautiful. I am going to go and order myself one.


xx

Karma is...

Karma is putting up a post about the 'man flu' and within 48 hours, going from Cinderella to walking infectious disease centre. Not only did my body feel it necessary to get the flu, my eye did as well.


  


I am off to quarantine myself with Dimetab, Vix, water and a WHOLE lot of sleep.


Bring on the vitamin C and antibacterial handwash. Thank God for eucalyptus and aloe vera tissues. My nose thanks you.


This case of nasty is off to bed.


Night all


xx


Wednesday 2 May 2012

Man Flu.

Man flu, possibly the worst disease to affect the human species - specifically males. It sends them into a state that is within inches of death and one can only pray for their committed partner/carer who has to nurse them through the 'illness'.


It sends our lovers from this:



To this:



As of yesterday, our household as been graced with the man-flu. So I thought, out of sympathy for the many other women around the world who have to deal with 'the man flu', I would bring together a summary of the important facts vs fiction of the man flu (according to Manflu.info - yes it is an actual website, go check it out!)


I have my weapons of choice at the ready and will be leaving the dog to take care of the patient while I go see Mary Poppin's at the theatre tonight. So excited!!!


This is how we deal with the Man-flu in our household (and a trip to Nando's)



Fact versus Fiction of Man Flu (according to Manflu.info)


1. Man Flu is simply a cold, the symptoms of which are greatly exaggerated by men.


FALSE - Man Flu is a serious and potentially life threatening illness, and will no doubt soon be on the Health and Safety Executive's list of Reportable Diseases. Man Flu is a distinct disease in its own right, and should not be misdiagnosed as a mere common cold.



2. Women can catch Man Flu


FALSE - Man Flu does not attack humans with the XX chromosome, only those with the XY chromosome. This genetic mutation effectively immunises females against Man Flu. This may account for the reason that women widely believe that Man Flu is actually just the common cold, but with a bit of extra drama thrown in for good measure.


3. The best way to deal with Man Flu is to just 'get on with it'


FALSE - Extensive research has proven that the only way to combat the crippling effects of Man Flu is complete withdrawal to the sofa and uninterrupted mollycoddling by the girlfriend / wife.


4. Men have a slower recovery rate from Man Flu than women do from the common cold


TRUE - The effects of Man Flu can linger for days and days, compared with just a few hours for the common cold. If the man is not permitted the correct period of convalescence following an attack of Man Flu he can be plunged back into a critical condition (see The Woman's Role as Carer).


5. Man Flu is just a way for men to get sympathy / time off work / time in front of the telly


FALSE - Man Flu is a bona-fide and debilitating illness, would men make a meal of that sort of thing?


6. The pain and suffering of Man Flu is similar to that of child birth


TRUE - Though at least with child birth it's all done and dusted in a few hours, but Man Flu can last for weeks...


7. The best cure for Man Flu is a cocktail of Night Nurse, Day Nurse, chicken noodle soup and whiskey.


FALSE - There is no cure for Man Flu. Once infected the afflicted can only hope that the gods roll the dice in favour of life rather than slow, lingering death.


8. While suffering from Man Flu, men would like nothing more than to go to work and try to forget about their affliction.


TRUE - However, men recognise the huge risk of spreading Man Flu to other men. Indeed, a single cough in the wrong direction could hold enough Man Flu germs to wipe out a small rainforest tribe.



Marley was far from impressed that someone else was getting all the attention. So she went off and had a sook. Love her!


Dressing up.

Today I thought I would share with you a collection of some of my favourite costumes that I have dressed up in for various occasions. I must say, over the years, I have established some what of a collection and I never fail to have an AWESOME time at a dress up party. 

Feel free to giggle at my expense. I do when I look at these photos. 

Halloween 2008: Every parents worst nightmare

Oktoberfest 2008: Beer wench (apologise to my lovely friend Karl for posting this photo :p)

2008 Pub night: I believe the theme was Cowboys and Indians

2010: 60s Murder Mystery Dinner party (Malcolm X and Twiggy) - after this night I  NEVER wore white tights again. I also recognise that I was WAY off being skinny enough to dress up as Twiggy but known the less, that is the character I was given. This was the first time my main man and I dressed up together. 

2010 Uniform Party: Sister Saintly and Father Feel Good

The Village People housewarming party 2011

Friends Super Hero's birthday party: Scooby Doo Gang (I was Velma). 

Drop Dead Famous themed Halloween 2011: Zombie Prom King and Queen

Blue/'B' Themed New Years Eve: Blue Ballerina and my mummy

And lastly, St Patrick's Day 2012. We just went as ourselves. In green. I made green glittery shoes for this costume (and blue ones for the above New Years costume). I will post a link in tutorials on how to make super glittery shoes. 

Hope you had a good giggle at my costume - or cringe. I am off to deal with a man who has the man flu and my last assignment at uni EVER! 

Night all. xx