Bob's Chandelier

I don't like B.o.B. really. I guess I liked a few of his early tracks for a week or so, but I've never attached myself to him, like I have to his counterpart artists such as Kid Kudi and Lupe Fiasco. I did however give his new album a listen on iTunes and I ended up downloading a track from it called Chandelier. It's actually really good. Give the video below a listen and see what you think.

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Yes, I'm still addicted to making these little images. Hope you like!

Swallows and Amazons

There is something about childhood that makes it so nice to revisit. Maybe it's the wonder you have about everything around you, the perspective of being only a couple of feet high, or maybe it's the fact you can wear and do whatever you want every day and feel no stress. Maybe. Well, if you like remembering bits of your childhood and have a vivid imagination, you need to read Swallows and Amazons. The book is actually in its 80th anniversary publication and is well worth a read.

Written by Arthur Ransome, the books is a tale of a group of children that play out on the river near their house on a boat called The Swallow and map out the islands and surrounding areas as if they were mysterious lands of pirates, natives, treasure and danger. They make war and make friends, as all children do in the end. It is such a fantastic read and I'd love you to read it to.

May your adventure begin!

A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words

Okay, I couldn't help myself. I made some more. Here they are. I'm going to bed now without making any more. I promise. 

Instagram + Photoshop = Fun

So I'm looking on the internet at a continual flow of images and photos with tumblr-like text scrawled over them and the thought struck me - I could do this myself. I love quotes. I write them in little Moleskin notebooks all the time. I write my own even. And I'm also a photographer of sorts. I have plenty of my own images. 

So I made some of my own. 

Here are my first batch. What do you think? I think some work better than others. I still have to perfect the art. It'll happen eventually I guess. In the meantime I'm going to keep uploading new ones. 

Have a great week everyone. 

Rooftop View

The other night I was out in the wonderfully mysterious city of Melbourne and we were having a rooftop cider at New Guernica (arguably the most indie bar in the whole town) and I noticed the amazing building roofs that I could see from where I was. I took a photo (naturally to share with all of you, my wonderful readers), and here it is.

I would really love to know what is actually in those rooms beyond those windows and tiles. Inexplicable piles of old maps? A trunk full of black and white photo albums? A parrot? Who knows. I'll let you ponder over that too.  

Wildwood

Colin Meloy must have woken up one morning and wondered about the large dark wilderness that seems to frame every part of human civilisation and ask himself what was actually in there. And, as readers of his mysterious novel Wildwood, we find out just how amazing the IP (Impassable Wilderness) is on the other side of the bridge in Portland, Oregon.

Meloy blends fantasy and reality so seamlessly that you almost believe that the hidden world could be true. Hmm. And to make the entire thing even more delectable - Carson Ellis' illustrations are perfect in every way. They were in fact the reason I walked into the dusty old bookshop on Bourke St. and picked up the book in the first place.

Go and get yourself a copy today and remember what it's like to get lost in the woods. You'll love what you find there.

Thoughts & Feelings of a Non-Sharer

This is my first attempt at blogging from my iPhone. Let's see if it works.

And if it does it will be my 300th post. Quite an achievement, wouldn't you say. But, then again it is due to your wonderful reading and comments that it goes on.

In fact, the other day someone at work started talking to me about my blog and asked me why I always had posts about curious finds and interesting photos, etc. but never anything about my personal thoughts or feelings. I hadn't really thought about it before, but I've had some time to do so, and I'll give it a shot. 

PERSONAL THOUGHTS and FEELINGS 

I believe that you create yourself and that you shouldn't scour the planet trying to "find" yourself. If you wait until you're perfect or complete before you do something, you'll never do anything.

You only become more complete when you complete tasks and goals that you set for yourself. Go get it. Still, in saying that I also feel under accomplished in many ways. When you're 5 or 6 years old you think by the time you're 25 you'll be married with a house, dog and dream car. But life doesn't always turn out the way you imagine it will. However, that isn't a reason to stop and feel sorry for yourself (which I have a tendency to do - as well as believe virtually everything I read, although that's irrelevant).

Instead, pick a goal and start making small steps towards it every day. I want to publish a book. Great. But I havent written it because I'm sure no one is going to buy or read it. Rubbish. Instead, I should write it to completion, spend some money editing and perfecting it, and then spend energy finding a publisher.

That's what life is about. So there is an insight into my feelings and thoughts. It kind of felt good. Might just do it again. I'm off to read on my garage roof in the sun now. I'll blog soon about that. So long beloved readers and followers.

Talk soon.

Green Smoothie Delight

Just the other day I was bragging on facebook about the cucumbers I’ve recently grown, and two friends of mine suggested that I put them into a green smoothie. “Ew” is what I just heard you say. I know. But I put my trust in their ideas and got to work, chopping up a cucumber, some spinach leaves, two Granny Smith apples, some celery, and some fresh mint from my herb garden.  I then blended it all with a bit of water and I was left with a strange looking, very fresh smelling smoothie. It tastes amazing. Not only did it taste great but it does wonders for your health too. The main benefit of the smoothie is that it helps your body eliminate acids and create an alkaline environment, one in which disease (including cancer) simply cannot grow. Thus you can see the benefits.

So here’s the basic recipe:

Two Granny smith apples, diced (not peeled).

A handful of baby spinach leaves.

Several fresh sticks of celery, chopped.

A large cucumber, sliced.

Place in a blender with a cup of water or so. You may need to add water if needed to retain a drinkable consistency. Make sure you blend it well, you don’t want to choke on an unblended piece of apple peel or chunk of celery. For a flavour hit try adding organic juice instead of water, or fresh/frozen berries.

Enjoy. Let me know if you like it.

Thanks to Janelle and Nicole for getting me onto them! And to Janelle for texting me pictures of her shake in progress. 

Chamomile Assistance

I was flicking through a beginner's guide to aromatherapy I bought for 99c at a local thrift shop and I stumbled across Chamomile. It's actually indigenous to Britain. Apparently it's been used in the past for its cooling effects on fevers and also as popular shampoo. Well there you go. It's also great for gastro-intestinal problems, the book goes on, and can ease muscular pain and brings relief to those suffering with varicose veins. It can be used to alleviate acne, psoriasis, and cold sores. Bet you didn't know that. In fact, it suggests growing your own and drying the flower heads to make tea. And my friend Leah was reading a book called De-Stress and told me I should put cooled down infused tea bags on my eyes to relieve them too. I'm now on a search for the very chilled-out chamomile plant for an addition to my herb and vegie garden. If you find one, let me know.

Big M-ilk Addiction

I have a new addiction. Big M Iced Coffee. I'm not sure if you can get these overseas, but in Australia these are a national icon. However, ever since being a small and witty child I have been unable to drink milk as it is, flavour or no-flavour. But the other day someone got me onto a frappe which didn't kill me or give me anaphylaxis, which got me thinking about the Big M situation. I had one a few weeks go, and I've pretty much had at least one every day since. Oh dear. They've got 20 grams of protein per 600ml which is fantastic for gym, however they've got 56% of your recommended daily intake of sugar. Hmm. I'm still going to ride with it while my metabolism can take it. And I'm drinking litres of green tea to keep it that way. If you can get your hand on one, do so. Get on it.

While you're at it, watch this.

On Safari

I've liked Jinja Safari since their wonderful first single Peter Pan. It makes me think of running through the forest dressed in Native American attire, swaying fire sticks, planting things, faux fur and bells. I love it. So in recognition of my ongoing (and newly reignited) love of them here's a video for you to enjoy. Sway and frolic away!

Vegetable Patch Update

My organic vegetable patch that I planted a few months ago has really moved ahead and I've started getting some great produce all of my own. Thought I'd share. I've enjoyed piles of heritage lettuce (non GM) however the leaves are very bitter so I am reluctant to use them all of the time. The next batch I plant will be butter lettuce or iceberg or something equally as boring.

I also just helped some neighbours move in next door and they had a huge vegetable patch and herb garden at home, and they told me to take cutting or bits of whatever I wanted. I've now added a thyme plant, some parsley, a few roquette lettuces, some Australian mint, peppermint, oregano, and sage. Quite the herb garden! A german tourist whose been staying at my place announced to me the other day that he found cucumbers growing. There are a heaps on the way, still small but developing pretty quickly. I can't wait to make some green smoothies out of them. (Thanks Janelle and Nicole for the idea).

Anyway, I've just popped in another tomato plant and some sage seedlings and a less-gag-producing lettuce so I better go water them. Have a great sunny afternoon everyone.

eCard

I have seen these eCards for a while now. They pop on my Facebook newsfeed, my Instragram newsfeed, my actual newsfeed. They're everywhere. Well I just found out that you can log on and make your own. And then email them to people. Just like that. You pick from a huge array of vintage artwork and add your own quirky or vaguely offensive statement, choose a colour, and hey presto you've got an eCard of your very own creation. Here's a few beauties I found. Go make your own today. It's terribly fun. 

Healing Thoughts

It's back to work time and I for one am rather vacillating in my thoughts about it. I know all of my colleagues are going to be hateful and down in the dumps about the new year starting with a prospect of a whole new year of work, (and to be honest I am a little bit that way inclined already). But In don't want to feel that way. At all.

The reason I start this post like this is because I'm currently reading a book by Louise L. Hay. It's her 25th anniversary edition of You Can Heal Your Life and it is amazing. Basically, the book is written in chapters with each chapter designed as a step of a larger process; one that is designed to help you in effect heal your own life. You begin by identifying your personal struggles or problems, figuring out where this problem came from, asking yourself if the issue you have is true or not, deciding what to do next, getting over resistance to change, identifying how to change, building a new reality for yourself, and then making the new reality your own true reality. It's amazing.

So you can see how this is related. I have a problem: Hating the idea of going back to work. Perhaps even feeling trapped or stale in my career. But there is a whole new way of thinking about the situation. In fact, thinking is a major component of the solution.


Let me illustrate it this way. Let's say the problem you have is financial. You never seem to get ahead. You live in debt. It feels as if there is no way out and you'll be like this forever. Now examine your thoughts. Stop yourself mid-thought and discern what that thought is. Is it positive or negative? What are you thinking as regards yourself and your finances. You probably think something along the lines of, "I just can't win." Or, "I'm not worthy of a comfortable life." Or perhaps you believe that debt and burdens are just necessary in life.

Now comes the change. If you think something is true, it becomes true for you, (and we're not talking about fairies here). If you believe you can't get out of the debt you're in, you never will. If you start believing that you can get out of debt, (which will in turn create a different outlook and different actions on your behalf), you will positively work towards a solution. And in time the solution becomes your reality. You're no longer in financial worries. Of course, it's not magic. You have to work at it. But it does work.

So I am thinking positively about my future, especially when it comes to my work. I will believe that my work is going to make me happy. It will challenge me and help me grow as a person. I will benefit from it, and I will enjoy it. There you go.

Now I'll get back to reading. Put it into practice people!

New Suede Shoes

I just bought a pair of these. Had to share. They go with literally everything I've ever bought. Get yourself a pair too. They're from ZU Shoes. The style is called 'Reflect' and they are in the colour 'Ice'.

2012 Fashion Forecast

2012 has begun. This year fashion will return to the 90s; a time where Angela Landsbury and Murphy Brown were synonymous with both brains and good taste in clothing, when people wore jackets often, where it was expected that you'd brought a jumper in case the weather changed, and shoes were comfortable. Add a few blazers (shoulder pads optional), some understated shoes that are both comfortable and attractive, a pair of chinos in a nondescript colour and a huge leather bag. You'll be all set. Here are some photos to get you inspired.

Instragram It

I was introduced to Instragram about six days ago and I seriously cannot get enough of it. It's an app for iPhone (and probably other, not-as-wonderful phones) and it turns your ho-hum photos into something marvellous and beautiful. It's great. Here's a few of my new creations. If you've got it already follow me! My username is landoftakewhatyouwant. Ok, I'm off to go Instagram some more. Very addictive.