Get Awkward And Say Cheese

If you haven't already (you probably have) you seriously need to stop whatever you're doing, unless you're driving a plane, and have a look at this website. I can't stop laughing. These photos are hilarious. Awkward, yet strangely nostalgic. They're from Awkward Family Photos, a website devoted to showing you the most awful of all family portraits. Get on it. Here's a couple to whet your appetite for the grotesque and bizarre.

Gives a whole new meaning to "teddy bear picnic".

I guess not everyone stops to help on the scene of a car accident. Some see it as a bit of a chance for a new family photo.

All that hair! I am seriously looking at this picture the same way this boy is looking at the camera. Eek.

His wife is totally in his head already. Happy life ahead brother.

Go and have a laugh all on your own here: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

Scandal Galore

I was at VegeBar the other day for lunch and decided to pop across the road to the bookshop and I found a very battered copy of The Sanfield Scandal, a green penguin mystery dating back to the 40s. I'm really enjoying it. It has a very Agatha Christie feel to it, though the male author makes it less pretty and more direct. Nice. See if you can scrounge up a copy.

A Curious Sound

The other night I went and saw the Jezebels with some very fun friends and it was one of those gigs where you end up liking the pre-band entertainment more than the actual band you went to see. Though, don't get me wrong. I thought the Jezebels were rather good. Very good in fact. If I had that tiny little lady's voice I would never have to worry about voice projection in any situation ever again. However the first support act was really fun. Kind of like a blend of Sia's We Are Born album and Muscles' electric synth-pop sounds. Loved it. Check them out on the link here.

I think if they got a little bit more money behind them and put it into a slightly better recording quality they'll go far. Not long boys.

At The Bottom Of My Garden

I put a small glazed water bowl in my garden a year or so ago and all it has done is breed mosquitos for the most part. But the other day I was rummaging around and found this big frog in the bowl! In fact, I could actually hear him/her croaking at night for weeks, (I think because it croaks that means it's a boy, but I'm not sure. Didn't look that closely). So there you have it. Go check out a puddle near you.

Clean Out Required

I have a messy car. Yes, I'll admit that. But I love it, and when it gets a bit ridiculous I clean it. Like when there's a few too many apple cores in the cupholders, or when guests can't actually put their feet on the floor due to the build up of what looks like post-tsunami detritus. Well, this photo is of my car too. I was actually just transporting/transplanting it but it just looked like my car had got so dirty that it was sprouting papyrus. Thought I'd share.

Calendar Girl

This is the current picture on the 2011 Emily the Strange calendar that hangs on the little piece of wall between my wardrobe and my window. I don't even really like Emily the Strange, since Emo kids took her over and made her their queen, but nonetheless I like the illustrative work and there she will hang. Enjoy April.

Shleich Fun

Make your own. Found these on Flickr. Or Ebay. Somewhere online. But we could totally make our own.

Paleontologists Never Die

I went and saw The Last Dinosaurs play at the Northcote Social Club the other night and they did not disappoint. Much better than then other bands that preceded them. Much like actual dinosaurs were much better than the drivel that preceded them. Here's a close up pic just because you're following this blog. Stay curious.

The Hawks Slaughter Melbourne

My first AFL match of the season was amazing. Not only did my beloved Hawks come back from a hideous first two quarters and 25 behinds, they won by a delightful 40 points. Yes, we're amazing. Thank you. Here's a pic from down on the ground. have a great week everyone.

Autumnal Roast

Recently, on way through the city on my way to Torquay, I popped in at VegeBar and had the best vegetable roast I have ever had. So, since then I've been thinking about it until I finally just decided to make my own. Here's the recipe. Make it. You'll love it.

You'll need: 4 or 5 Carrots

6 Potatoes

1 large Sweet Potato

1 Butternut Pumpkin

Chop up all of your vegetables (about 1 inch square) and chuck them into a pot of boiling water until they're par-boiled (15 min or so).

Mix up olive oil, thyme, four cloves of garlic, and a huge dollop of active Manuka honey. Pour this mix all over the vegetables in a pan.

Roast for 20-30 min until slightly black around the edges.

Accompany with a blob of hummus and tzatziki (seperately) with toasted turkish bread pieces. Garnish with a little green salad.

Inspirational 50's

Just thought you might need some inspirational 50's Bakelite crap on polished shelves. Note the delightfully bland yellow typewriter. I want one.

Money Grows In Rabbits

Fancy a grassy rabbit? Knew you did. It's actually a money box as well so you'll be making money after you buy it, so it's virtually free. Grab one soon. You can get one here: http://www.greenergrassdesign.com/strmln-grass-rabbit.html

Big Day Out Highlights

The crazy zinc men I met in the boiler tent.

A band more people should be obsessed about.

Some quiet time on the grassy knoll with my hipster friend.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

(Yes I was that close!)

Sia - Amazing and oddly awkward hilarity.

Lenkalicious

While I'm on the subject of Lenka, a cheerful and cutesy singer from good old Australia who warms the heart of Hollywood and grown up children everywhere, I thought I'd mention that I've met her. At a small show of hers in Melbourne I was lucky enough to meet her afterward. She's so great. She made me a badge which I still have. She told me she made them herself and that I shouldn't be surprised if it broke. It hasn't, yet. She also talks a lot during her show in between songs which I like. My faourite thing she said was, "It's good to be back in my hometown. Well, it's not my hometown... but it is a town." Ha. Adorable. She also said she liked my chair dancing. Flattery gets you everywhere.

Friendly Trouble

I want to live in this forest. If only life was actually water colour and sketches. Trouble is a friend of mine too though. Can't escape it. Make as well sing about it.

Starlit Waters and Native Hills Are Calling

This is the Puri Saron hotel in Seminyak, Bali. Yes, it's amazing. Yes it opens directly onto the beach. Yes it is surrounded with fragrant frangipani trees and has a bar in the pool. Yes it's tropical and just a little bit fancy. Yes it's reasonably priced. Yes it offers a perfect tanning area and is close to a boat that takes you out to remote islands and reefs to snorkel around. Yes I'm going. So let's all go and have a Curiouser Than Usual conference. Free Long Island Ice Teas on me. Yum.

How!

Here's a real headdress to make. Follow the instructions and get tribal. There are some awesome feathers on ebay. Get crafty.

Best In Show

This girl was by far the best dressed at Big Day Out this year. I was on the prowl for the best dressed and I ran into her in the queue for ticket check, in line for age verification bracelets, and at several stages. She had to win. I love the blue and yellow, great design and fun personality to go with it. Congrats. And the fact that it was vaguely American Indian inspired had nothing to do with my choice. I'm not partial. So there.

Garden Party

Why hello there. As I aforementioned I have gathered some delightful garden party photos from the picnic I attended in the sun on the aptly named Sunday. So here they are. Note the well dressed individuals and plethora of food.

Sunday Garden Party

A very good friend of mine has just moved into a new house and is having a housewarming picnic in their garden rather than the usual, overdone housewarming house party that drags on into the night with late music which instantly makes the neighbors hate you. So I'm heading off there in a moment and I thought I'd share my wardrobe. I went with what came to mind when I thought of 'garden party' although it inevitably morphed into nautical-esque attire. Can't help it. Enjoy the sun everyone. I'll take photos and share them soon.

Serving Dish

These plates don't seem too cool at first but a closer inspection will make you want one. The store on Etsy that makes them have over 100 of these beauties and they'd make a delightful addition to any homemaker's kitchen. Or wall. Have a looksy and be amazed. Good old Mr. T even gets a look in.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeatUpCreations?page=1&order=custom

I'm Back (in the surburbs)

Apologies for my lack of blog-exposure. Had a bit of a rough month or two. Back on track now. Let's get back with it. And to kick it off here's a great album that you really need to get. It's rock the way it used to be with the Arcade Fire touch. It is based on the theme of suburbia, one that I feel akin to, and the lyrics ring true to my life in many cases. Lines like, 'Kids wanna be so hard, But in my dreams we're still sreamin' and runnin' through the yard, And all of the walls they built in the seventies finally fall'. Love it. Check it out.

Big Headdress Out

This Sunday is Big Day Out in Melbourne and I for one am really exciting. And since Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are playing I'm going all Native American Indian and feathery. But I don't want to completely destroy the rather expensive one I bought online and have blogged about previously so I decided to make my own. So here is how you make a feather headdress and accompanying neckpiece.

Step 1.

Buy some feathers. Choose colours that will suit your outfit or the day for which you're making it. Be as adventurous or as natural as you like.

Step 2.

Get a selection of beads that will match your feathers. These are mainly for the neckpiece.

Step 3.

Go to you local craft shop (preferably a small business) and find yourself some ribbon. Get as detailed and intricate designs as you can, always remembering to stick with the colours you have already chosen for the feathers and beads. But feel free to add some more colour. More is always better. I got mine from a little craft shop called Craft Haven on Adams Lane in Berwick, (for more details check out the store here: http://www.crafthaven.com.au/). The lady there is really friendly and was eager to help so check out the little shop there if you can.

Step 4.

Cut your ribbon to match the cheap costume American Indian headdress you've bought from a discount or variety store. Then, layer the pieces symmetrically in the order you want them to be on the main headpiece.

[Side Note: I found Selleys Liquid Nails High Strength Construction Adhesive to work much better than PVA glue. Although it's used to build houses so just be careful where you put it. I almost permanently adhered several pieces of ribbon to my hand and then my hand to my desk.]

Step 5.

Trim the ribbons to neaten up the main headpiece once they are all stuck on.

Step 6.

Choose the feathers you want to build the centerpiece of your neckpiece. Then poke them all into a bead to keep them together.

Step 7.

Tie three beads onto a piece of twine evenly and then add the feather+bead combinations to them.

And here is the finished product.

Step 8.

Look incredible and have people wish they were you.

Lego Fame

This made me smile. I'm a Lego lover and have been since I could build blocks up and break them down. And I still am. Although I keep it a secret most times. However, this I just had to share with you. Famous people from history as Lego figures. Yes, a perfect match. Enjoy the rather curious likenesses. Want more? Have a gander at this: http://eurochampsleague.com/?s=famous+people+in+lego