live live to the max! (and no this is not endorsed by pepsi)

JF, this one's for you. Ever feel like life gets so busy that you can't fit in the things you mean to do or want to do? Cue inspirational quotes re: You only live once! Make the most of every moment of life! Live life to its fullest potential! Well recently it has occured to me, maybe you can achieve everything you want to do in life by maximising your time better; and Wednesday night was the perfect example of putting this theory into practice :)

JF and I had been meaning to see Little Red Riding Hood at the movies for a few weeks now, and it seemed as if we were constantly postponing it to next week (yes there's always a next week).  Just as we were renogiating a time for next week, JF said she would pop around to my house anyway to pick up her umbrella. Unbeknownst to her however, I spontaneously sprug on her that we were going to the movies right then and there! It didn't matter that it started in 10 minutes, nor that it was the latest session and we both had to work the following day-Now, I know that seeing a movie at 9pm on a "school night" may not be considered exactly ground-breaking by most standards, but for us it was more about the moral of the act-  Isn't this is what life is all about? Stepping out of your comfort zone and changing up your routine a little makes you feel that yes, you feel alive!

Luckily for me, I have a friend who I know who would laugh with me either way (whether she was a willing kidnappee or not!) which I think is a great testament to our friendship. What she may not have realised was that she was quite instrumental to the mindset of "make the most out of every opportunity life presents to you". Not so long ago, she told me that when she lived in San Fransisco, she made a promise to herself that she would say YES to life- to new experiences, adventures, friends which has really stuck with me.

Who makes the rules anyway that you have to sit in an office all day and work from 9am-5pm? Who makes the rules that you should be in bed by a certain hour? Oprah had Ryan Seacrest on her show the other day and when asked how he got to become so successful (and a millionare!) his response was that he got to where he did, not by being the smartest or the fittest or the most attractive, but by making time work to his advantage- He would fit in as much as he possibly could into his day to make sure he was living life to the limits. 

So to living life with no boundaries. xo

bumbles by buds beach

I had such an enjoyable time at the Gold Coast this past weekend. For breakfast on Sunday, G suggested we go to a gorgeous little new cafe, called "Bumbles" nestled away in Buds Beach. I wish I had a fully charged camera with me to take photos of the place! Instead, a few sneaky snaps on my iphone just had to do. I  am already looking forward to the next time I get to go back- I will definately be introducing it to family and friends :) 

 

Fresh pink and white roses

beige bows

tea light candles

The selection of sweets was to die for

Mid Sunday morning the place was packed- word travels fast!

Sneak peak from where we were seated into the cosy 'library' cafe space  

The pretty Miss G with the picture wall as a backdrop

Bumbles' pet owl perches amongst the sea shells

The old Queenslander/cottage has been transformed into such a beautiful space

Natural light filters in

just maybe

soarin'

As a kid did you ever imagine you were flying? Or if you could have any super power in the world it would be to fly? Well I guess human flight is something grown ups still dream of- and scientists are still working towards!

Well last year I went on a ride at Disneyland that was simulated to literally make you feel as if you were flying.  The ride starts with you sitting on a chair locked in with a seatbelt in a dark cinema type room.... the row of chairs is then lifted 45 feet in the air so your feet are dangling and all that is below you is darkness. You are then hoisted forward to be brought up close to a domed cinema screen.  This video below begins to play and you literally feel like you are flying. It is such an amazing sensation!

It was really cute because I sat next to this 8 year old blonde Californian girl and her parents- she told me she has an annual pass to Disneyland and this was her favourite ride. She was so excited that it was my first time there, and she narrated the whole experience to me "ohh we are about to fly over the orange blossom fields, can you smell the orange blossoms?!" and "lean forward here and it feels like you are flying even more! Extend your arms out like this!!" I heard her mum saying to her "Shh darling be quiet and let the lady enjoy it for herself". I couldn't stop giggling though. I love still being a child at heart.

gone with the wind

For my birthday, I received Gone with the Wind as a gift from my grandmother. It is a beautiful, albeit sad love story in which the heroine, Scarlett spends her life pining over a married man, whilst all the while, she has the attention of Rhett, who proclaims he loves her more than he'd ever loved any woman. Almost typically, at the conclusion, Scarlett realises that the man that was in front of her along, Rhett, was indeed the man of her dreams, but she has now dashed any hopes of them ever being together again. 

The following is a collection of some of the magnificient illustrations which were included in the gift set, and some of my favourite quotes to tell the narrative...

There was a land of Cavaliers and Cotton Fields called the Old South... Here in this pretty world Gallantry took its last bow... Here was the last ever to be seen of Knights and their Ladies Fair, of Master and of Slave... Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered. A Civilization gone with the wind...

Gerald O'Hara: Do you mean to tell me, Katie Scarlett O'Hara, that Tara, that land doesn't mean anything to you? Why, land is the only thing in the world worth workin' for, worth fightin' for, worth dyin' for, because it's the only thing that lasts.

Ashley: Isn't it enough that you've gathered every other man's heart today? You've always had mine. You cut your teeth on it.
Scarlett: Don't tease me now. Have I your heart, my darling? I love you. I love you.
Ashley: You mustn't say such things. You'll hate me for hearing them.
Scarlett: I could never hate you. And I know you must care about me. Oh, you do care, don't you?
Ashley: Yes, I do care. Oh, can't we go away and forget we ever said these things?
Scarlett: But how can we do that? Don't you... don't you want to marry me?
Ashley: I'm going to marry Melanie.
Scarlett: But you can't. Not if you care for me!
Ashley: Oh my dear, why must you make me say things that will hurt you? How can I make you understand? You're so young and unthinking. You don't know what marriage means.
Scarlett: All I know is that I love you! And you don't love Melanie!
Ashley: She's like me, Scarlett. She's part of my blood and we understand each other.
Scarlett: But you love me!
Ashley: How could I help loving you — you who have all the passion for life that I lack? But that kind of love isn't enough to make a successful marriage for two people who are as different as we are.

Rhett: Has the war started?

Scarlett: Sir, you... you should have made your presence known.

Rhett: In the middle of that beautiful love scene? That wouldn't be very tactful, would it? But don't worry, your secret is safe with me.

Scarlett: Sir, you are no gentleman.

Rhett: And you, miss, are no lady... Don't think that I hold that against you. Ladies have never held any charm for me.

Scarlett: Ooh, if I just wasn't a lady, WHAT wouldn't I tell that varmint.

Scarlett: Rhett, don't. I shall faint.

Rhett: I want you to faint. This is what you were meant for. None of the fools you've ever known have kissed you like this, have they? Your Charles, or your Frank, or your stupid Ashley.

[Rhett has brought Scarlett a new hat]
Scarlett: But really Rhett, I can't go on accepting these gifts although you are awfully kind.
Rhett: I'm not kind. I'm just tempting you. I never give anything without expecting something in return. Now, I always get paid.
Scarlett: If you think I'll marry you just to pay for the bonnet, I won't.
Rhett: Don't flatter yourself. I'm not a marrying man.
Scarlett: Well, I won't kiss you for it, either.
Rhett: Open your eyes and look at me. No, I don't think I will kiss you — although you need kissing badly. That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed, and often, and by someone who knows how.

Scarlett: [pleads with Rhett as he is about to leave to join the Confederate Army] Oh, Rhett! Please, don't go! You can't leave me! Please! I'll never forgive you!
Rhett Butler: I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'll never understand or forgive myself. And if a bullet gets me, so help me, I'll laugh at myself for being an idiot. There's one thing I do know... and that is that I love you, Scarlett. In spite of you and me and the whole silly world going to pieces around us, I love you. Because we're alike. Bad lots, both of us. Selfish and shrewd. But able to look things in the eyes as we call them by their right names.
Scarlett: [struggles] Don't hold me like that!
Rhett Butler: [holds her tighter] Scarlett! Look at me! I've loved you more than I've ever loved any woman and I've waited for you longer than I've ever waited for any woman.
[kisses her forhead]
Scarlett:  [turns her face away] Let me alone!
Rhett Butler: [forces her to look him in the eyes] Here's a soldier of the South who loves you, Scarlett. Wants to feel your arms around him, wants to carry the memory of your kisses into battle with him. Never mind about loving me, you're a woman sending a soldier to his death with a beautiful memory. Scarlett! Kiss me! Kiss me... once

Scarlett: Ashley, you should have told me years ago that you loved her and not me, and not left me dangling with your talk of honor. But you had to wait till now, now when Melly's dying. To show me that I could never be any more to you than, than this Watling woman is to Rhett ... And I've loved something that doesn't really exist. Somehow, I don't care. Somehow, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter one bit. 

Rhett: My darling, you're such a child. You think that by saying "I'm sorry," all the past can be corrected. Here, take my handkerchief. Never, at any crisis of your life, have I known you to have a handkerchief.
Scarlett: Rhett! Rhett, where are you going?
Rhett: I'm going to Charleston, back where I belong.
Scarlett: Please, please take me with you!
Rhett: No, I'm through with everything here. I want peace. I want to see if somewhere there isn't something left in life of charm and grace. Do you know what I'm talking about?
Scarlett: No! I only know that I love you.
Rhett: That's your misfortune. [turns to walk down the stairs]
Scarlett: Oh, Rhett! [watches Rhett walk to the door] Rhett! [runs down the stairs after him] Rhett, Rhett! Rhett, Rhett... Rhett, where shall I go? What shall I do?
Rhett: Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

 Scarlett: I can't let him go. I can't. There must be some way to bring him back. Oh, I can't think about this now! I'll go crazy if I do! I'll think about it tomorrow. But I must think about it. I must think about it. What is there to do? What is there that matters? Tara! Home. I'll go home. And I'll think of some way to get him back. After all... tomorrow is another day!

screen legend

rest in peace elizabeth taylor

We are all in this together

This picture makes my heart melt.  During the Victorian bushfires last year this photo was taken of a volunteer firefighter feeding water to a thirsty, dehydrated koala. Amongst all the natural disasters we have gone through in recent times, it's nice to see a picture that reminds us that there is hope in the world. What a wonderful display of compassion and good will. It actually made me well up a little! Look at how the koala is offering up its paw and looking up to the volunteer for support.



oh. my. god.

Celebrations are in order as I just found out I am the proud new owner of a townhouse!!!!!! (and yes it has everything I asked for below). Woohoo.

Both parties have agreed to a specific amount and signed on the dotted line. Now I just have to get over all the legalities of the building inspections, solicitors, and mortgage processing and then I can move in on settlement in 45 days! So by the end of April I will be living in my very own townhouse :) Very exciting...

home inspiration

I have been looking to purchase a townhouse lately. My dream wish list in no particular order is:

2-3 bedrooms

1.5 bathrooms

2 storeys

airy (a window in every room)

ground-level kitchen

court yard 

internal windy carpeted steps leading upstairs

quite residential street (not a main road)

carport

No on-site managers, lifts, swimming pool or tennis courts to push the body corporate up!

complex of 12 or less

Once I get the fundamentals down pat I'd love to revamp it to look ultra modern. At the moment I am loving white, silver, taupe and camel in interior design. Here is my inspiration board of two lovely places I saw advertised in Brisbane a while ago....

Southside

Northside

credit: realestate.com.au

be as bright as can be

My blogging (and real life) friends K and A have inspired me with their Kate Spade posts recently! What a charming and cheerful brand :) Believe it or not I had already started collecting images of the lovely Spade products, ads, store decor. You can't help but smile when you see all the colour.

I think adding more colour to your life really does change your mood (I'd be quite interested in studying colour therapy) In a literal sense, wearing colour always lifts my spirits, making me more happy, confident, and inspires creativity.

Why do we define things in life as either black or white, or somewhere in the "grey area"? Why don't we talk in tangerine, turquiose, gold, magenta?  Maybe I will have to start a new trend! So take a moment to see the world through rose coloured glasses...

  



kooky katy

How much energy does this girl have? And what a lot of fun. I was flipping through a magazine and saw this picture of Katy Perry dressed in a giant cupcake skirt! She always looks a picture of health- bright eyed and oozing confidence. Theses are some of my fav photos of her...