Things I Love #35

So yesterday, I typed up this whole post and then Safari crashed and I lost EVERYTHING.  Seriously.  I tried to redo it and then the internet kept dying so I just gave up and watched Brave and ate toast.  It seemed like the better option frustration wise.  Anyway, here is your day-late list of Things I Love:

First up, Oh So Plush has some new creatures.  I really, really want Fuja...anyone?

I love these Pokemon literary mashups.  Especially The Great Gastly one.

This collection of Instagram photos were taken during the manhunt for the Boston Bombers.  Social media definitely gives us a whole new perspective on new events.

These animated GIFs of earth over time are quite breathtaking.  I'd be lying if I said that the glacier one doesn't make me feel just the tiniest bit insecure!

If you can spare 8 minutes and you need a laugh then check out this awesome Star Wars/Snatch mashup!  Think Darth Vader as Brick Top:

Curious about the new City & Colour album?  You can check out a song preview here.  I rather like it. Also can I just say how much I like the album/song name, The Hurry and the Harm.

I just love this slide show of Europe's Wild Men.  So quirky.

This website has a rundown of all the gadets used in every James Bond movie ever.  Pretty cool.  And while we're on the subject, who do you think the best Bond is?  I'm a Sean Connery fan.

This Cartoon Brew article has some pics from the Princess Mononoke theatre production in London.  Would absolutely LOVE to see this.

The Oatmeal is so good at portraying dogs.  Check out How I See My Dog vs How My Dog Sees Me.

I thought that Rolo's yawns were scary until Kyla Roma shared this link of terrifying bunny yawns.  They are both creepy and cute.  

Here are some random pics from my Saturday - a photo of a rainbow out my mom and dad's flat window and our new orchid:

How great is this chandelier that projects tree shadows onto the wall?  In theory I want one but I know in reality, it'd probably creep me out a little.

I basically want to do all the Galactic DIYs in this list.  Especially the nails and the pants and the shirt and, and, and...

And lastly, tomorrow is my Mom's happy birthday and considering I love her and she is awesome, I thought I'd include her on this list.  Happy (early) birthday my Mother xx

Seen anything you love this week?  Let me know in the comments:)

New Things...

So one thing I can say about 2012  is that it's been a year full of new things - some of them good, some of them not so good.  I thought I'd share a few of those new things here:

1) I blogged.  For a whole year.  This is a pretty big thing for me because, as I have mentioned before, I've always been very nervous about writing for any kind of audience.  I took part in 30 Days of Lists, I was Geek of the Week on Chocolate & Cream Cake, I started my own feature and I even managed to finish the 5 Books I set for myself.  I am full of ideas for 2013 and I am going to use my mini break to really plot them out.  Stay tuned!

2) I joined a gym!!  This is another huge one for me.  I never played team sports and, aside from swimming, have a well documented disdain for public exercise.  However, after failing at early morning yoga and breaking my stepper, I was left with no choice but to join Curves!  I can honestly say that it was a great experience.  The branch I go to are super friendly and there is zero pressure to look great at gym.  It's basically perfect for me.

3) I crashed the car...

4) And we bought a new one.  Yup, that was my first accident in almost 8 years of driving.  As bummed as I was to part with the old car, it was just the motivation we needed to upgrade to a bigger, more powerful car.  It's also pretty much the best colour ever!

5) I studied.  For the first time since varsity, I applied my mind and learnt a new skill namely Conceptual Writing for Brands.  I learnt a lot, met some cool people and got great feedback on my writing abilities.

6) I got a hamster!!  After years of mice, I switched to a different variety of rodent and I can honestly say that Rolo is an awesome dog substitute.  He is so small but has so much character even though he can be a little savage!!

7) I made a Totoro plushie.  Using a pattern I found online, I managed to make a passable version of Totoro!!  He turned out quite well, even if I do say so myself.  I hadn't sewed for years and I forgot how cool it is too make something from scratch like that.  I am planning a Domo and a Pikachu in the very near future.

8) I visited a new province.  In July my mom, dad and I took a roadtrip to Mpumalanga, place of poorly marked roads, tons of sugar cane  and cute pups.  It was great fun travelling with my folks, visiting with my cousins and seeing a new part of South Africa.

8) I discovered Wakaberry.  Oh how I love frozen yoghurt!!  That is all.

9) I finally went up the stadium.  If you ask me, Moses Mabidha stadium is on of the coolest things to come from the 2010 Soccer World Cup.  I love it so much.  In February, my friend Sam and I took the Sky Car trip to the top.  Highly recommended!

And that's just a small sample of what I got up too.  In 2013 I am going to be a Maid of Honour for the first time, I have another tattoo lined up, Rise Against are coming, I'll have a junior technical writer assisting me at work and I am hoping to work up the nerve to try Roller Derby.  Plus I'll be 30!!  On paper it's looking like a good year already!

Making Totoro

Well, it took me awhile but I finally finished making Totoro.  I used this pattern from Cheek and Stitch. It was super easy to put together and to be honest, I didn't really follow the pattern once I got started.

I haven't sewn anything in ages so it felt like I had to learn to stitch all over again.  Once I got started I also realised that the only color thread I had was black and white.   For these two reasons, there are no close ups of Totoro because once you get too close, my stitchery is rather embarrassing.

Felt is awesome because it doesn't fray and, seeing I forgot to leave the seam allowance that the pattern asks for, that's a pretty good thing.  All in all, I think he turned out quite well in the end:

Success with Totoro has given me the confidence to try again with something else.  I've already found a felt Domo pattern and I'm on the hunt for a felt Pikachu one.  This time I will make sure I read the pattern and have the right colour cotton:)

Things I Love # 12

I have returned!  All my good blogging intentions in the last two weeks fell victim to the worst flu that I have had in ages and somewhere in the middle, a trip to Malelane.  Now that I am home and recovered, it's back to business. As if to prove that, I spent most of my afternoon cleaning our much neglected flat...not a recommended way to spend your Sunday.  Anyway, on to more interesting things:

This article on the future of bookstores was rather interesting.  Personally, I think a world without bookstores will be a very sad place....

This awesome shirt that I have just ordered.  The print says In Loving Memory of Oscar Wilde, one of my all time favourite writers!!  I hope it arrives fast...

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When we finally get a place that's puppy friendly, the first thing I am going to do is buy us a squishy face dog!  Right now, my dog of choice is a pug.  So when I found Pugs not Drugs I was all over it!  So much cuteness!

Pomegranate flavoured Rooibos is my new favourite tea.  It's got an awesome flavour and I don't need to add sugar:

This kissing rodents are sooooo sweet:

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The Would You Rather tumblr is pretty awesome.  Not sure which I would rather for any of the options though....

Did you know there is a giant Lego bridge in Germany?  Click here to see just how cool it is...

The Hunger Games.  Man, I wish I had read this book earlier!  I took it with me to Malelane to see what all the fuss was about and I loved it.  LOVED IT. 

Feeling stressed?  Let the Calming Manatees cheer you up, calm you down or just generally make you feel good.

At long last the Spark is back from the panel beaters and it looks as bright and shiny as it did before my run in with the truck.  I almost feel bad selling it now....

Some more Pugs!  This time dressed as Yoda or Darth Vader.

My awesome cousin Natalie bought me a Husse!  He is apparently a little character from Afrikaans poetry and I think its rather cute.  The one she bought me is a naughty Husse with detachable ears.  He also comes with a little booklet about all the things they like:

These Molecular Addictions necklaces from Aroha Silhouettes are gorgeous.  I think the Caffeine one would be rather fitting for me.

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I keep seeing these awesome cone spike bracelets online but alas!  I haven't been able to find one locally.  This DIY looks super easy though so with any luck I'll have my own one soon.

Dark Knight Rises Converse?  Yes please.  

Here is a hilarious interview with Dog from Text from Dog.

And last but not least, here is a Stormtrooper nail art tutorial featuring Darth Vader:

Things I Love #11

Happy July everyone!  It's hard to believe we are over half way through this year already.  It's madness I tell you!  Anyway, let's get started with Things I Love #11:

Its been a weekend for sweet things.  I had an amazing lemon meringue cupcake at my friend's 30th birthday party yesterday (left) and then today I had a red velvet waffle with berries and fresh cream (right)!  Amazing!!

Danielle from Sometimes Sweet did a great post on tattoo inspired art work.  While I love all the artists on the list, Liz Clements really stood out for me.  I'd absolutely love to own one (or ten) of her prints, especially Love Sick.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't slightly tempted to wear a perfume that makes me smell like books.  It's called Paper Passion and the packaging is designed by Karl Lagerfeld.

Something I have discovered while playing on Pinterest is a site called Bookshelf Porn.  Tons and tons of pictures of bookshelves...its glorious!

And while we are on the subject of books, these drunk texts from your favourite authors made me laugh.

Totoro is finished!  I'll do a proper post on him during the week but isn't he cute?

Anna Karenina is being made into a movie!  I can't believe that I only found this out now but I am so excited.  That means three of my favourite books (The Great Gatsby and The Hobbit being the other two) will be movies soon.

100 Things to do instead of procrastinating on the Internet.  This article from Gala Darling is great!  I love the internet but everyone needs a break occasionally!

Amazing winged jewelry by Dukno Yoon.  This stuff is amazing although I suspect it wouldn't last more than 10 minutes on my clumsy hands:(

Speaking of jewelry, have you guys seen the awesomeness that is Sea of Bees?  I am officially coveting at least 90% of the shop.  Especially the Cameo Deer Necklace.

I've always been a big fan of Freddie Mercury and Queen but did you guys know that Freddie Mercury was also an artist?  Check out his drawings here.

What if Star Wars characters were out of work?  Click here to find out (also includes a random picture of Spiderman).

I loooooove this Pikachu Pinafore!

Cross Stitch is something I used to be able to do many, many years ago.  These Pixel People patterns make me want to start again.

The Sky Punch weather phenomenon is easily one of the creepiest and coolest things I have ever seen in the sky.

And lastly, we got our Save the Date for my friend Collette's wedding which I am so looking forward to!  Yay!

Mid-month Randomness

On Thursday last week, Jason and I celebrated one of our two wedding anniversaries.  Yes, you heard right, we have two.  One, which was on Thursday, is the anniversary of us getting married in home affairs.  The other, which is on the 29^th of May, is the anniversary of us getting married in front of friends and family in a small informal ceremony.  It’s fun having two anniversaries and I love being  married!  It helps that Jason is pretty much the most awesome husband ever!!  Anyway, we got this beautiful bonsai from my family as an anniversary gift:

Cool right?  It’s a Ficus Ginseng which is apparently a good starter bonsai.  We’ve been doing some reading up on how to care for them and it sounds like we have to treat it like another pet.  Which means it needs a name.  Any suggestions?  So far we have Hiro (from Heroes), The Hulk (because it's green) and Mr Miyagi (for obvious reasons).

I have decided to try my hand at making my own plushies!  I love all the random creatures people make and I have discovered quite a few patterns online.  Because I am in the midst of a full-blown Totoro obsession, I’m starting with this Totoro pattern.   Provided it doesn’t turn into a large disaster, I will share it when I am done.

I am in gadget heaven right now!  Work gave me an iPad, a Galaxy tab, a fancy Galaxy phone and another iPhone to write documentation for a new system.  Right now work is a lot more like play than actual work:)

I finally finished Brave New World!  5 Books Update to follow shortly!

And now we are all caught up…mostly.  Anyway, I am definitely feeling more like myself than I was last time I posted so you can expect to see more of me round these parts.

PS.  It was my mom’s birthday on Monday…HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER.  Again:)