Things I Love #68

It's been a good Sunday.  I slept in, Jason bought breakfast with hash browns, I finished my varsity reading and went for a little skatey skate.  Here's some other things I loved this week.

Forensic scientists create the face of Crystal Skull Vodka.  Creepy cool...

The greatest living animation director explains why he's retiring.  Obviously this is an interview with Hayao Miyazaki...

We Love Fine have an amazing I Am Bee apron dress that looks exactly like Bee's apron.

The ladies from Adventure Time as a moped gang.

Someone please buy me all these Adventure Time socks.

Artist collaborates with bees to create sculptures wrapped in honeycombs.

A Spongebob Watchmen mashup?  Okay...

Lean In and Getty work to diversify available stock photos of women.

Adorable imaginary animals from Imaginism studios.

Will It Beard.  I won't explain, click the link.

Ever wondered what Wolverine would be like as a cat?

Also, click here to see Cyclops cat!

Crazy Google searches animated.  Seriously, what are people doing out there?!?

The forgotten treasures of Gen-X childhood.  I remember some of these...

Wild bunnies swarm a girl with treats.  Adorable not creepy...

And lastly volcanoes erupting amidst a lightning storm.  Crazy.

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

Things I Love #60

Like a lot of other South Africans, I woke up on Friday morning to the news that Nelson Mandela had passed away.  Even though he has been ill for a long time, it was still a shock and the world feels a little emptier without him.  There have been some really wonderful obituaries and slideshows of his life and I thought I'd share a few as part of this weeks Things I Love:

These amazing pictures are on the front and back of the Mail & Guardian's special edition:

Madiba: A Symbol of the Power of Good - an obituary from the Mail & Guardian.

They also have an amazing tribute site where people can share their condolences and memories.

11 Greatest Nelson Mandela Quotes which includes a slideshow of his life in pictures.

Nelson Mandela, South Africa's Liberator as Prisoner and President, Dies at 95 - an obituary from the New York Times.

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Okay, now onto some less serious stuff:

2013 The Year in Band Names is pretty hilarious!  Seriously, what are some of these guys thinking...

For reasons I cannot fathom, someone created an all-emoji version of Moby Dick...

Our Tumblrs, Our Teenage Selves looks at how curating a tumblr is much the same as decorating your bedroom walls.

Check out some concept art from the Pippi Longstockings movie that Hayao Miyazaki planned to make but didn't.

Star Wars yoga anyone?  Check out these awesome prints by Rob Osborne.

26 Problems that only anxious people understand.  This is basically my life guys...

Also I am fairly sure this is what I would be like as a superhero:

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Worst Things for Sale catalogues the worst things for sale on the internet.  Some of them are pretty ridiculous!! 

How cool are these Death Star inspired wall tiles?  I think I need these for our future home!

"Don't Try": Charles Bukowski's Concise Philosophy of Art and Life.

Night Of The Killer Lamp: 23 Ridiculous Horror Movie Adversaries.  This made me laugh.

Write Every Day and How to Deal with Literary Self-loathing.  Some good writing advice.

I've recently started coveting a pair of creepers and these Hello Kitty ones are all kinds of perfect.

Dirds are images of birds with dogs heads...its kind of bizarre:

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And finally, Gerard Way has revealed the cover of the My Chemical Romance greatest hits album May Death Never Stop You.

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

Things I Love #59

Happy December you guys.  Can't believe there are only 31 days left of 2013!!  Rolo the hamster got an early Christmas present this afternoon when I cleaned his cage which is why this picture is at the tops of this week's list:

I might have posted this before but how hilarious are these cats in tights??

Although if I had these super cute Totoro tights I would not put them on my cat (if I had a cat).

There are rumours circulating that Joseph Gordon-Levitt will star in a Sandman adaptation and Norman Reedus will make an appearance in The Crow.

Duncan Shotton's Rainbow Pencils leave beautiful paper rainbows when you sharpen them.  Such a pretty idea...

5 Rules For Being a Grown-up is about how the "real requirements of life don't require genius, just lots of practice."

3 previously unpublished J.D. Salinger stories have been leaked online.

I am busy reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and its making me want to learn to pick locks.  I think I need these lock pick earrings to get me started.

How cute is this Winnie the Pooh Oh Bother supercut from Disney?  Still one of my very favourite characters:

The 30 Greatest Comic Book Moments of 2013.  I haven't read all of these but I think the exchange between Harley Quinn and the Green Arrow is my favourite.  And the puppy bomb.  

Check out this awesome collection of the Christmas sweaters worn by the inhabitants of Ooo.  

I just love this Skeletal Beauty photo series by Pauline Darley.  Someone come and do my makeup like this please!!

Fernando Reza has created a set of retro travel posters featuring mythical beasts.  Check out Series One as well.

Make boring meals more fun with Manga Plates!!!  Seriously wishing for all of these....

Looooooove this Skull Armchair by French designer Harold Sangouard:  

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The Moment After the Show is a pretty awesome collection of pictures of musicians right after they leave the stage.  Check out the book here.

10 Star Wars Episode VII Fan Posters that are really, really great.  Cautiously optimistic about the new movies...

And finally, I am loving Uetsuji Shotaro's dream-like visions of alien encounters and ghostly visitations.

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

Things I Love #56

So here we are, back in November.  This year really has gone by super fast and, with everything going on this month, it's going to be December and Christmas time before we even know it!!  Kind of hard to believe hey?

AMC officially confirms The Walking Dead for Season 5.  YAY!!!

Googly Eye Books is one of the best blogs I have ever laid eyes on.  No pun intended.

This Star Wars blooper reel is all kinds of awesome:

This Lego ring from FORMA Laboratories is all kinds of awesome.  I would put Yoda on mine. 

Just love these surreal floating eye sculptures by Sophie Ryder.

Real life reinterpretations of Studio Ghibli characters.  Totoro remains the cutest character EVER!!

This super awesome hair clip is currently on it's way to me!!  Can't wait:

What Should I Read Next? is an awesome website that recommends your next read.  Love it!

Iconic movie posters by Drew Struzan...so many of my favourite movies here!

I don't particularly love this news but Bill Willingham has announced that the Fables series will come to an end with issue 150...so sad...

Chubbs the pug has the best Halloween costumes.  That is all.

How to make me cook more:  buy me this skull pancake mold, this skull baking pan and this skull egg mold:

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Staying on the subject of skulls, how great is this skull DIY from A Beautiful Mess?

Hooray!!  There is a Bee and Puppycat comic coming our way!!

Church of the Jedi...super interesting read.

Have you seen The Simpsons Hobbit couch gag?  So awesome!!

I can't seem to translate this site but it has pictures of some of the quirkiest ceramic art you ever did see!

And finally, I am definitely attempting this galaxy necklace DIY from Oh The Lovely Things.  So simple and effective!

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

Things I Love #55

It's cold, miserable and wet this morning.  The perfect day for couches and food and doing nothing.  Here's some internet goodness to keep you company:

Ordinary Batman is one of my favourite new things on the internet!  Check out this awesome Buzzfeed collection and the artist's tumblr.

Dying to read Dave Eggers' new book The Circle!  Here's one reader's reaction that I found quite interesting.

Leland Bobbe's photo series Half Drag...A Different Kind of Beauty is really awesome.

A list of bus stops in Japan where Totoro actually shows up.  All on my list of places to visit when I eventually get to Japan...

On a related note, here are some pics of real Catbuses! So cool!!

10 Reasons It's Not That Bad To Be A Walker From The Walking Dead.  So glad to be finally caught up with show and to be able to watch the online reaction after each episode!!

I held a hedgehog on Thursday night.  So cute and so much spikier that I expected:

Wax Nostalgic is  a tumblr dedicated to wax crayon carvings of pop culture characters.  They are AMAZING!!

Ceramics melting like ice cream...so pretty.

Bee and Puppcat have a Kickstarter.  I don't know about you guys but I would love to see this turned into a series!!

Pretty rings on Etsy:  Han Solo in carbonite,  Boba Fett and Godzilla.

Check out these gorgeous photos of the Hindu Fesitval Holi.  

Look at this super unusual cactus/succulent my folks found for me.  Love the colours:

Joel Micah Harris has put together the most awesome collection of X-men Manatees.  I want them all!!

Neil Gaiman did a Sandman Q&A with Rolling Stone.  Yay!

And, you can read Haruki Murakami's new short story Samsa In Love on The New Yorker site.

Awesome, awesome customised Stromtrooper helmets.  I want them all!

Wired put together a collection of some really amazing Lego art.  It's pretty impressive what you can create with such a simple toy.

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

Things I Love #53

Believe it or not, this is the last Sunday in September.  That means my birthday is just short of two weeks away and Christmas is around the corner.  And I am not kidding about the Christmas part, I have already seen Christmas chocolates and decorations in the stores!!  Earlier and earlier every year!!  Anyway, here is what I loved this week:

Strawberries.  Tons and tons of strawberries:

How cute are these cats in sweaters?? Adorable.

Check out these 19 amazing photos of female riveters during World Wars II.

New Adventure Time comic unites your favourite weird princesses for a single quest.  With LSP, Skeleton Princess and Breakfast Princess, this sounds like a winner.

Want to see some of the outfits Finn has sported in Adventure Time?  Click here.

Jay Hynes has an awesome photo-series called Grandmas Rock.  It's super cool.

Overheard in New York is exactly what the name suggests: snippets of overheard conversations in New York.

Spencer Chamberlain from UnderOath has a new band called Sleepwave.  Very curious about this...

Oreo Peanut Butter sounds like the most amazing thing ever.

4 Rules to make Star Wars Great again - an animated open letter to JJ Abrams.

 

How awesome is this X-Wing and Millenium Falcon pencil skirt from Her Universe?  Must.  Have.

Society, Science, Survival:  Lessons from AMC's The Walking Dead.  This is a real course you can take.  Sign me up please!

Also, how The Walking Dead and Toy Story are the same.  This is crazy!

Eau De Toast because you wouldn't want to smell like toast?!?  Sadly it's limited edition and all gone...

30 Pieces of wisdom from Haruki Murakami books.

My Little Pony taxidermy custom made for you by Misfit Menagerie.

And lastly, I won my first ever internet giveaway recently and the prize was this super awesome print by Kim Longhurst:

Thanks again Kim, I love her so much!!

And that's all for this week.  If you've seen anything you love this week, let me know in the comments.

Things I Love #52

It's a long weekend in these parts and it couldn't have come at a better time.  I can't tell you guys how awesome it feels knowing that I don't have to get up tomorrow morning and face traffic and work and, and, and...want to know what else is awesome?  The fact that I got my very first birthday present this weekend.  My friend Collette sent my gift down to Durban with her sister AND gave me permission to open it straight away.  She knows me too well, there is no way on earth I would've been able to wait until my actual birthday!!  I got a Darth Vader Torch, a Spongebob t-shirt and a 30th badge which I apparently have to wear on my actual birthday...thanks Chicken, you're the best!

How cool are these snack-inspired beanbags?  I love the pancake ones and the ice-cream cone!

The "dematerialization" of society in the digital age.  An interesting read.

Feeling down?  This website of a pug liking your screen will definitely cheer you up.

Bloody Mary Metal makes some super cool, edgy jewelry.  I'd love this, this and this.

I want every single one of these Adventure Time Halloween costumes.  

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I also want Halloween to be a bigger holiday here in South Africa...a girl can dream...

How great are these superhero quilts?  I think my mom might have a new project on her hands!

Grumpy Cat and Boo cake pops...these are so cute!!

Cookie Monster spoofs Hollywood movies:



Also, here is how to Cookie Monsterify your website.

If you're looking for a way to get into the Discworld novels, check out AV Clubs Gateway to Geekery on Terry Pratchet.

DeviantART user Rawlsy has created some awesome images of DC and Marvel characters called Little Friends.  Definitely worth checking out!!

Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen on top of the Empire State Building.  Can I also just say that I can't think of two better actors to perform Waiting for Godot!!

Creepy but awesome Totoro art.  I must admit, I kind of like this.

Life-size dinosaur models?  Yes please!!

And lastly, the Jacarandas are starting to bloom all over Durban!!  So pretty:

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

Things I Love #50

Happy Sunday!  It's a beautiful warm morning here in Durban which is a sure sign that Summer is coming.  I'm kind of looking forward to this week actually. My essay is due on Tuesday which means it'll finally be off my back and work is shaping up to be quite an interesting week too.  Good interesting I think.  Also, Thursday will be exactly one month to my birthday!  Yay!!

I am going to start with something serious this week.  If you live in Durban, you would've heard about Thursday's horrific truck accident on the M13.  This is an intersection I use daily and I've seen just how badly the trucks drive in this area.  Please check out the Ban Trucks on the M13 Facebook page and sign the petition.  It's time they do something about this.

Take a trip back in time with Old Punk Flyers, my new favourite Tumblr.

Animation Master Hayao Miyazaki Retires from Feature Filmmaking.  Now this is not news I love at all but it's news all the same...sigh...

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Now, to make yourself feel more cheerful, check out these Miyazaki reaction gifs.

If they were real, I would buy every single one of these Monty Python and the Holy Grail Lego sets.

Haruki Murakami is releasing a short story called Samsa where the main character wakes up as Gregor Samsa, the protagonist from Kafka's Metamorphosis.

And, Murakami is currently the favourite to take home this year's Nobel Prize for Literature.  Yay!

I just love this Dancers Among Us photo series by Jordan Matter.  The photos are graceful and in some cases, hilarious.  Look out for the guy in the shower.

How adorable is the BMO knit craft special from We Love Fine?  Must. Have.

Okay, this is a very long and a very academic read BUT it basically says that our yawns are not only contagious to other humans but also our dogs!  Cute!!

Here is a first look review of Salinger, the JD Salinger documentary that I only heard abut yesterday!!  There seems to be a fair amount of negativity around it but I remain undecided.

Angry Birds turned into Angry Brands.  This made me laugh.

Here are some amazing Muppet/Superhero mashups from Comic Book Resources.  My favourite is Animal as Wolverine.

And speaking of mashups, here are the X-Men drawn as Star Wars characters.

Also, how cool is Grumpy Ratchet?

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And finally, the AV Club has an awesome series called Gateway to Geekery that provides entry points to different fandoms.  Here is their articles on the music genres of my youth Emo and Screamo.

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

Things I Love #49

Happy Spring guys!!  I am so excited about the end of winter it's a little bit ridiculous.  I am excited for less layers, potential water world visits and the ability to wear the other half of my closet.  Also, it's my birthday in a month and eleven days...the big 3-oh.  Very excited to celebrate even if it is the end of a decade!  Now, on to this week's list:

Finally got my hands on The Ocean At The End Of The Lane...yay!

Funko are adding to their Adventure Time range with Fionna, Cake, Gunter, PB, Lemongrab and BMO.  I can't decide which ones I want more....leaning towards PB and BMO right now.

18 Ways Adventure Time is making you a better person.  I can think of more the 18 but this is a good start.

And my last Adventure Time link for this week, here are the show's 28 best guest voice actors.  Quite surprised by some of these!

I don't wear heels but these Star Wars heels make my heart happy.  The Pantone ones are pretty cool too.

Here's a photo of my favourite artist, Salvador Dali, skipping rope.  Love it!!

How amazing does this candy sushi look?  Super tempted to do this for my birthday party...

This is the best prank I have ever seen:

 

I love these retro Pokemon ads, especially the Jigglypuff one.

No, Pandas are not a hopeless and wasteful species.  Seriously, it bugs me that anyone could think this in the first place!

Pictures of cats in the sink.  I really have nothing to add to this.

28 Things that happened after the Harry Potter books ended.  A collection of all the bits and pieces JK Rowling has revealed over the years.  It always makes me smile that Neville ends up happy.

Gummi Storm Troopers.  This is such a cool idea and I can assure you that I will be purchasing a bag of gummi bears and adorning them with all our mini figs head gear.

I got to meet my friend Liz's new gerbils this week.  Their names are Mac and Cheese and they are the friendliest little dudes:

And lastly, Anna Grape's super awesome illustrations of different pug species.  I want them all!!

I am off to track down the band announcements for next year's Ramfest.  Considering they are bypassing Durban again despite a good response this year, I am secretly hoping the line-up sucks.  Or not...there's been rumour that Biffy Clyro are coming to our part of the world.  I'll forgive them if it's Biffy. 

Things I Love #48

I can't believe it's Sunday already.  This week has flown by in a haze of frustration and essay writing.  On the bright side, I got an unexpected and quite substantial essay extension...hooray!  That means I can get back to some sort of blogging schedule this week.  Anyway, here's what I loved this week:

Pandas on slides.  So much cuteness:

 

How cute are these cat donuts?  Japan has the best stuff!!

8 reasons we will miss Futurama.  Honestly, I think I love Futurama way more than I ever loved The Simpsons.  I am sad to see it go...

Someone got a custom-made Jake the Dog engagement ring!!  Lucky lady...

Also in shiny things, this amazing R2D2 and C3PO best friends necklace from Rapscallion Design on Etsy:

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The Mary Sue has some awesome scans of Guillermo Del Toro's notebook and they are so cool. 

Here are 16 bookshops you need to see before you die.  Shakespeare & Company in Paris is my dream bookshop. 

Elmore Leonard died this week....here are his fantastic rules for writers.

How cute is this Road Tripping with the Solar System comic?  Poor Pluto...

This faux octopus taxidermy is so perfect and needs to find it's way into my home ASAP.

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta looks like so much fun!

These stocking are my new favourite thing:

There is a real My Neighbor Totoro house in Japan.  As if I needed more reasons to visit Japan...

These dancing superheroes make me smile.

Why we all need a daily dose of brain magic...such an interesting read.

And lastly, would you look at these super cool Star Wars pencil skirts?  Perfect for nerding up your work wardrobe.

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

Things I Love #46

Another Sunday, another list of things I love.  We had a long weekend in this part of the world and, combined with a day of leave, I have been off for 4 days in a row!  Bliss!!

First on this week's list is the amazing cartoon depicting Hayao Miyazaki's philosophy on good and evil in films.  It's profound!

Have you heard of weird Twitter?  Me neither until I read this explanation.

The second episode of Bee and Puppycat is out.  Do yourself a favour and check out this awesomely quirky series, you won't be disappointed.

 Check out Merilee Allred's The Awkward Years Project.  A good reminder that we all had an awkward phase...

Finn and Jake got a super short cameo appearance on Futurama:

Also check out this super awesome video of the Adventure Time intro made out of Lego!!

I love these Star Wars noir film posters by Dean Reeves.  So cool!!

Star Wars toys made me who I am is an article in praise of action figures.

This spherical Jupiter cake is AMAZING.  Not sure I would feel right eating it though, it's too pretty.

Here are 24 Disney comebacks for every occasion.  I particularly love the first one.

How awesome is my new dinosaur bones necklace from Sass Diva?  I am in love..

Having a Face is my new favourite tumblr.  Faces on inanimate objects always make me smile...

Ever wondered what it costs to be a superhero?  Well check out the awesome The Price of Being Superheroes Infographics.

How awesome is this shark sushi plate?  I want...

And finally, sticking with sharks, here is a video of a cat dressed as a shark riding a Roomba (thanks Sam!!!)

I could watch that video for ages!!  Anyway, that's it for this week.  If you've seen anything you love this week then let me know in the comments:)

Things I Love #45

So I don't know about you guys but this has been a BUSY weekend:  Dirty Royal shows, weddings, lunches and a ton of reading for varsity (Confession: I am already behind).  Luckily we only have a three day week what with public holidays and leave.  I am looking forward to the mini-break.  Now, on to the things I loved this week:

How awesome does this Shark Week party on Little Chief Honeybee sound?  I'm going to keep this in my bookmarks for when Shark Week rolls around in South Africa.

On the topic of sharks, these photos of sharks with human teeth make me laugh.

How Selfies Became a Global Phenomenon is a pretty interesting read.

The Mary Sue has an interview with Olivia Olson, the voice of Marceline the Vampire Queen.

37 Things only Star Wars fans will find funny.  My favourite is number 29!

This week, my nails made me think of Gloomy Bear:

Mamelodi for a Month is a pretty interesting project where one middle class family will live in a shack in Mamelodi for a month.  They are doing it to highlight the circumstances of the majority of South Africans.  

I love the Grammar Girl site, it helps me out at work more often than I care to admit.  Here is her take on Yoda Grammar.

This 1800s Raptor Family Portrait from Etsy seller The Painted Hollow is super cool.

Brazilian kids correct celebrities grammar on Twitter.  This made me laugh!

These two-sentence horror stories are surprisingly creepy!

How great is this anti-chandelier made from 85 light bulbs.  I swear when we get our own place, the first thing I am buying us is a chandelier of some form.

I got hold of another Adventure Time game this week - Fionna Fights.  It's super simple but super awesome:

On the subject of games, Hipster Zombies looks pretty fun.  I love the tagline: Defend your neighborhood ironically.

I am totally drooling over these vintage dictionary art prints by Danielle Richey.

What if superheroes used Instagram?  I'm not sure but I know that I would follow ALL OF THEM!

And finally, how great are these ice cream flavours inspired by books?  

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

Things I Love #44

Happy Sunday everyone!!  It's a little hard to believe that it's already the last Sunday in July.  That means winter is almost over and, more importantly, my birthday is just over 3 months away.  This is probably another post for another day but I'm really not all that stressed over the idea of 30.  In fact, I am kind of looking forward to it.  Maybe that'll change as we get closer to October who knows but right now, I'm okay with it.  Rambling aside, here is what I loved this week:

DIY Terrarium Necklace Tutorial.  I am determined to make this and wear my succulent obsession proudly (thanks Gerry for sharing this on Facebook).

Another friend on Facebook linked to this article about creepy dudes on Captain Awkward.  Seriously, this should be required reading for everyone.  Especially the comments that follow.  Its long, it's a little scary but it's also very enlightening...

On a lighter note, cats dressed as Hello Kitty.  Some of them are cute, some just look really, really grumpy.

I found this awesome sound effect necklace in the kiddies section at Diva:

A 102-year old ship got a new lease on life as a floating forest.   Slightly spooky but very cool.

Nicholas Cage as Disney Princesses.  These made me laugh so much! 

The Mary Sue put together a slideshow of awesome cosplay at Comic Con.  I love the Tetris hair ladies.

If I had this awesome cutting board, I might be more inclined to cook.  Or at least cut things that can be cooked.  

I just love this unicorn onesie.  I (probably) wouldn't wear it but still...

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Aki Inomata created amazing new shelters for hermit crabs.  Seriously, these are beautiful and the concept behind it is food for thought.  

Adevnture Time Mashups are my very favourite things.  Here's a Wolverine one (about halfway down the page) and another with The Walking Dead and Star Wars.

Neil Gaiman is going to release his first video game.  Can we say excited???

Olly Moss has done some awesome Studio Ghibli posters for Mondo and I want them all!!  

And finally, I went to an extra fresh meat practice at the stadium this morning and it was so much fun:

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