Things I Love #27

This past week has been a good one.  We got our car back, I had my first lecture and thing just generally seem to be going well.  Yay!  Here's what I've been loving just recently:

My new Star Wars necklace from this awesome Etsy seller.  Not only do I love my Darth Vader cameo but I also got a bonus pair of pistol earrings!

You can now Finn Your Face courtesy of Cartoon Network.  There are 25 different Finn faces to choose from and you can share you Finn pictures online.  Download the full set here and check out the Facebook album here.

On the subject of Adventure Time, how great are these Finn and Jake Headphones?  I'd definitely buy one but how would I choose?!

The Comic Book Resources site has another preview of the True Live of the Fabulous Killoys art.  I can't even explain to you guys how excited I am to see this series!

I LOVE the I am Stay Puft Ladies Tank Top from Think Geek.  It fulfills my need for nerdy clothing and it has a nautical feel - two birds, one stone.

I came across this great article on Buzzfeed featuring 98 Concept Sketches from Miyazaki movies.  Too perfect!

And right under that article was a link to this one - Hayao Miyazaki's Films as LEGOs.

While we are on the subject of cute Japanese characters, check out the cute Rilakkuma mouse I found at the 100% Store in Gateway last week:

Working full-time and studying part-time means I really, really need to learn some time management and organisation this year.  One of my very favourite bloggers Kyla Roma has given us a peak at her 2013 planner and a free download...awesome!

These images from Ben Heine's Camera vs Pencil project are great.  My favourite is the fishing one at the top.

The Jerkface Typewriter just makes me laugh.  Follow the link for some illustrated insults from an old-school typewriter.

Plasticine Tattooine gives a voice to some of the lesser known Star Wars characters and, as an added bonus, makes all the characters out of Plasticine!

I think I have fallen in love with the Rockets and Rainbows Esty store...so many awesome pieces!  Also on Esty, the Jolie Petite Deco store has the most amazing kawaii cases.  So tempted to order one...

I have such love for weird monsters/creatures which is why these images and plushies by Simon Le Roux caught my eye.  You can view her full portfolio here.

Maybe I'm just juvenile but the Poop Lamp by Diana Dumitrescu just makes me laugh.  I think it would  make the perfect night light!

I absolutely adore this Bird in Hand light.  Using the shadow puppet concept, all the hands in this light are positioned so that the shadows look like fling birds. 

Alison Anselot's combination of food and Pantone colours makes me wish all food was presented like this.  It also makes me hungry...

This Deviant Art Gallery belongs to Hillary White and it's pretty much perfect!

And last but not least, here are some macro photographs of soap bubbles.  The article likens them to alien planets and I couldn't agree more.

Seen anything you love recently?  Feel free to share in the comments:)

Things I Love #22

I'm baaaaaack!  And guess what? This is my 100th post which I think is pretty awesome actually.  I am feeling a little more inspired after my unofficial break so things should be back to normal around here this week.  I have two 5 Books updates in store and a couple of other cool things to round out the year.  Plus Bye Bye Blackbird turns one next week Friday.  Yay!  Anyway, enough rambling and on to random internet (and real-life) goodness:

I'm pretty much in love with everything in the Twinklebird Etsy store.  My very favourites are the Ursa Major/Big Dipper necklace and the light blue Confetti Ring.  Stunning!

These illustrations by Roby Dwi Antono are absolutely stunning.  My favourites are under the title KINCY'S STORY.

I would absolutely LOVE to go to the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.  Just look how gorgeous these pics are:

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Can a Jellyfish Unlock the Secret of Immortality?  Super interesting read from the New York Times.  I can't even believe that something like this exists...amazing!

Positive Thinking is for Suckers!  If you are anything like me, the minute someone says don't think about something, it's all I can think of which is what makes the idea behind this article so interesting!

I nearly fell off of my chair in excitement when I saw that there is a range of Funko Pop Adventure Time figurines!  Alas, they are only available next year sometime and I can't find anywhere to pre-order them just yet...

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I love this Hipster Literature flow chart from Good Reads.  I haven't read Infinite Jest so I figure if I am going to get any book suggestions out of it, I better start there;)

Feeling low today?  Need a little pick-me up?  Try the Emergency Compliment website.  So much fun!!

I have mentioned my love for paper toys before but now there is a website where you can basically create a mini paper version of yourself!!  It's called Foldable Me and allows you to create your mini-me and then for $11.99 they will ship it to you!

I was playing around with nail polish again this week and painted myself some candy nails!  Not particularly neat or original but I like them:

This Batman hotel suite is pretty amazing.  One day I will stay in it.  One day.

All The Wild Horses is an amazing collection of horse photos by a Durban-based photographer called Andrew McGibbon.  Some of them are quite breathtaking!  

We had our work Christmas party on Friday and the theme was Pirates of the Caribbean.  They did such a fantastic job with the decor!!  I wish I could've taken these two pieces home:

Llama font lets you say it in llama, literally.  Type your text in the box and there you go.  I am pretty much in love with this!!

These Balloon Lamps are really fantastic!  Simple and quirky and perfect!

Anchors Up are a local band made up of members of Fire Through The Window and Wrestlerish.  Its a little bit country but actually surprisingly cool.  You can listen to/purchase the album here.

And finally, here is a video of Queen's Brian May performing on stage with My Chemical Romance.  Awesome.

Seen anything you love recently?  Feel free to share in the comments.

Anchors!!

It’s really hard to pay attention to your work when your mind is occupied with seemingly more interesting things.  I don’t know about anyone else but there are days where focussing on my day job is exceptionally hard.  It’s a battle from the time I walk in the door at 8 am until I leave again at 4:30 pm.  It’s not that my job is boring, it’s just that my mind always finds something more exciting to think about.  Yesterday it was how early can I eat my lunch, finding a home for a pair of feathered angel wings and how glad I am that I found my degree.  Today I have been preoccupied with how to celebrate my birthday, the next I Heart Market and, more specifically, tattoos!  I mentioned a little while ago that I have been looking forward to a new tattoo.  I have been coveting an anchor tattoo for the longest time now.  Since some time in 2010 to be precise.   Anyway, I am *this close* to going to see an artist and I thought I would share some of my inspiration in the meantime.

I have toyed with the idea of adding some kind of text but really, I am not too sure what would be meaningful enough.  Aside from the usual anchor metaphors about staying grounded etc, there is nothing that really jumps out at me.  I thought about adding Hold Fast to it but although I like the words and the sentiment, I am worried that it would just be words for the sake of words.  Any suggestions?  I also looked at some of my favourite quotes from books but alas!  None of those really fit either.  I guess it shall be an anchor on its own then.  With lots of colour.  And a rose.

Sources: Kim-Anh Nguyen (Image 3)/ I have lost the sources of the others so if anyone recognizes any of these please let me know so I can credit properly.  Thanks:)

Things I Love # 13

I totally forgot to post Things I Love yesterday afternoon.  We went couch shopping for the bazillionth time and at long last our patience (aka procrastination) paid off.  The fact that the springs on my side of our very, very old and well used couch completely gave out during the week was a great motivator.  Anyway, our shiny new couch is arriving tomorrow afternoon and I am like a kid before Christmas, all excitement and anticipation!  Now, before I get completely carried away, lets move on to the slightly belated Things I Love #13:

Big Bang Theory.  We recently started watching this show from season one and to say that I love it would be a complete understatement.  Dr Sheldon Cooper is too awesome! 

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Two awesome new Tumblrs:  Pin-up Robert Downey Jr which is both hilarious and a bit disturbing and Batman Running Away from Shit because, according to the site, 60’s Batman was a coward.

This internet flowchart is an accurate description of my day, most days.

These Ideas in boxes from Malva are super cool.  For R250 you get box frame and one idea.  You can make your own to add or you can buy extra ideas for R30.  Love it!

This Woe Anchor t-shirt from the Orphan’s Arms is gorgeous.  The right colour, the perfect print but for those of us converting Rands to Pounds, the wrong price *sigh*

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As a follow-up to Things I Love #12, I present the superhero Manatees.   I don’t know what it is about these creatures but they are so cool…

Sleep and I have a love/hate relationship.  I love to sleep but for some reason my body doesn’t.  It stays awake and thinks about the next day, what the hamster is doing and whether that is a friendly noise or a break-in.  Anyway, this post on getting a good nights sleep from Gala Darling is full of helpful tips.

This article about Ubuntu at work in Norway is pretty amazing and something we can all learn from.

One of my Facebook friends linked to OMFG Dogs and I love it!  Cute and completely pointless.

In exactly 3 days, I will be hanging out with my friend the Povey!  Yay!

Speaking of friends, this article wonders if it’s harder to make friends as you get older.

These bone accessories by OS Accessories are super cool.  The Fishbone is my favourite:

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And on the subject of accessories and bones, LOOK AT THIS RING:

Yes it belongs to me and yes I am marginally obsessed with its awesomeness.

This article about Individualism in Overdrive  is pretty interesting.  And scary.

This amazing shadow photography by Alexey Bednij.

Sad Stuff found on the street makes me thing I am not the only person who occasionally feels bad for inanimate objects.

DIY Panda earrings on Glossary.  What a cute idea!

And lastly, as cheesy as this may sound, my love for all things Shakespeare and all things theatre totally got a kickstart last week.  I went to check out the  'The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspre (ABRIDGED) last week Thursday and loved every minute of it!  Sadly the show has finished it’s run but should it ever reappear, I highly recommend checking it out.

Things I Love #5

Happy (late) Easter!  I spent yesterday chained to my computer, finishing my assignment which is why Things I Love is a day late.  This long, long list starts off with two people I love.  Happy belated birthday father and happy early birthday brother.  Love you both!

I am mildly obsessed with all things nautical at the moment, even though you wouldn’t catch me dead on a boat for fear of sinking and sharks!  The Modcloth nautical range is a much safer way to indulge this obsession.

Last week I tried my hand at some basic nail art and it worked!!  Here is photographic proof:

The Imperial Russian Ballet is coming to Durban!  Tickets please!

I am on the hunt for a cool iPhone case.  In the last week I found the Kiss of the Panda, these super cool Marvel covers and this Han Solo in Carbonite one.  Decisions, decisions.

Continuing with my nautical obsession, the This Ship Won't Go Down wall decal from Mikado is too awesome.

Living in South Africa means we have tons of interesting and sometimes absurd politics.  These three Thought Leader articles really got me thinking about where we are today.

Iron Fist have released their spring range and even though I’d probably never wear them, I’d love these pink and starry boots.  And this dress.

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I am obsessed with a lot of things.  One of them being reality tattoo shows, I can’t help myself.  This week NY Ink with Ami James is starting on TLC..can’t wait!

Speaking of tattoos, someone has written a book using tattoos.  Really.  Check out this link if you don’t belive me.

These Star Wars t-shirts are too cool.   The Han Solo one is my favourite.

Out of Print Clothing is one of those sites I regularly visit to drool over but I am yet to order anything from them. My current favourites?  The Great Gatsby, Pop Poe and Catch-22.

And carrying on the t-shirt theme, I picked up these four awesome Hruki shirts for a hundred bucks at yesterdays I Heart Market. 

I’d like this set of Hello Kitty Darumas  please.

This unicorn cake is making me reconsider the theme for my 30^th birthday party next year.   Okay not really but it’s still pretty impressive right?

I saw these little Qoopey guys at the Come Out and Play exhibition and they are definitely growing on me.  So simple and so cute!

The Domo Qee Series Four is here!!  Love this little character:

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Miss Happ clothing have some awesome new jewellery.  These cameos are the stuff my jewellery dreams are made off.  Definitely placing an order for the Lady of the Sea this week.

And finally, on Saturday we went out for Sushi to celebrate the above-mentioned birthdays.  This warning on the chopstick packaging made us all laugh: