Cheeky devil

Here's a secret. This handsome note is blown up and stuck in my workspace - gets my giggle happening every time I take a cheeky look at it. Best mood boost if I ever saw one. Try it.

Pocket note

 

 

You know the type? The one-of-a-kinds, the cute-as-a-little-polka-dot type. That's the type I'm folding up and keeping in my pocket.

A dot-inspired-interlude made my morning shine a little brighter. x

La vie en rose

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Words to take a Wednesday by. Not bad, huh. It's pretty special to know that with all our gold stars, flaws and crappy hair-days, someone loves us "just the way we are".

La vie en rose is something new I'm bringing to this blog (currently with an identity issue - shade of whim was the original name, his girl with a blog is what I'm preferring these days...). I'll be posting every so often about the little things that make my days sing, the things I'm grateful for, under "La vie en rose". Hope you enjoy reading. Today's la vie en rose goes something like this:

1. The sore toes I have from putting my pointe shoes on 6 days a week.

2. Getting to design my way through my days. Love my job.

3. My mum sure knows her girl. The best colour addition to my wardrobe was the orange rubber timepiece she surprised me with.

4. Looking through the treetops toward a bright, sunlit, blue sky.

5. A soul-soothing-hug from my boy.

6. Autumn fruits.

7. Hearing the rain drops while I work.

 

What's made you smile lately?

In limbo

 

Scribbling (literally) away on illustrator took the focus away from dismal-draft-artwork this morning.


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Speaking of time (wasting), waiting for the delivery of my latest timepiece snatch is also helping as a little spirit-lifter. I've had my eye on that fella for too long...



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Speaking of spirit-lifters, here's a pretty bunch of blooms for you! Happiest of mid-weekers. x

Pointe class

maria

Teachings from pointe class aren’t confined to the ballet studio…

Chin up for the hell of it

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As the sun snuck its way over the hilltops I woke myself up with a solid workout and grabbed the opportunity to rethink my crappy, tired, impatient attitude of late. To the rhythm of my skipping rope spins, I was taking a look around the gym floor and noticing the frowns running treadmills, pushing weights, doing their general workout thing. I was carrying on just like them! My pet hate, if you haven't picked up, is negativity.

With a good 30min on my hands my less-than-chirpy tone told me to "stuff the negativity and move the hell on" and so I got to thinking my way through my lucky stars!

This morning it hit me how easy it is for us to fall in that flop and drag our heels through our days. The saying "be careful what you think, your thoughts make your world" is all too true. That in mind, you'd be a fool to choose gloomy-greys when you can make a few conscious changes to your thoughts and words and kick your tune positive. When someone asks "how's things?" stop giving the standard "not bad!" and feed them with a dose of "fantastic, thanks". In no time, that'll shake up your days and have you spinning in happiness. Not kidding.

Ramble cut reasonably short, I'm getting back to them lucky stars. You know those weeks that are packed with good-ness? The ones that have you itching to dive from minute to minute? The ones that have us doing anything but routine-like-tail-chasing?  I realised I have one of those weeks...every week! I'm positive we all do, to some extent. So, chin up (me, mainly), cheer up, brighten up! There's always reason to whack on a cheesy!

I missed Valentines!

Not kidding. The boy and I got to the end of V-day and realised...we missed the whole thing! We laughed. Not the V-day-celebrating-type, we exchanged a giggled v-day wish for the heck of it and gave thanks to each other, more importantly, for a shatter-proof, any-day-celebrated love! Mushy, I know.

On a side note...I've been busy. Occasionally I'm busy in the caught-up-on-pinterest kinda way. This time, it was a legitimate I'm-flying-through-all-kinds-of-stuff-kinda-busy.  Before I ramble on, this quote got to the point I'm getting to a lot quicker...



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Sometimes those things you wouldn't dream of, couldn't want and never ask for come your way...in bucket loads. Seems when we're living for simplicity life has a way of shaking and waking us up to the biggest slap of reality checks! Ramble cut short, I've just leaped from the most unexpected string of less-than-positives to the brightest and most beautiful things I would ask a falling star for; genuine, long-lasting, test-trampling, ground-shaking love. No, really! I don't just mean my boy and I.

I've been perched up in the beauty that followed what one day's excuse for love (sorry Valentines lovers) could ever bring. I've opened my eyes (wider) to the handful of people in my world who'll stand beside me for me, through the darkest and brightest, who'll dance in my happiness (and I in theirs) and light my life by being their genuine selves. What more could you ask for?

Hey you!

There's been a lot of the "leave it and move on" thinking in my world this past little while. Do you ever get that pinch from a been-and-gone-thing you realise you've accidentally held within you? Damn things take up too much space, huh! I've been circling these (very few) been-and-gones and finally decided they're getting the flick to make room for a whole lotta wonderful waiting at my doorstep!

There's nothing worse than realising you could be holding yourself back from so much more. Following my 2013 rule#2, I'm doing something about it - eliminating and simplifying. Genius, really.

It's black and white

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The talent that screams through Lina Arvidsson's lens had me stuck in my tracks when I came across collection after collection of her brilliant photography. I thought this image was by far the best to reflect a little of the giddiness I'm feeling and finding in the things that fill my days. Sometimes all that's needed to plant my feet firmly on this ground and centre every sense of my being is to don the old black and white approach. Finding that simplicity and calm gravitates my energy to the treasures that fuel me - my love, my family, my friends.

27 candles

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I've never really taken to posting too many "What I've Been Up To's" on this blog, but the bug's got me and I think, for as long as this lasts, I might just have to share a little more about my days than I have been. Here's 3 things I've been up to...

Peanut butter and ice cream coated in caramel and choc. As I'm ready to knock mine back in one bite, I don't need to explain just how heavenly this mini-treat was!

all iphone snaps

1. Last Friday saw me sip back sangria with the most beautiful ladies I'll know to mark my 27th year of (my) birthday celebrations. After eating our way through Grace Establishment's gorgeously grilled wagu burgers, tacos and croquettes, we devoured the best birthday-cake-replacement you could hope for - chocolate and caramel coated vanilla ice cream with a lip-smacking chunk of peanut butter hidden inside! Sweets and sangria aside, I was mighty spoilt and blushing with the thoughtfulness and love shown by my nearest and dearest.
*Happy B'day to my twin brother too. Nothing beats having a brilliant brother to share old age with!



my iphone working its magic again

2. I've ditched the gym sessions and jumped right into these glorious spring days by taking to the soft sand and striding through some beach power-walk sessions. Not only are they killer workouts for the thighs and derriere, there's something to be said about the therapeutic qualities of getting down to the salty air and crystal-like waters. Even though I pace along the coastline huffing and sweating like a mad-woman for 60 minutes, I end up leaving feeling totally rejuvenated, relaxed and like my heaviest thoughts have been magically swept away.

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3. If you get the impression that I've been floating away to some kind of happy land all week, you'd be half right. I've also managed to squeeze in a bit of thinking when I haven't been busy pinching myself for being so damn lucky. I came across the quote above and laughed; you see, before I hit my 20somethings, my Grandma would always tell me the old "show me your friends and I'll tell you exactly who you are". Now, in my closer-to-30's, I'm looking at the people around me and realising the deepest and greatest respect I have for each and every one of them and their own unique light they shine in my life. If I'm anything like what I see in them, I'm quite the happy camper indeed. x

27cm rule

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As a joke (funny to me) I had this imaginary "27cm rule-thing" going in my mind. A few years ago after moving to Melbourne, this randomly plucked number became my imaginary ruler that would measure the distance I'd hold myself back from all things wonderful but challenging. Subconsciously (mainly out of fear of falling flat on my backside) I'd be standing just "27cm away" from kickin' a few goals in my achievement-department; I'd be holding myself back those "27cm" from digging my digits into something I really, madly wanted. Fear, hesitation, all that energy-wasting-stuff would make up those 27cm's. Pathetic really.

These 27cm have recently crept up on me again and placed themselves between me and my ability to tap away at this blog. I'm not sure how other bloggers feel, but occasionally I feel I can’t quite get a grip of my ability to post something half-interesting. I've kept this up long enough to place a firm 27cm distancing me until I find the exit from hesitation and get a rejuvenated blogging confidence. Posts might be a little less frequent for the moment but I do hope to see you all when I’ve kicked my 27cm ruler in the butt for good.

Isn't it a great feeling when you free yourself from all that doubt-driven-rubbish and just go for 'it'.

Lights, camera, instagram-filter...

my tappers via my instagram

I'm very proud to announce...the (late) arrival of my instagram profile. After much, much persuasion, I've jumped on board the snap-happy-app and (I hate to eat my words and admit) am loving it more than expected! Head on over and follow my snaps of the little things stopping me in my tracks, plus the random happenings alongside my daily do's.

Wednesday anyone?

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Why is every other day of the week somehow capable of serving itself sunny-side up, except for Wednesday?  The wise words of positivity have stepped in to pick up the pieces telling me "anything is possible, even on a Wednesday with just a tick or two left before midday." Carpe diem-ing the hell out of this tragically slumped midweek-er is no exception. Best get started. Enjoy your day.