Your song

I love a good Elton John classic as much as the next gal.

And this version just breaks my heart.

(I have a mini obsession with Ellie Goulding at this present moment in time)

Attempting to Run

I'm trying to be healthy and attempting to get fit.
I thought it was about time really.

Running scares me.

But they say you must face your fears.

So I downloaded an app called C25K which is designed to get my lazy ass of the couch, outta bed, and on the pavement to running my first 5k in 8 weeks.

And then maybe I'll run 10k, then who knows what else.

Wish me luck. 

There was a time where women running was unheard of, not allowed, bad for your health etc.

(I should have been born in that era.)

But I should be glad that others have struggled before me to make my new dream of fitness possible.

"The idea of running long distance was always considered very questionable for women because, 

you know, 

an arduous activity would mean that you were

going to get big legs...

grow a mustache...

hair on your chest...

your uterus was going to fall out..." 

Katherine Switzer

Coffee Understands

It's safe to say that I might have a little addiction.

I love my coffee.

And I have absolutely no plans to give it up.

I will keep on drinking.

Just as the rest of the world plans to too.

As I work through a few tough moments in life and attempt to answer some of the harder questions it seems to be asking, I take comfort in knowing that I have a nice hot cup of coffee to help me through. 

New

A New Year.
New city.

New Travels.

New memories.

New job. 

New tears.

New smiles.

New experiences.

New laughs.

New opportunities.

New fears.

New posts.

New dreams.

New photos.

And new addictions to instagram.

(I don't know what it is about posting my photos on instagram that's so enjoyable.

But I do love documenting moments through photography and showing the world)

Plenty of 'new' to last through the year and to share here, with you.

So far, so good.

Fuck That Shit

This. Is. Insane.
 

 

What would bring a person to want to do this? 

Yes, I want to see this. 

But No, I do not EVER see myself walking it.

I can't even imagine it being created.

 "El Caminito del Rey", or  "King’s Pathway", is a 110 year old dilapidated walkway over 330 feet above the ground in El Chorro, Spain. It was originally built in 1905 for workers to travel between two hydroelectric power plants.

I think its safe to say that is it the scariest walk to work one could ever endure.

And has been named the most dangerous pathway in the world.

For good reason too.

Just looking at images of it makes me nervous.

 I just have three words to say...

Fuck. That. Shit.

Portrait Line Up

These amazing images were created by Blommers/Schumm for Hector magazine.

Wonderful portraits disguised as lined images.

I'm impressed.

Hint: tilt your screen back, squint your eyes, or view from afar.

Same Love

I'd just like to say that Macklemore is a genius.

 I laugh, I sing along, and I think.

This particular piece tells a beautiful story of same sex love.

So effective. And stunning. 

 And listen to/watch Thrift Shop. It's my favourite.

Wonderful World of Wearable Arts

It's that time of year again.

When all the shops in the city dress up their window displays with the most wonderful mixture of crazy and creative to take part in the Wonderful World of Wearable Arts.

Although I was not lucky enough to grab (or afford) tickets for this magnificent event this year, the street displays always brighten up my daily journey.

But I have forgotten to charge my camera...

So these images have been stolen.

(thanks Weird in Welly)

And I'm on a hunt to find more beautiful displays.

This is bound to excite my window shopping craze.

Also, in the spirit of WOW,

although not connected in any way...

this video is awesome.

You should watch it.

Empire State of Pen

I'm in the process of trying to save money for a year of traveling and attempting to plan my trip.

But I kept getting distracted with other things that are taking up my time in life right now.

Each time I think about the different places I want to see and the possibilities open for discovery it brings me back to my time in New York.

I hope I end up loving all the places I see as much as I loved New York.
(I also wish I could draw these cities, like Patrick Vale (below) but for now I'll just rely on photos for memories)

Feeling Inside for Cure Kids

(This is me, supporting red nose day throgh my facebook profile picture, with use of a facebook app)

 I've just recently celebrated my 23rd Birthday.

It was wonderful. 

One of my early birthdays, I was possible turning 6 or 7, was on Red Nose Day and we got to dress up in red for a day at school and donate to Cure Kids with a gold coin donation. 

And that is the last Red Nose Day I remember.

This year, when I heard they were doing Comedy for Cure Kids I got far too excited.

Unfortunately I was out celebrating my birthday on the night of it aired so I ended up watching it ondemand last night. 

And I laughed the whole way through, and donated for the cause. 

 Flight of the Concords also contributed with the creation of a new, wonderful, hilarious, amazing new song, which I just HAD to share! I love how they combine all the children's lyrics.. watch to see what I mean.

Enjoy it.. Laugh... check out Cure Kids, and donate...

text cure to 933 (automatic $3 donation)

Feel inside (and stuff like that)

How to be Famous

My friend posted this on her facebook page this morning and I couldn't help but reblog it.

It made me laugh. 

How people act around the 'famous' is hilarious in itself,

and this video steps it up a notch.

Music A Bit Different

Much Better Now

This is a absolutely adorable video of a forgotten bookmark and its incredible ride through the book it is lost within. Its a beautiful depiction of the the joy one can get from reading a book,
and a simple metaphor on the adventure of life.

Find it, and its process of creation, here.

 I'm a little bit obsessed with books and bookshelves at present..
and this is just beautiful.

Take 5 minutes to watch it.

"In “Much Better Now”, the main character is a bookmark, stuck in a forgotten book, caught in a life marked by standstill in a deserted room. One day wind knocks over the book and blows the bookmark onto the table, separating them. Unfolding hands and feet, the bookmark is swept back into the pages that turn into ocean waves and the two are reunited for a journey. With a surfboard it experiences its environment in a new way – wipe-outs, washouts and nosedives connect the hero to the ocean. The bookmark enjoys the ride of its life."

Fun with a book shop

This beautiful piece of stop-motion must have taken HOURS. 

But it is incredibly lovely.

If you love bookshelves and their contents as much as I do, this is a fantastic blog to visit;

Bookshelf Porn

Extinct Since When

Brian R. Williams paints some seriously beautiful images. 

My favourite? 

His series of birds, dressed in the clothing of the year they became extinct. 

Intelligently beautiful 

Great Auk, 1844

Laughing Owl, 1914

Carolina Parakeet, 1918

Molokai Creeper, c.1963

Atitlán Grebe, 1989

This has been around for a while now,

and i imagine the majority of you have seen it.

These girls are incredibly talented.

I also love how many people have commented on youtube for someone to "call Ellen".

 

John Baldessari

In 6th form we had to do an art project based on an artist for our NCEA assessment.

The artists were given to us by our teacher.

He gave me Baldessari.

I'm ever thankful that I have this knowledge of this incredible artist.

In the study I fell in love with many of the things he has said, the quotes I found from interviews etc, and the artwork he has made.

It opened my eyes to a new form of art in my early years, and have been subconsciously inspired by him, and the other artists we studied, ever since.

I wish this video was about then.

It makes me laugh,

and I continue to admire him.
Plus, Tom Waits has an incredible narrative tone. He can definitely narrate my life.

Ageing happily

Happy At One Hundred: Portraits of Centenarians

This is such a beautiful exhibition.

Absolutely stunning.

 

"Imagine for a moment that you have been alive for 100 years. In your lifetime would have been two World Wars, the sinking of the Titanic, the end of horses on city streets, the invention of the computer and the first man to walk on the moon. It’s a fantastically long time to experience."

 Click me to see all images

Siting Waiting Wishing Missing

 On Sunday my boyfriend left for the Navy.

Basic training lasts 13 weeks. 

3 months.

3 months of no contact,

letters only.

3 months of snail mail.

3 months of missing him.

In a way it's exciting.

I love the feeling of receiving a letter in the post,

it often puts a smile on my face.

But the waiting sucks.

I've been wanting to write a letter from the moment he got on the plane,

but I have to wait to receive his letter first.

In the mean time I've started writing my thoughts, (there are many), down in a journal.

I've even gone so far to title them...

"Letters To Will"

It's a bit cringe.

But it helps.

So for now, 

I'm just sitting, waiting, wishing, and missing.

Red Red Velvet

Cupcakes cupcakes cupcakes.

Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing.

Homemade.

I'm so happy.

Proud?

You should be.

 

1 1/2 cups of sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, room temperature

2 eggs, room temperature

2 1/3 cups of cake flour

2 tablespoons of Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of buttermilk*

1 1/2 tablespoons of red food coloring

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 teaspoon of distilled white vinegar

Frosting; 
1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
2 - 3 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
 Cupcakes:
1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer for 3 minutes on medium speed until light and fluffy.
2 Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is fully incorporated. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
3 In a large bowl, sift together the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl whisk together the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract, and red food coloring.
4 Add a fourth of the dry ingredients and mix, then add a third of the wet. Continue adding in a dry, wet, dry pattern, ending with the dry ingredients.
5 Scoop into cupcake papers, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Rotate the pan after the first 15 minutes of baking to ensure even baking.
6 Allow to cool for one minute in the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting:
1 Cream the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
2 Add the vanilla extract and mix.
3 Add the powdered sugar, continually taste to get to desired sweetness. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
 Decorate and Eat. 
Yummy