Sea bags...

There's a little giveaway going on over at The Willows Home & Garden. Hop over here for a chance to win one of these versatile Sea Bags.

Found via Simple Lovely. Image from Martin Mattox.

An old favourite...

I've been wearing this (which I love), but I have just rediscovered an old favourite Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia. The scent of gardenias is heavenly. It reminds me of visits to my mother, and sublimely wonderful holidays in the South Pacific. Do you have a favourite scent?
Image from Estee Lauder.

The talk...

Julia Sweeney's 2010 TED talk is hilarious. Julia starts off discussing frog reproduction with her eight-year-old daughter, and ends up having to tell a little white lie when things veer off course...
Clip from TED.

Lovely collages...

Meandering through Ink & Peat last week I came across Lisa Onstad's lovely collages (see image from Ink & Peat below). You can see more of Lisa's work here and here. I hope your week is off to a good start, we seem to have hit the ground running....

Images from Lisa Onstad and Housemartin.

Boy...

I can't wait to see Taika Waititi's new movie BOY. Set on the rural East Coast of New Zealand, in the year of 1984, Boy is a heart-felt (and hilarious) coming-of-age story.A dreamer who loves Michael Jackson, Boy lives with his brother Rocky, a tribe of deserted cousins and his Nan.  Boy's other hero, his father, Alamein, is the subject of Boy's fantasies, and he imagines him as a deep sea diver, war hero and a close relation of Michael Jackson (he can even dance like him). In reality Alamein is in prison for robbery. When Alamein returns home after seven years away, Boy is forced to confront the man he thought he remembered, find his own potential and learn to get along without the hero he had been hoping for.
Clip from You Tube.

Weekly what:nots...

Hello Friday! I hope you've all had a grand week. Portland has been basking in lovely warm summery weather which has been soooo nice. I do love warm weather, and especially how these early summer days promise of a long-hot summer. Bliss! Thank you for all your messages and kind words, as always they make me smile. I hope your weekend is filled with fun, laughter, and lots of sunshine (even if it's the autumnal kind). Here's this week's rather eclectic what:nots...

This exquisite vintage 1920's dress is for a four-year old. Wouldn't it be fab in an adult size?

(found via A Cup of Jo)

Mohop Shoes - environmentally friendly and with interchangeable ribbons. What more could you want?

'Frogs' as note holders from the ever-lovely Ethanollie.

Inspired by an imaginary journey along the East Indian spice route, with notes of coriander, rose, ginger and amber Malabah sounds wonderful.

Loving this brightly embroidered purse. Perfect for summer!

A great 'boyfriend' tee from Calypso St. Barth.

It was love at first sight when I saw these....then I saw the price! I shall have to gaze from afar...

(found via Wit + Delight)

I just love how Angela of Seesaw Designs has displayed these plates - a perfect combination of colours and graphics.

Images from it's mary ruffle, Belle Heir, Mohop, Ethanollie, Penhaligons, Rie Elise Larsen, Calypso St. Barth, St Kilda Jewelry, and Design*Sponge.

Kindness...

This is really nice, and I love the way it's been made. For a wee clip with great use of typography have a peek at this.
Clip from You Tube.

Lines written in early spring...

I heard a thousand blended notes,

While in a grove I sate reclined,

In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts

Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link

The human soul that through me ran;

And much it grieved my heart to think

What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,

The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;

And 'tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,

Their thoughts I cannot measure:--

But the least motion which they made

It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,

To catch the breezy air;

And I must think, do all I can,

That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,

If such be Nature's holy plan,

Have I not reason to lament

What man has made of man?

- William Wordsworth

Casual cover-ups...

Two ideal summer cover-ups from Seafolly. Which one would you choose?

Images from Seafolly.

Margaret Mahy...

Puffin books have just re-relased several of Margaret Mahy's brilliant children's books - including one of my favs The Three-Legged Cat. Mrs Gimble's cat would love to prowl, but has only three legs. Mrs Gimble's brother, who prowls the world, comes to visit and mistakes the cat for his hat. A ridiculous story with wacky humour. To see more of Magaret's books hop on over here to The Children's Bookshop. Run by John McIntrye and his team, The Children's Bookshop is a treasure trove of reading goodness.
Image from The Children's Bookshop.

Thursday....?

Sorry I know I haven't been around much... But things are on the up, my post-op appointment went well, I'm feeling almost 100% back-to-normal, and the sun is shining like crazy. Hooray! I shall be back this evening I promise. In the meantime here's this cute little fellow - so sweet, although he looks a little chastened don't you think?
Image from it's mary ruffle.

Balanchine's Serenade...

A little bit of Balanchine for your Tuesday courtesy of the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Clip from You Tube.

Trees...

Lewis Blackwell—writer, artist, environmentalist, and former creative director of Getty Images—celebrates our relationship with trees in The Life & Love of Trees. "With a collection of stunning photography from around the world—from cypress enclaves in Tuscany’s wheat fields, to the coast-dwelling mangroves of Indonesia and frozen skeletal structures in the Japanese tundra— Blackwell blends visual poetry with thought-provoking reflections on one of the most successful kinds of organisms and the ties that bind us to them."
Images from Amazon.

A new week...

Hello! Welcome to the week - how are you all? I hope you had a wonderful weekend, and a perfect Mother's Day. Thank you for all your kind wishes. My sojourn within the American hospital system went...OK. I had a small reaction to the drugs....well, OK, maybe not-such-a-small reaction, but by Friday evening I was home safe and sound, and tucked up in my own bed. Nothing beats your own bed when you're feeling a bit sad and sorry for yourself. Being at home, with fresh air, and sunshine helped immensely over the weekend. As did having my three boys fuss around me. And here we are at the start of a new week. Let's hope it's a good one.
Image from here.

Weekly what:nots...

...on a Sunday! Better late than never I say. I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day, and if it's already Monday for you, that your week is off to a great start. Enjoy!

Lovely image of the exquisite Emma Watson for Burberry.

Pretty green bowls by Littala.

Inspirational travel books from Assouline. A week in Capri would be nice....

Anthropologie's In the Air tank.

Retro-inspired sunglasses at Chanel.

Colette Dinnigan's framed 'colour sample' petals (via Vogue Living 2007).

The mini-Diana - too cute!

National Geographic's special issue - Water: our thirsty world. Thought-provoking reading, with stunning imagery.

Images from Burberry's You Tube Channel, Finnish Design Shop, Assouline, Anthropologie, Chanel, Vogue Living, Poketo, and National Geographic. 

Thank you....

....thank you, thank you for all your lovely comments and wishes - aren't bloggers the kindest kind of people? I am back...only just though, and do feeling a tad worn out. I promise to return tomorrow with a little bit of this'n that, plus a few what:nots. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend, and Happy Mother's Day for tomorrow (or today)!
Image from Barb Fritz.

This week...

This week posting will be pretty light (well OK probably non-existent). I'm having a wee bit of surgery tomorrow, and will be in hospital until Friday. Ugh! I can't say I like hospitals all that much (who does?). However, in some ways I'm quite looking forward to a few days 'inside'. I'm secretly hoping I can lie in bed, read and drink tea. There has to be some consolation to the fact that I won't be able to ride or swim for a month! Whether I can blog from 'inside' remains to be seen....I shall do my best.... Have a wonderful week.

Image from vi.sualize.us.

A May Monday...

How was your weekend? Ours was nice in every sense of the word. A lazy start then R's scrummy pancakes followed by wandering the NW and Pearl with two alarmingly-fast growing boys. How children can literally grow overnight astounds me! Oooh and we watched a fantastic movie - An Education. It was brilliant and extremely well cast - Carey Mulligan was utterly gorgeous.  Sunday saw us all feeling a bit blah with colds, but I did duck out to Crafty Wonderland. And sure enough it was a true wonderland of all that Portland crafters have to offer. How about you - what did you get up to?
Images from Sony Pictures Classics.

Anthro goes to India...

Anthro's May catalogue is out with fab images (and products) from their Indian sojourn....
Image from Anthropologlie.