Twizzles & twists...

Just rushing off to help transport the boy's class to ice skating. Yes that's my new winter challenge - learn to ice skate! And I'm loving it! Back later on this evening with what:nots. Have a great day.

Image from photolibrary.

Busy, busy, busy...

And then I looked, and Wednesday had been and gone! Things have been a bit frantic, but will hopefully slow down by Sunday. Got to rush, I'm off to start my new winter challenge - I'll let you know how it goes. I hope you're having a great Thursday!

Image from Marie Claire. If only I had a moment to sit in the sun like this!

Loving...

...Country Road's AW 2010 collection. You can see more here.

Images from Country Road.

The penguins will be getting sweaty!

...so Turtle said half way through watching HOME. The combination of stunning cinematography and a very humbling commentary make for sobering viewing. If anyone ever needed a reason to 'act now' this film could be it. Take the time to watch it - I promise you will be awestruck by the beauty of our planet!

A weekend away...

How was your Monday? Mine turned out surprisingly well. A dreaded appointment ended with good news indeed, and I had a bounce in my step after several weeks of anxious worry. On the way home I treated myself to some very pretty blossom branches and hyacinths from Sammy's. Anyhoo onto the weekend. How was yours? We 'escaped' the city for the little village of Oceanside and stayed in the wonderful Oceanside Prefab. Fab is the best word for it. Nicole and Ted have created a fantastic home away from home that exudes warmth, elegance and style. We left with a bad dose of house envy and a determination to find a free week to return. Hope over here to see just how great this place is!

Just quickly...

...I'm running behind today, catching up after an amazing weekend here, and without going into detail I have a nerve wracking appointment this afternoon so am having trouble concentrating on everything that I need to get through. I promise I will post back this evening - and include some pics from the weekend. Have a happy Monday!

ps: Here's a great TED talk on sound and how it affects us - very interesting.

Weekly what:nots...

How was your week? Ours was busy - lots of this'n that. I'm still reeling from the amazing five (yes five!) course meal at Beast last night. Yum! I've added Beast to Le Pigeon and Park Kitchen as my absolute fav places to have dinner in Portland. It's Friday already and Turtle & Mu have today off school, so we are off to spend the weekend here (found via Mrs French of Bliss!). What are your plans? I hope you have a lovely time wherever you are. And I hope you like this week's what:nots...

Love this from Dazed & Confused.

Very stylish matchboxes via Shiny Squirrel.

Perfect styling (& great birds) from tine k home.

i.believe.in.unicorns 'a little bit of this, a little bit of that' on an Anya Hindmarch bag. Pretty.

The perfect striped henley from Aubin & Wills.

Antique mirrors in kitchens (via The Newlywed Diaries). Lovely!

And the sweetest idea - a cushion that comes with a teddy bear!

Images from Dazed & Confused, Shiny Squirrel, tine k home, Polyvore, Aubin & Wills, House Beautiful, and Magpie Lovely.

Two pretty tops...

Two very pretty tops from J Crew. Also worthy of a mention are these shorts and this necklace (in orange).

Images from J Crew.

One pretty card...

This has to be the prettiest valentines card I've seen.

Image from Terrain, via Design*Sponge.

Clothing love...

...Vanessa Bruno's spring 2010 collection.

Images and video from Vanessa Bruno.

I have found what you are like...

A wonderful E E Cummings poem. Enjoy your Wednesday!

Tuesday already...

Here we are at Tuesday already! I hope you had a lovely weekend - ours was very relaxing. Come Monday I hit the ground running, and things are shaping up to be busy for a few weeks or so. I'm secretly delighted - it's good to be nicely busy. I was just over at A Cup of Jo, and followed this link to this, and it made me think of the following Albert Einstein quote:

"Logic will take you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere"

So true!

Image from Kate Spade.

Weekly what:nots...

Woohoo! The first what:nots for 2010! I hope you've all had a great week and have a fantastic weekend planned. R is away so the boys and I have hatched a plan or two to fill in the weekend. And now that they're ten (can you believe it!) there are some things that are "just not our thing Mummy". Hmmm... best we launch into this week's what:nots...

Love Sass & Bide's SS 2010 collection. And as for the super chic bob on the model - swoon...

I confess I am completely taken with Martin Poppelwell's work.

A simple and lovely handmade bowl by Denise Parsons. Denise's blog Chez Danisse is well worth a visit, as is her website!

Ingrid Cusson's beautiful suede cheque book cover.

A stunning tiger and ebony Molly Ring from The Pebble Collection.

Perry Davies birdhouses made from found and recycled materials.

And the best drinking chocolate ever - an enticing mix of chocolate, chillies and spices. Yum!

Images from Vogue Australia, me, Chez Danisse, This is Auto, Magpie Lovely, House of Aroha, and Dagoba Organic Chocolate.

And the boys...

Another perfect song from Angus & Julia Stone. And a beautiful video to boot!

I love this city...

How's your week coming along? I still seem to be unpacking, and discovering various bits and bobs we returned from NZ with. We were lucky enough to visit House of Aroha in Hawkes Bay, where we came away with some great NZ art. I've just popped up two lovely prints by Leanne Culy, and am longing for the Tracey Tawhiao print we left behind. I thought I'd share this excerpt from Patricia Grace which I think perfectly sums up the experience of living in Wellington.

"I love this city, the hills, the harbour, the wind that blasts through it. I love the life and pulse and activity, and the warm decrepitude - there's always an edge here that one must walk, which is sharp and precarious, requiring vigilance."

I hope you have a fun day, the first what:nots for the year will go up tomorrow - woohoo back in the swing of things!

Image from House of Aroha.

Reading & listening...

So much to catch up on, so many great ideas and inspiring things... East Side Bride & Christine from Pretty Pretty Paper have started a very worthy project - a pledge to 'read the printed word'. Pop on over here to find out more. Speaking of catching up on things, over the hols I managed to listen to oodles of podcasts from here. Highlights included interviews with Thomas Buergenthal, Gillian Lynne, Susan Sarandon, and 'Hero of the Hudson' Captain Chesley Sullenberger. Kathryn Ryan's engaging and insightful style of interviewing makes for great listening. To find out more hop on over here, or search 'nine to noon with Kathryn Ryan' on iTunes.

Image from Read the Printed Word.

Hello and Happy New Year!

My it has been a looooong while. I hope you all had a fab Christmas and New Year, and that the sun shone or snow snowed wherever you were. We had the most wonderful Christmas and New Year in New Zealand (above) with family and friends. On our way back to Portland we were lucky enough to spend a few days in the Cook Islands (below). Bliss! We're now back home in our perfect little apartment and slowly getting back into the swing of things. I hope you're all enjoying the New Year - it's so nice to be back!

Oh dear!

I'm afraid I've been rather ill, and what with packing and traveling and whathaveyou there's been no posting or what:nots. I'm so sorry! I'm pleased to say I am much much better (although I have lost my voice - hmmm). This morning we arrived safely (with all our bags) in little old New Zealand and are here for several weeks - hooray! We will be traveling about, minding houses here and there, and spending time with family and friends. So in light of this I plan to take the next three weeks off from Elsa May. I hope you all have a wonderful wonderful Christmas and look forward to connecting with you all again in the new year. Take care and see you in a few weeks!

Image from Country Road.

A bit of stationery, with a few birds...

My stationery obsession continues, as does my love of delicate illustration and craft - clearly with a bit of a bird theme going on.

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Images from Nice Package, Cotton Bird Designs, The Book Cover Archive, kwilson, Amazon, and Emily Gravett.