Tuesday 23 October 2012

Tuesday's Tune - Birdy

Why am I only just hearing about this girl now?? I'd heard this song on the radio a few times, but I didn't realise, until I saw the TV ad for her album today, that it was sung by a 16 year old girl!! 
Sublime. Angelic.
Please enjoy.







Linking up with Thea and Tuesday's Tune at A Snap, A Set and a Song
because we love beautiful photos, fashion and music. 



xx


Monday 22 October 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hello to all those who love to read books!


I often read books from people's recommendations, so don't be afraid to share some of your favourite reads in the comments section!

This week I've been reading Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore, which was a recommendation from Literary Lindsey. 


I downloaded the book to my iphone, which is funny because that's exactly what this book is about, old technology versus new, and how much computer technology has taken over our lives. 

The story is about Clay, who works the nightshift in an unusual bookstore which has about one customer each night, and runs more like a library than a store. Odd characters come in, borrowing huge, old books, and Clay enlists his computer savvy friends to help him work out what is going on, leading them to a code-breaking cult searching for the secret to immortality.

This book will especially appeal to computery types and the book obsessed, as well as artists,
and Harry Potter fans. It reads more like a young adult book, in that it is quick and light.  
If you love a story about breaking codes, you'll love this one! The writing is not exactly poetic or challenging, but I love the way the epilogue is written - clever!

In other news, my mum found me this ancient, falling apart book of Alice in Wonderland, and I've been enjoying the coloured plates, wondering if I should take them out and frame them, or just keep the book as is. Hmmm...what would you do?





Now I'm off to visit Sheila and all my other book-loving friends via Book Journey's linky party!


xx

Sunday 21 October 2012

A Few Hours with the Adorables

Last week we got to spend the afternoon with The Adorables, Lily and Blake, my sister's children.
 Aren't they the cutest?



We're looking forward to next weekend because it's Blake's first birthday party.
Can't wait to go back for more cuddles!

xx


Friday 19 October 2012

My Friday Fancies Halloween Costume Prep

The kids in our neighbourhood always go trick or treating at Halloween, and I wish we had been able to do that when I was a kid, because I LOVE Halloween costumes! 

One day, when Halloween falls on a weekend, I might even convince my family to throw a Halloween party! 
Here are some ideas for a possible costume and decorations:

Happy Halloween


Staub Pumpkin Covered Casserole
crateandbarrel.com



Happy Halloween Blocks
grandinroad.com






Fairytale Halloween Fancy Dress Ladies Snow, Rapunzel, Belle Costumes...
ebay.co.uk




Are you getting into the Halloween spirit this year? If you are, you too can prepare your costume on polyvore and share it at My Friday Fancies, for fun! See you there!


xx


Thursday 18 October 2012

A Snap, A Set and Song - Birthday

It's Thursday, and time for a round of A Snap, A Set, and A Song! This week's theme is Birthday, and the most recent birthday in our family was my hubby Jonathon's. 

My Snap captures his new tool box in all it's glory!



My Set: Something a bit different this week, I didn't do a fashion set, but a collection of photos of 
Tool Box themed Cakes! 
I wish I'd had the forethought and the know-how to create some of these beauties!
                                           

  Source
  




In keeping with the Tool Box theme, here's a nice loud number from The Foo Fighters called Monkey Wrench (love that chorus!)


Pop over to Thea's blog to see some more interpretations of The Birthday theme.


xx



Tuesday 16 October 2012

What Are You Reading?

Hello there!


 This past week I finished reading Foxmask by Juliet Marillier, 


and, while I thought it started out a bit slow, at the half way mark it got really interesting, and by the end I was in tears, which is very rare for me. The love story was so convincing, that I just felt so much for the characters in the last pages. Brilliant!

Influenced by Nordic folklore, the story centres around Thorvald, who takes to the seas with his friend Sam, to search for his father who was banished from the Light Isles 18 years earlier. Creidhe, a long admirer of Thorvald stows away on the ship, to remain close to him. Once found she is seen as a hindrance but they continue on their journey until the ship is wrecked against the Isle of Stormss. Here Thorvald and Sam are virtually held captive by the leader of the Long Knife tribe, Asgrim, who Thorvald suspects may be his father. They become part of Asgrim's army and prepare for the annual hunt on the Isle of Clouds, for the great seer, Foxmask, who was kidnapped from them and is kept hidden there. Creidhe meanwhile is kept separate from the men, and lives with the women of the island who act somewhat suspiciously around her. Eventually it is revealed that she will be a human sacrifice to the tribe of the Unspoken as a trade for the seer. Creidhe escapes Asgrim's hold with the help of the kind priests from a nearby settlement and makes her way to the Isle of Clouds. There she discovers Foxmask, and plays a part in protecting him from Asgrim's army. This is where the book becomes really exciting, as all the characters are now established and the fight for survival becomes paramount. The second half of the book races along and emotions run high. It was captivating!

In other news, I received a big pile of books from my Mum


and one, which I've been wanting to read, from my sister.



 I've heard great things about The Light Between Oceans, so I'm pretty sure I'll start with that one.

Have you read any of these books? Which ones do you recommend highly?

I'm popping over to visit Book Journey now, to see what all my bookish friends have been up to!


See you there!

xx

Friday 12 October 2012

Leaf Love in the Park

It's time to play A Snap, A Set and A Song in the blogosphere! This week's theme is Park, and we have a beautiful park right near our home, with the most wonderfully tall trees! 


There are also a lot of Aussie grass trees at the park too. The flower coming out of the top is usually straight, but these ones went a bit crazy!


My Set, has an autumny feel to it, rather than spring, but there are no flowers in our park, so the colours are taken from the leaves, and bark.

Leaf Love in the Park


Short dress
amazon.com


Semi Couture crop top
$215 - farfetch.com



Kate Spade leather handbag
bloomingdales.com


Dkny
dkny.com


Croft barrow
kohls.com


Eric Javits straw fedora
nordstrom.com


Kevyn aucoin
barneys.com


Burberry lipstick
nordstrom.com


Nars cosmetic
$33 - asos.com






Fall Leaf , original watercolor painting of dried leaves in brown and...
etsy.com




This song has pretty much nothing to do with the park theme, but it has been going round and round in my head, and it is at least filmed outdoors! I just love the pretty melody:




Off to visit Thea at A Snap, A Set and A Song:


I'm also joining up with Friday Fancies for the Leaf Love theme: 


See you there!
xx