May, 2009

~ I want a kitten ~

But i'd settle for this illustration…  for now.
Tomato Cat Time by The Dancing Cat

May, 2009

~ Trust, gratitude & inspiration ~

[My diaries: 2003 - 2009]

Pssst. I'm doing a wholeheARTed giveaway with the very inspiring Ms Brene Brown today to celebrate the conclusion of her fantastic book read-along, and to spread some cupcake happiness on this TGI Friday:

I'm grateful for the new yoga centre that has opened five minutes from my house, and for yesterday's discovery of a free running class I can join on Wednesday evenings. If the exercising is easy to get to I'm more likely to stick with it.

I'm inspired by these fabulous Moleskine cahiers on Etsy. The brown covers are just begging to be decorated and it pleases me no end that some creative souls have done just that. I've probably mentioned my fetish for Moleskines too many times on this blog, but i can't help it – there's something magical about those notebooks, with their super smooth pages and no-nonsense covers. Maybe it's because I use them for my diaries and the magic comes from the words i write, the soul searching and brain excavation  – whatever it is, I'm hooked.

Peacock notebook, $12 by Mulberry Muse; sun journal, $9 by Blancucha; sunflowers journal, $12 by Shoofly; tweet notebook, $3 by Mamaroots

May, 2009

~ Liquid sunshine ~

It's Day Five of the new juice obsession and so far so good. New juicer is performing well and is easy to clean, which is essential. I just made the most delicious beverage I've tasted in a long time, so i wanted to share it here in case there's anyone out there who has been feeling as crap as me lately and wants to try something new – we can rebuild ourselves, people!

2 apples (Royal Gala)
1 carrot
1 slice lemon with rind on (unwaxed)
quarter of a yellow pepper
1 inch chunk cucumber
1 inch broccoli stem
1 inch slice raw beetroot

The recipe ( 'Detox Special' taken from Jason Vale's book, The Juice Master – which came free with my juicer) also includes celery but i just can't stomach that heinous vegetable, so i left it out. Your juice will look like this:

Amazing, right? Tastes even better. I am completely converted.

When i was getting ready to move last year I knew i was entering into a new period of my life. I had a list in my head of things to do to get to where i want to be, something along the lines of

1. Move to Bath
2. Create meaningful work
3. Get healthy
4. Fall in love

so nothing too taxing, eh? Of course, once i committed myself to changing my surroundings, things slowly started to fall into place – all it needed was that initial fingers-crossed jump forward to get all my planets and galaxies in alignment. Mind you, a lot of the time the falling into place is more of a crash-landing or arse-kicking – a month long flu-y virus and suddenly i'm fast-forwarded into Phase Three. Not before time though, truth be told.

May, 2009

~ Juice, Clooney & fish ‘n’ chips ~

I've been tagged to do a meme by the very talented and lovely Stephanie – it's been so long since I've done one and it's been the perfect antidote to my hormonal brooding today…

What is your current obsession?
My new juicer. I've committed myself to making fresh juice daily, in my bid to get healthier and stave off stress. Today: carrot, apple, cucumber, broccoli and ginger. Tomorrow I'm going to see how it tackles spinach…

What is your weirdest obsession?
I find it (almost) impossible to flush the toilet without first putting the lid down; i once read that with every flush millions of tiny droplets of loo water come flying out and land everywhere, and from then on i had to put the lid down. I don't know if that's weird or simply OCD.

What are you wearing today?
Nothing glamorous enough to mention here – comfy clothes so i can sit at my desk and write all day.

What's for dinner?
Leftovers from last night: vegan stew of butter beans, onion, potatoes, peppers and tomatoes with smoked paprika and thyme, served with brown rice (first made by Claire aka BB)

What would you eat for your last meal?
I want to concoct something fancy that would include all my favourites like risotto, prosciutto, peas, nectarines, artichokes, sea bass, mint, Moroccan-spiced chicken yadda yadda, but i know that on my very last night on earth I'll be craving fish & chips with mushy peas and lots of vinegar and ketchup. Sad but true.

What's the last thing you bought?
The new album from Phoenix on iTunes, two hours ago. It's excellent.

What are you listening to right now?
See above.

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
I think Stephanie is an insanely talented artist who i admire greatly. I love how she promotes her fellow artists on her Artists Who Blog site – I was lucky enough to be interviewed by her in April.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
San Francisco.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
New York or LA to have a coffee with one of my girls.

Which language do you want to learn?
Poetry

What's your favorite quote (for now)?
I love this new one i found by Dorothea Lange: 'While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see.'

What is your favorite colour?
Today: pomegranate red.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
My jeans

What is your dream job?
I'm beginning to feel like I'm doing it already. Teaching my Unravelling classes is going above and beyond all my expectations and proving to be such a humbling and wonderful thing to facilitate and participate in, and that is all down to my students and how willing they are to excavate and share their lives and selves. If you add in a two-book deal from a top publishing house (or even an agent at this stage) and i would be doing my perfect job.

What's your favourite magazine?
UK Elle Decoration; The Week

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on?
Yoga lessons

Do you admire anyone's style?
Charlotte Gainsberg, Helena Christensen, Kate Moss, Emmanuelle Alt

Describe your personal style?
Preppy in the winter, Portobello girl in the summer.

What are you going to do after this?
Make lunch then post the new writing exercise for my Unravellers on the e-course blog.

What are your favourite films?
Last week's fun: Yes Man; fail safes: anything sci-fi or with Clooney in (this evening i'm watching Burn after Reading); always: Desperately Seeking Susan

What's your favourite fruit?
White nectarines, cherries, papaya

What inspires you?
Other artists and disciplines, books, walking aimlessly, sunlight, my sister

Your favourite books?
I turn to The Dance by Oriah Mountain Dreamer and Let Evening Come by Jane Kenyon again and again.

Do you collect anything?
Badges, vintage cameras, retro glassware and ceramics

What are you currently reading?
Just finished Valley of the Dolls (a rip-roaringly entertaining read!), just started Middlesex, dipping into Real You Incorporated

Go to your book shelf, take down the first book with a red spine you see, turn to page 26 and type out the first line:
"brief, tick-tock the biological clock, and that message is thrown at us over and over again."
~ from page 26 of Bitch by Elizabeth Wurtzel… Hmmm, interesting

The rules :
1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag eight other people. (i don't like to tag people as i know we're all busy, so if you want to play along, leave a comment so i can come read your answers :)