Random - Favourite Things Part 2

After the last post I did on favourite things I did a bit of rooting around on t'internet and found some more favourites ideas. I know I said I wanted to cut down on the randomness, but its also nice to share a bit about me:

1. Favourite Colour: Plum (not purple which is blue-toned, but plum which is red-toned - not that I'm being pedantic or anything!)

2. Favourite Pasttime: Reading and more recently injecting some love back into our sadly neglected home

3. Favourite Music: Mellow Pop

4. Favourite Author: Jodi Picoult and Paulo Coelho

5. Favourite Place To Be: Home

6. Favourite Colour Eyes: Hazel (mine)

7. Favourite School Subject: English

8. Favourite Dessert: Anything with toffee and peaches/crumble and custard

9. Favourite Room: New Kitchen (but I'm starting to love the others again as we're making progress with them)

10. Favourite Car: Mercedes

11. Favourite Job: Dream job would be to own my own emporium - part florist, part bookshop, part coffee   shop, part jewellery & gift shop

12. Favourite Day: Saturday

13. Favourite Food: Spaghetti Bolognese

14. Favourite Tree: Cherry

15. Favourite Store: Any bookshop

16. Favourite Shape: Heart

17. Favourite City: Glasgow

18. Favourite Blog: Chez Larsson

19. Favourite Perfume: Chanel Allure

20. Favourite Type of Weather: Summer Rain

21. Favourite Magazine: Living etc

22. Favourite Pizza Topping: Veggies and Peaches

23. Favourite Time of Day: weekend mornings when you wake up and realise you don't have to go to work - yay!

24. Favourite Foreign Language: Japanese

25. Favourite Natural Wonder: Pretty much the whole of Iceland! 

Random - Disco

Just a quick one - I wanted to do this while I remember (and before I become completely unhinged!!!).

Do you remember the old pop song "Disco" by Ottawan (I had to google it to find out who sang it!)...

She is 

D - delirious

I - incredible

S - superficial

C - complicated

O - oh oh oh

Disco

etc,etc...

For some reason the song's been in my head today but I realised I was making up my own words cos I couldn't remember the proper ones (kindly got those above from Mr Google, he's a very accommodating man). 

Work is stressed and hectic right now and I think my choice of words is a reflection of this (and I'm scared y how well these words fit the tune, its like it was meant to be or something!!:

Sorry for the rubbish graphic, Word's playing up and I don't have the time to play about with it!!

If I get bored with my monthly subway art, I can always substitute this in - might make me laugh while work's such a nightmare (I work in Finance and our end of year madness lasts from now till 31st March - oh the joy!!).

If you'd like to see some more of my (STRANGE) sense of humour (go on have a look, you can always peek from behind your hands...), check out this post. I think I'm hilarious... someone's got to!!! I keep dreaming up these weird statements at random moments, and I NEED to get them turned into works of art... the world will not be complete without my "Could You Give Me a Clue As I Don't Appear To Have One" - this one I should copyright!! or "Chocolate and I Are No Longer Friends" printables.

Told you it was RANDOM...

Blogging - Blog Love

In the spirit of Valentines, I'd like to send out some blog love to my 4 favourite bloggers:

Jen at A Thousand Words - the adventurer, sharing the ups and downs of their dream life moving to the other side of the world.
Benita at Chez Larsson - wonder woman, determined to take on every DIY challenge single-handedly and showing yet again that design aesthetic must be in the Scanidinavian DNA.
Jen at I Heart Organising - a force of nature, 3 boys, 2 dogs, 1 hubs and possibly the most organised woman on the planet!
Erin at Sunny Side Up - the comedian, sharing her hilarious adventures of life and organising with a toddler sidekick.

I love them all because their hints and organisation and insights into their daily lives around the world are inspirational.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Random - Duh...

Seems I may not have got the hang of this blogging thing after all. We had a SERIOUSLY productive weekend on the organising front. Major progress made in the dining room and in the study and 4 huge boxes cleared out of the den so some progress there too. 

So what's wrong with that - well I keep forgetting to take PROGRESS pictures. I remember to take pictures when its all lovely and sorted but not during the actual process of getting it to that stage.

I was also really bad before about taking any kind of photos so there is a distinct lack of before pictures (or before the befores I've already posted if you know what I mean) - i.e. what the house looked like before the chaos descended and it was just a normal ordinary functioning home.

So I've got lots of posts to show you the progress we've made and how things are looking much better, but I apologise in advance if the journey is not as well documented as it could have been.

Random - The Photography Challenge

I've decided to stop doing the photography challenge as its distracting me from the main point of this blog which is organisation and our home.

I've realised that its making the blog seem a bit random and unfocused.

I could try and make the challenge more organisation oriented but realised that's almost impossible with the daily prompts.

So no more photography challenge and hopefully lots more organisational stuff.

Random - Harry Hound

10th February - Sweet

I had originally thought to take a foody photo for this one, but when I was getting my boots out of the wardrobe for yesterday's photo post, I spied this guy on the top shelf:

His name's Harry (you can tell cos it says it on his dog tag!) and I've had him since I was teeny tiny. When we started the clearout for redecorating the bedroom we found him languishing in the depths of the wardrobe with a pile of rubbish. Hubs reckoned we should get rid of him but he's got sentimental value you know and I just couldn't do it... so I told Hubs he had to.

We got caught up with the decorating project and to be honest I forgot about poor Harry (I do care about him really), so imagine my surprise when I opened the newly organised wardrobe and who was sitting on my top shelf!?!? - you guessed it.

Made me laugh so much but also it was such a sweet thing for the Hubs to do - love that man! Funny thing is I can't actually reach the shelf to move Harry (and since me going up a ladder is not an option!) so looks like the wee man's found himself a new home.

You can't really tell from the photo but apart from a cushion and Harry, that shelf is now totally empty - told you I love organising and when I get my organising mojo on there is just no stopping me - plus I am learning the art of purging and decluttering... except when it comes to Harry of course!!

Blogging - The New Blog

OK so its a few days in now and I have to say I think the new blog and I have bonded. It definitely feels much more me than the last one and I'm still coming up with things to blog about, have lots to say and my photograph a day challenge is also stimulating the old brain cells - I've discovered I'm not that great a photographer, so that's something I'm going to have to work on some more - photographing for the blog is definitely giving me lots of practice though!

Still keeping everything crossed for it to succeed but it is looking hopeful!

It is really for me documenting my misadventures in life and organising - but now I'm getting greedy, I'd like someone to notice. I've been linking up my pics to my Pinterest - I love capturing and keeping all the images that describe my life and ideas and hopefully I am adding some depth and texture to support these images with my posts on the blog.

I just have to remind myself that the main point of the blog is a creative outlet for me so any visitors are a bonus - but really you are very welcome and I would appreciate any feedback or ideas you might have to make the blog more interesting.

Here's to Ginger Organising, bless her and all who sail in her!! Even if it is just me on my own in a leaky rowing boat...

Random - My Shoes

9th February - Your Shoes

I love CAT boots, I have them in the traditional sandy neutral colour, plus a plummy pink and now I have my hands on some gorgeous new ones in LILAC! Girly deliciousness or what?!? Sadly they are so impractical they will never stay this pristine and beautiful, but at least the moment is captured for posterity:

By the way, if you're looking to buy them you'll not see them on the CAT site - I got them at a Car Boot Sale! I'm not sure what I'm going to do when these are worn out - I'm restricted in the boots I can wear with my disability and being in the chair (plus I'm only a UK Size 3) - CATs have always been suitable for me till recently they've gone a bit fashion, so methinks I'm going to be defecting to Timberlands... these look nice, not sure I like 'em as much as my CATs and the price is scary! But then hey they are custom!

Random - Favourite Things Part One

I saw a post by Little Lucy Lu (here) about favourite things and thought it was a nice idea, so here's my list:

1. Favourite Season: Autumn (my birthday, Halloween, Bonfire Night, cosied up on the settee with a good book, a snuggly blanket and hot chocolate - need I say more!).

2. Favourite Juice: Irn Bru!

3. Favourite Sweets: Dolly Mixtures (candy) and Caramac (chocolate)

4. Favourite Animal: Chocolate Labradors (I want one!)

5. Favourite Movie: Coyote Ugly (girly fun) and Memoirs of a Geisha (dark and philosophical)

6. Favourite Band: Savage Garden and Texas

7. Favourite Breakfast: French Toast, Crispy Bacon & Italian Salad Dressing and Pancakes with Kiwi & Apple Jam (we get this at a local cafe, I get the pancakes, hubs gets the french toast, then we split so we have a savoury and a sweet brekkie item).

8. Favourite TV Show: Come Dine With Me

9. Favourite Holiday Destination: Ireland (European) and Canada (Long-Haul)

10. Favourite Veggie: Tenderstem Broccolli

11. Favourite Sport: Archery (Summer) and Curling (Winter)

12. Favourite Restaurant: local

13. Favourite Flower: Orchids

14. Favourite Disney Movie: Haven't watched any!

15: Favourite Joke: A young couple find out they're pregnant with identical twin boys Juan and Amal but they are too young to cope with the responsibility so they give them up for adoption. Years later they are still together and decide they want to find their boys. Juan agrees to meet with them but Amal refuses and the mother is heartbroken by this. Trying to console his distraught wife, the father says "But darling, once you've Juan, you've seen Amal..." Its long but I think worth the wait!

16. Favourite Comfort Food: Apple Crumble and Custard.

17. Favourite Cereal: Cheerios

18. Favourite Footwear: CATs.

19. Favourite Makeup: Laura Mercier when I can afford it!

20. Favourite iPhone App: don't have an iPhone!

21. Favourite Game: Trivial Pursuit

22. Favourite Cartoon: Garfield

23. Favourite Talk Show: Ellen

24. Favourite Fast Food: Fish and Chips

25. Favourite Thing in the Whole Wide World: Hubs

You'll notice in a lot of cases I have a hard time making one choice! A lot of my decision making about what I like and don't like is situational and depends on my mood. For example, if I want an escapist movie I love Coyote Ugly, its a bit of fluff and fun, but I also love the atmospheric darkness and the story of Memoirs of a Geisha, so if I'm in a philosophical, thoughtful mood, then that suits me better. 

Random - Cute as a Button

7th February - Button

I was struggling with this one, to come with anything that was remotely interesting - I don't have a cute button collection, all the buttons on my shirt are of the functional rather than pretty variety so I was a bit stumped.

Then duh, I picked up my bag and what little specimen of loveliness should I behold but this:

Its a keyring and its hangs on my bag all the time, so I see it every single day! and I forgot all about its existence, poor thing.

I got it in gift shop in Glasgow, I think its japanese but can't remember the make of it sorry, but its cute huh. I'm going through a huge plum/pink phase with my clothes/accessories - Kipling Puck bag in Cassis from a couple of seasons ago and my pink button to continue my theme.

I was worried I wouldn't come up with a pic for today, so yay!

Its also got me thinking I should do a "What's in my Bag" post sometime - watch this space!

Random - Tonight's Dinner

6th February - Dinner

I'm working late tonight, so dinner is just a grabbed salad - not even time to take it out of the packaging!! So short post today.

Hubs does Archery on a Monday evening, so Mondays are usually a snacky dinner for me anyway, but today is even more thrown together than normal.

I'm having Chicken Noodle Salad with grapes and beetroot (it tastes better than it looks...) and no doubt lots of chocolate later to keep me going!!

Random - Morning Coffee

5th February - 10am

I work from home, so any weekday, 10am would look like this:

However, as its Sunday today I was still asleep when 10am rolled around so I completely missed out on taking my photo for the day! I decided just to recreate a normal 10am instead...

I work a flexible day - I can start any time from 7am and can work any time till 7pm. I normally start work between 7 and 8 depending when I can get myself out of bed (I refuse to set an alarm!) and finish between 3 and 4 which is my standard hours. I do have flexibility to work more or less if I want to within certain maximum credit and debit limits for my hours. I can then use any extra hours I have as flexi leave for a day off without having to use up my annual leave entitlement. Its a good system.

But I've digressed a bit. We have an informal break scheduled into our working day in addition to the lunch break and most people are in the habit of taking this break either at 10am or 3pm. As I work earlier I take the 10am break.

When I first started working from home I didn't have the break and just stopped for lunch. Something about there being a stigma and perception that if you're at home you have to always be accountable and working. But I realised pretty quickly that I do need to take the break and get away from my desk.

I don't venture far, just to the kitchen, where I usually have milky coffee (made totally with milk no water yum) and a bowl of porridge as I don't like to eat breakfast when I first get up.

I don't like the distraction of music or TV when I'm working but on my break I'll usually put the iPod on - Michael Buble is a current favourite and Darren Hayes is a perennial favourite.

So that's 10am (except on a Sunday when you sleep-in!).

Random - Auld Lang Syne

I was thinking of ideas for my seasonal glass vase project, which got me to thinking about Burns Night, which led to Scottish Verses, which took me to Auld Lang Syne:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought tae mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

for auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne my dear,

For auld lang syne.

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

Apologies, mini rant coming up:

I get steamed up every time I hear it mispronounced!! So I and the rest of Scotland would be much appreciated if you could note:

It is pronounced syne as in SIGN and NOT zyne. There is NO Z in Auld Lang Syne!!! Trust me, I'm Scottish!

OK rant over, I feel better for getting that out.

Check out this link to Wikipedia for more information.

Random - Monkey Magic

4th February - Makes You Laugh

I cheated a bit with this one, didn't take it today. But it does fill the brief - make me laugh. This guy (Monkey) is used to advertise teabags in the UK. The adverts make me laugh. For a while they were giving away promotional mini-monkeys with the teabags, so I snaffled myself one and as you can see, he took up residence at my work. I was bored one day and messing around and decided Monkey should help me out and earn his keep and just had to photograph it for posterity.

Its the sticky out ears that crack me up... I am such a child!

Random - Photos

I decided to join in with a photo-a-day challenge I'd seen online, not for any other purpose than I'm finding photographs are prompting my thoughts about blog posts. If you have a photo it seems to be easier to find the words to support it rather than coming up with the words and then taking a photo to support them.

I'm a couple of days behind with posting these but at least I did remember to take the photos!

1st February - Your View Today:

I work from home, so this is the view from my desk in the study through the conservatory to the garden. We get the morning sun this side of the house, and it was a lovely day on Wednesday here, cold but bright.

2nd February - Words:

This is my favourite book EVER "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach. I got it as an 18th birthday present and still read it and love it. I has so many layers and levels, its very clever and subtle - LOVE IT!

3rd February - Hands:

This is the work area in our kitchen. On the wall, what looks like a giant silver clock is actually a cover for a radiator. Because we had to squeeze in so many units we ran out of space for a radiator so decided to hang it on the wall and make a feature of it. Originally it was going to have a glass panel on the front with a Scottish landscape printed onto the glass but the cost of this was just too scarey so this was our compromise. Its only partly installed - I didn't realise but it needs a clean!. 

In case you're wondering - I decided to think laterally today and not just take a picture of my hands - I took a picture of clock hands instead (am I a genius or what?!).