Sunday, May 31, 2009

Unconscious Mutterings

The first response was easy - its my uncle's nickname for me. Mona being short for Simone.

The second is my religious background - its also a chorus.

The third is a movie I think watched but don't really remember (Jim Carey was the actor)

I have never really listened to him but I have read a lot of self-help books and they refer to him. Seen his material advertised and read quotes.

Don't why her name came to me. I had to look up how to spell her surname. Its a name I have heard in the media a lot.

Dolly Parton - I think she is an icon - I wouldn't be surprised if many people thought of her as well.

These two names came to me but I couldn't associate them wit something specific so I googled them afterward and saw that they are brand names - once again its something I have just picked in the media without being interested in their products.

That is self-explanatory. We my sister Deborah - Debbie.

I love their music

I enjoyed some of her music and loved her energy.





Luna Nina

I say ... and you think ... ?

  1. Lisa :: Mona Lisa
  2. Hope :: faith, love
  3. Irene :: Me and I
  4. Tony :: Robbins
  5. Anna :: Kournikova
  6. Dolly :: Parton
  7. Laura :: Lee, Ashley
  8. Debbie :: my sister
  9. Wilson :: Philips
  10. Paula :: Abdul

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Favourite Spots

For those who regularly read my blog some of these photos may be familiar but some are new.

My Three favourite spots besides the Library is on the couch in front of my lounge window, Nando's in Belfast and at the coffee shop in Walkers.

Why?

This is the view from my favourite spot in the house. the couch is comfortable. I enjoying reading, drinking coffee, having time alone and with family and friends from this spot. i enjoy looking outside at the tree, the grass, the houses and the activities in our little road.
it is peaceful.



The second is NANDO'S a South African restaurant - it taste just like home, plays great music and has good service.














I love this coffee shop. I love the cosy furniture, the warm colours, the fact that they cater for children. I love the cappuccinos and scones. I love that they are reasonably priced.

I can sit there alone or with friends and feel like i am at home.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Window Views



Advertising Window



The GAP window




Outlet Mall

I went to the Banbridge Outlet to have coffee with some friends at Costa's coffee shop. I knew I would arrive early and decided to take some shots of the shop windows.

I am still trying to get familiar with Cannon 450D camera.

See more or join the meme click here: http://windowviews2.blogspot.com/

Can you tell what's happening??




Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Brave

Tails: A true experience of being brave


Heads Or Tails

In primary school when the boys would come around with frogs and crabs, i would act brave and hold them. Frogs were not bad but I was really scared of been pinched by a crab. But I realised if you showed that you were not scared they wouldn't bother you.

Every time I have to give a talk. speech, act or preach - its an act of bravery. I was once told by a drama teacher that feeling nervous shows that I still cared about what I was doing and that was a good thing.

I have the bravery to try new things like moving to a new country (Au Paired in USA and am now in Northern Ireland), going on a mission trip to Malawi etc.

I was brave when I went for my drivers license for the third time and I will have to find the strength to do the test again in one months time.

I have been brave to face people that are older than me, in higher positions and threaten to hurt me - I did not not back down and stood my ground.

Remembering those times gives me the courage to pick myself up again and to push myself further. If I could do it then, then there is no reason why I cannot do it now.

Bravery to me a state of mind, its a choice I make. Not always an easy one.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Mutterings for today

Hosted by Luna Nina

I say ... and you think ... ?

  1. Vex :: make angry, cast a spell
  2. Relapse :: drugs, addict, depression, cancer
  3. Twinkle :: twinkle little star
  4. Crawls :: creepy
  5. Optimistic moment :: wish I had one right now
  6. Cage :: Nicholas, Bird
  7. Superwoman ::I am not your Superwoman (song)
  8. Personal :: private
  9. Vapor :: water
  10. Grocery store :: Tescos, Pick 'n Pay (South African store)

Saturday, May 16, 2009

100 Words Swap


The mission is to write 100 words on anything, in just about any form so i go:

To maximise
and minimise
To create
and Expand
To dream
and to venture out
The known and the unknown (18)


To simplify
and strip
To complex
and intricate
To sublime
and rich
To enjoy without guilt
To engage and immerse yourself in (22)


To plan
and evolve
To see
and hear
To touch
and tasted
To experience fully
The wonder of life (19)

To believe
and discover
To love
and treasure
To mask
and to expose
To go deeper, to reach further
Define and yet not confine (24)


To days gone by
To days to come
To today
We
recapture, surrender, and celebrate
To life (17) [100]

Extras:

Some links that may interest my partners:

1. Knitting and crotchet blog with some free pattern: http://jessicasuzanne.com/ including an owl.

2. Including Woody the Owl: http://www.roxycraft.com/free_patterns.htm

3.
Owl Dishcloth Knitting Pattern : http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/clothowl.htm

4. Comfort food recipes - the South African way: http://www.cooksister.com/
and http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/index.html

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Wordless Windows

Sunday 3 May, waiting for lunch at Nando's, Victoria Centre, Belfast



Taken in the Get Lost Maze - Festival of Fools Belfast 3 May 2009

Matric Ball



Heads Or Tails




Me at my friend Adelaide's Matric Ball, Durban South Africa.

Matric Ball is held in your senior/last year at High School - Grade 12 (Standard 10).

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Unconscious Mutterings

Host at : http://subliminal.lunanina.com/

I say ... and you think ... ?

  1. Again :: and again and again
  2. Shower :: Power, deodorant



3. Flirting :: outrageously, girls just want to have fun

4. Moving on :: nothings going to stop, nothing is going to to break me

5. Rachel :: Stone, and Rebbecca (Bible women), Issac (her husband)

6. Chips :: The TV series


7. Texting :: sms, cell phones

8. Feel better :: after a long hot bath, good nights sleep, getting it off your chest.

9. Cashmere :: sweater, rich

10. Sucked :: slang word meaning no good, something terrible or boring.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Anon

Tonight I am missing the feeling of being anonymous.

Tonight I am missing home.

Tonight I am missing my friends.

Tonight I am missing being understood

Tonight I am missing the freedom of being me

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

BLOG time

A list of blogs that may interest you.

1. Photography (I have just joined them and I am really finding it useful and interesting) http://digital-photography-school.com/tips

2. My friend. We met in South Africa 3 years ago before I moved to Northern Ireland. She has some great knitting links on her blog as well. She mainly knits and quilts.

Ruth’s Place


Musings of an Australian living, travelling and crafting in South Africa

3.Photography and ........Sandra. This is my little corner of the blogosphere to share tid bits of my life and document my attempts at living an artul life. Artful life (*Art Quote of the Day *Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.)

4. Green Blogs
http://greengirlsglobal.com/blog/
http://littlegreenblog.com/

5. Paper Craft Blog: http://papercraft-world.blogspot.com/

100 Ways to find inspiration

This is a Swap-bot swap.

I hope to think of new ways for myself and hopefully you will something on the list that could work for you.

Erich Fromm:

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.



1. Keep an open minding.
2. Change your surroundings.
3. Read a genre you would not normally read.
4. Listen/read inspiring books like. The Artist Way
5. Go on an Artist Date (even if you don't see yourself as a Artist).
6. Journalling (this is not something I do on a regular basis but it has help me through some tough times and given me inspiration)
7. Expose yourself to a variety of music. One I do this is by doing music e-swaps.
8. Making Collages.
9. Photography - story telling with the camera.
10. Visiting Museums
11. Spending time in the library - whether its just to browse, take out a book or use the internet there.
12. Work in a different spot - if normally work at home - go work in a coffee shop etc...
13. Challenge yourself to learn something - like a language etc. and don't forget to reward yourself.
14. Have a hot and cold shower.
15. Long warm bath and day dream
16. Spend some time alone in nature or in a spot in your home.
17. Visit Artist Way website based on the book - free resources and guidelines.
18. Go for a walk.
19. Drinks lots of water
20. Eat healthy
If you nurture your mind, body and spirit, your time will expand. You will gain a new perspective that will allow you to accomplish much more - Brian Koslow
21. Debate - it stretches your mind
22. Brain Gym® Exercises (Click here for the Illustrated version)
23. Make your own inspirational quote collection to dip into.#
24. have a mini-vacation
25. Spend time with inspiring people
26. Play strategy games like chess or ..........
27. Spend time watching kids play
28. Go to an adventure park
29. Listen to people talking - you will be surprise what that may inspire in you.
30. Brainstorm ideas
31. Mind-mapping is another useful tool.
32. Reading Poetry
33. volunteer
34. Change your routine - like have an unspide down dinner - eat dessert first, them main course and then a starter.
35. Have a travelling dinner either at friends homes or restaurants - 3 or 4 course meal.
36. Watch a comedy
37. Do a labyrinth walk - you can do this online if you don't have one close to you. Find the one that suits you and your spiritual walk of life.
38. Create a mandala.
39. Make a simple craft its amazing how it feels to complete a project it inspires you to do another.
40. I love ticking off or crossing out what I have done on a list - it inspires me and motivates me to continue.
41. detox - physically or technologically (don't use the internet or tv etc. for a day or more)
42. Host a party.
43. Join a book club or start one.
44. Pamper yourself
45. Pamper someone else
46. Wake up earlier and see what happends
47. Watch the sun set
48. Watch the sun rise
49. Donate to charity. 5 Things to Think About When Giving to a Charity Shop
50. Read an autobiography
51. Accept yourself - write a letter of acceptance to yourself or stand in front of the mirror nake and truly accept yourself.
52. Dance in the rain.
53. Have ice-cream in the snow.
54. Give yourself permission to play.
55. Visit an art gallery.
56. Go to theatre.
57. Attend a festival.
58. Be a tourist in your own town/city/county
59. Stay in your pjamas for the whole day
60. Get a new hairstyle
61. Get a new outfit.
62. Have a makeover.
63. Do a room makeover.
64. Join something like Freecycle - go to garage sales or Flea markets.
65. Draw a map.
66. Read a magazine
67. Try a different craft at least once - go to a class and get a friend to help you.
68. Try to make your favourite take-out or restuarant meal meal at home.
69. Make someone else laugh.
70. Smile at and greet strangers.
71. Write a story or a poem.
72. Join a blogging meme or an unusual swap
73. make another list of 100 (LOL)
74. Contact an old friend.
75. Make a new friend.
76. Make a mental picture of what you want to achieve - and think about it regularly
77. Sometimes it’s helpful to walk away from a project or goal or problem you working on. Let it brew in your mind. Then come back to it later. Its wonder some of the things I solve or ideas that come to me in my sleep or while I am doing the most routine of things.
78. Don’t listen to the nay-sayers, if someone thinks you’re a little nuts, or don’t have faith in what you can accomplish, then forget about them.
79. One of the things that has always helped me with my goals/problems is talking about them. While I am talking an idea or solution just seems to come to me.
80. Delegate - its especially great if you can delegate certain tasks that really block you from moving forward.
81. Clean up your home office or room - its amzing the stuff you will find - it helps you re-connect with yourself.
82. Try a new product.
83. Research something random on the internet or in the libray.
84. Implement a new habit.
85. Focusing on getting rid of a bad habit
86. "Always think of what you are going to do as easy and it will be" French Psychologist Emile Coue. -It has worked for me.
87. Turn an unpleasant task into a game.
88. If today was your last day on earth - what would you do? - then do it.
89. Practise you using affirmations.
90. Count your blessing - what are you grateful for?
91. Have a girls/boys night out
92. Step into someone elses shoes for a day
93. Interview someone for the fun of it.
94. Answer a survey.
95. Start a blog or a website.
96. Doodle.
97. Watch birds /insects
98. Go on a road trip.
99. Do a puzzle.
100. Do a public talk or lead out in a group activiy (this type of activity inspires you to try something different .......).

Fools Festival or the Festival of Fools

HEADS OR TAILs
Any past theme

Well I thought since I attended the Festival of Fools this weekend it be the right theme for me to choose this week.






Me making a musical fool of myself - what fun!!


My daughter is in the pink.

WOULD YOU DARE ENTER?





We had to in order to get out of the maze.