Cookin' with creative juices, robots, spring eve

This is a (rather tall) cupcake for one of my lovely loyal readers,

Margaret, for her birthday today. I'm sure it tastes better than it looks.

Another beautiful late winter's day full of glee. I got up early again. Again! My brain woke up even though my eyes didn't, and then the neighbours started hosting a monster truck rally in their backyard (or whatever), so going back to sleep was out of the question. But when it got to 2.00pm, it only felt like 5 o'clock. Noice.

I have been lurking in artsy craftsy shops again - Handworks on Chapel Street and Eckersleys on Commercial Road in Prahran. I adore Handworks. ADORE it. If I could, I would marry it and have its babies (I was going to link to its website but it's under construction and does not capture the wonderland that is the store at all). I've purchased supplies for yet more projects. I'm going to make some of these in a palette of blues and purples. I was competent at making paper lanterns and those Christmas chain bizzos at school so they shouldn't be a challenge.

I've got ideas for more creative stuff too...(mostly not stuff I've seen on etsy.com!).  Not just making crafty stuff, but writing and photography projects as well. I've had to start jotting down notes (well, putting notes into my phone). This week has lit a fire under my pot of creative juices. They are on the boil. I hope going back to work doesn't take the pot off the heat, even though it will obviously eat up a lot of the time I have to make stuff. I've wondered this before, but maybe I should go back to working in a creative industry, if not an actual creative job? (I don't think anyone will pay me to make paper hearts or button brooches)

I also bought some chocolate-scented stickers and a set of fridge magnets that are like the keys to an old fashioned typewriter. You can leave little messages on the fridge for people (more fun now I'm not a singleton living alone).

I saw a robot on Greville Street!

Speaking of robots, I bought this T shirt last night... 

(Aside: Gosh, a lot of my gleeful stuff this week has started off with "I bought...". But I do believe spending money can contribute to happiness. It's all in how you spend it, not necessarily how much you spend. End of aside.)

I bought (!) the new book The Fix by one of my favourite writers, Nick Earls. I think Dr Seuss and Philosophy will have to go on the backburner for a wee while. After I paid for the book, the sales assistant folded my long receipt in half and in half again, and handed it to me with a smile. (What's with the long receipts you get these days just for a single item?)

The city was buzzing with people enjoying the winter sunshine this afternoon. The atmosphere was delightful. It could be my imagination, but I think I can smell the scent of jasmine wafting through my window as I type this...

Another new fave word: velvet. It sounds lush and soft and luxurious. Another one of those words that sounds like what it is.

Check out this awesome photo gallery of a double rainbow over the city this week. Absolutely stunning, and fantastic photos too. I wish I'd seen it with my own eyes.

I'm going to the market at the Abbotsford Convent again tomorrow, with Marian, the twitter friend from NY via Auckland. She wanted to go to a Melbourne market and I thought that would be perfect - there's the art and craft market, but also a gallery, artists' studios  and, of course, the star of the show, the fabulously crumbling gothic convent, all in expansive grounds that can have you forgetting you're so close to the city. It's meant ot be another gorgeous day too. Yay.

Also - more new fantastic old signs (see my other blog for pics).

Robots, dinner for two and Next to Normal

My robots are here! So cute!

I'm cooking dinner for a friend tomorrow. I bought my provisions tonight and can't wait to throw them all together into a (hopefully) delicious meal.  It's so nice to have someone to feed instead of just myself (I've been eating a lot of cheese and tomato on toast so it will do me good to have a proper meal for a change too).

I found out today the hit Broadway show Next to Normal is coming to Melbourne next month. I'd never heard of it until my US friend J, who visited in September, played me the music in the car during our Great Ocean Road sojourn. It was fantastic - and extremely moving. I had to try really, really hard not to cry. I think I will need to take a box of tissues if the music alone had that effect on me.

List nerdery, inner child and cute robots

Swooshy clouds yesterday

I spent all afternoon today hiding from the heat and completing a job that has been on my to-do list for months: reviewing and revising my list of 101 Things to Do Before I'm 40 (which is 525 days away. Eep.)

Yes, I've reached the point of listoholism where my to-do list includes updating my lists. Goodness. I'm so glad I've finished it though, because I hate having tasks on a list that keep getting carried over and over and over. Often that's a sign that the thing probably isn't worth doing and should be struck off the list, but not this task. 

It's been over two years since I started my 101/40 list and although my dedication to it waxes and wanes, I think it has enhanced my life and I enjoy doing it. I only put off the review/revision for so long because I knew it would be time consuming and I am rather lazy (despite perhaps appearing otherwise merely by having such a list). 

I decided to update the list because my priorities and interests have changed since I started it, and my commitment to quite a few of the initial goals on the list had diminished or disappeared altogether.  I'm hoping the overhaul will renew my motivation for it.

Today's review and revision also gave me a clear picture of what I've achieved.  I've crossed 28 things off the list so far, which doesn't seem like much progress in two years, but I have crossed off the number one thing, which was to take my first overseas trip. And, in any case,  (cliche alert) it's about the journey, not the destination. It's about making life more meaningful and fun; not about robotically achieving and crossing off goals (as much as I love the crossing off bit).

I should also add that many of the goals are ongoing - for example buying myself flowers or getting a massage once a month - so I'm going have a crossing off frenzy on 9 July 2012!

Indulging my inner child. Yet again

I bought myself some coloured pens. Pink, purple and blue ones. Yes, the back-to-school display at the supermarket got to me again. I didn't need them;  I just wanted them.

I also bought some wee robots from etsy.com. Is this not the cutest robot ever? Completely frivolous, but adorable (perfectly summed up in the shop's slogan: Things U never knew you needed until today). I can't wait for them to arrive.