Yours Truly...

when spring comes

2012-02-21T16:55:00.000Z

....when it finally does arrive.

if it takes any longer, I think that I shall positively burst. so, in my wait-age, I thought that nothing would cheer me and any other waiters-of-spring so much as a giveaway.

giveaways are good. giveaways are nice. whether we are a tweedledee or a tweedledum, we all love giveaways.

ok.

our beautiful sponsor is andrea from andrea bonelli jewelry. she is does the most beautiful jewelry! the sort of jewelry that makes you look sophisticated. even when you're not. like me.

these beautiful flat pebble studs made from recycled silver are up for grabs. oh the joy. worth $40 and they are so charmingly simple.

this giveaway is for one (1) pair of flat pebble studs. just a clarifyin.

wanna know how to enter for these babies?
listen up kids. oh, and darlings, you have to be a follower of yours truly via gfc to enter!

mandatory entry

answer me this: are you ready for spring? or are you still clinging onto winter? are you a snow queen or a spring fairy? or maybe you're a scrooge. or an elvis presley. who knows.

extra entries

blog, tweet, or facebook bout this giveaway (one entry for each)

like andrea bonelli jewelry on facebook

follow tyblogdesigns on twitter

drink a whole glass of water.

I dare you to do the last one. not that it's actually dangerous, so it's not much of a dare. but who has ever had to drink a whole glass of water for a giveaway entry? I had to through it in.

just for fun.

ok. so, one comment per entry please! the giveaway ends on thursday 1st march. first day of spring.

xox jess

we've been through that before.

2012-02-20T17:48:00.000Z

hi.
my name's jess.

but I'm pretty sure we've been through that before.

my brother just turned 21. and I know we've been through that before.
but I didn't tell you how ~~chuffed~~ ~~embarrassed~~ happy he was to receive all those happy birthdays from you all. he felt vewy spwecial. yes, I'm pretty sure he blushed.

I'm not too sure how I should react when I see a raccoon in the park. with a pink collar. on a lead.
I get that strange what-are-you-doing-here-I'm-in-england-you're-an-amercian-animal-why-are-you-on-a-lead-wait,-where-am-I? feeling.

quote of the week:
some people just need a high five.
in the face.
with a chair.

amenamenamen.

it went like this -
me: yes, damien, I'm bringing my camera. what's the time? ah...the golden hour.
damien: not the golden hour jess, the happy hour! it sounds better.
me: damien. the golden hour. not the happy hour. happy hour is what we get in pubs.
damien: oh. cool.

my bro? he's sweeter than apple pie.

oh light leak. we are very good friends. you and I? wow. we're close. yay for me pulling a weird face. heaven help me. I am so strange.

today's happinesses-
eating strawberries and making pasta salad. visual journalling and new notebooks. knowing that some of the big decisions that are staring me in the face right now are up to God and not me.

ok. I'm done.

love you all.
be good, find the golden hour not the happy hour, and steal someone's pet raccoon.

xox jess

21 years of brother-age

2012-02-16T17:22:00.000Z

my weeny-tiny-not-so-little-older-than-me-wee-teeny brother is 21 today.

my brother is a nerd. he's a musician. he loves sandwiches. he likes the cold. he loves computers and html and css and website building. he gets really excited about little things like finding the newest type of javascript. he loves coffee and brownies. he's tall. he is such a gentleman. and I'm not just saying that. he opens doors for ladies and everything.

but that's all thanks to me and my sister. we trained him well. amen.

anyway. happy 21st birthday brother of mine. I love you. even though I've promised to find a wife for you, please don't ever leave.
that's all.

you looked very nice today in your dress pants, shirt, tie and leather shoes. no, ladies. you can't have him yet.

xox jess

so, I finally became modern.

2012-02-15T20:46:00.000Z

it happened like this.

I should get a pinterest account. I'm so behind. I should be more modern. yayformodern.
ok....so, how do I get a pinterest account? oooh! there's a request an invite button. I'll press it. wow. cool.

how long does it take to get a dang invite? google it. what? 12 days? I can't live that long.
use my thinker.
hey. I've got it. I'll email my buddy the way-modern-not-behind-like-me jocee-cakes.

and so the darling invited me. so, I can now thank jocee that I'm now addicted to pinterest and spend all my nothing-to-do hours on it. I do love you dear.

this is me on pinterest:
haha, that's funny...oh my wordy! I love that. oh. she has beautiful hair--what on earth is that? awww, that's so cute, wait who pinned that? those shoes, I want. wow, photography-crush! whozawhat? who made that? oh my wordy-deliciousness how beautif--hey! I know her, I should follow...she has nice fashion sense--nice skirt, ohwowlovelyoflovelinessesthatsacutepinIshouldpinittoo.

Source: brandonleepenny.tumblr.com via yours truly girl on Pinterest

Source: sarakiesling.com via yours truly girl on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via yours truly girl on Pinterest

Source: thismodernromance.com via yours truly girl on Pinterest

Source: google.co.uk via yours truly girl on Pinterest

Source: fythebeautifulpeople.tumblr.com via yours truly girl on Pinterest

Source: google.co.uk via yours truly girl on Pinterest

ok. I could go on forever. but if you want to see more of my sporadic pins, you can follow me here:

love you all.

be good, pinterest like there's no today or tomorrow, and milk a snake.

xox jess

p.s. can anyone guess which of the above is my fave pin? which is yours?

coffee date?

2012-02-12T16:47:00.001Z

it is about time for a coffee date. I have been longing for one.

you'd knock on the door. I open it and give you a enormous hug.

you'd come in and I'd sit you down in front of the fire. I'd ask you how your life is and then make you a latte. or do you prefer mochas?

I'd hand you your drink and offer you some brownies. I'd carry on making a coffee for myself and tell you that I have been dying to see you. I'd tell you how I've been busy with Truly Yours Designs and how the puppy next door is so sweet and tiny and adorable and edible.

I'd ask you what has been keeping you busy. why don't you have a puppy next door too?

I'd tell you that my cousin had just been down to see us. I'd tell you that I'm absolutely loving pinterest. like, a lot, a lot. a lot. a lot.

I'd tell you that my brother's birthday is coming up. my tiny-bigger-older-little-brother is turning 21. sob. I'd tell you that Jeeves and I are really good friends. closer than close.

I'd listen to your stories of your past month. I'd laugh at your hilarious descriptions of your mother's uncle's son's dog's kitten. I'd cry with you as you tell me about your pet mouse that died. well, maybe not. not if it was just a mouse.

we'd laugh, talk, giggle, walk, drink, eat, laugh, and just enjoy.
won't you come?

please do.

xox jess

p.s. old-fashioned me is now on pinterest! I can now face myself in the morning. I am modern. yes.
follow me if you dare. if you're really, really brave.

this post inspired by casey leigh.

yeah, I know.

2012-02-08T18:40:00.001Z

flicking through unwritten journals.

making mini snowmen.

the new truly yours designs blog.

squirrels. oh squirrels.

brother. you look like a hippie.

this squirrel is skidding on snow. what an awesome squirrel. squirrel, you are awesome.

syril. you have some dirt on your nose. ok.

tweeting for tyblogdesign. tweettweetytwit.

studying for australian history around the park with my sister.

beth: hobart.
me: a penal settlement established by john oxley in 1823.
beth: perfect.
me: yeah, I know.
beth: no, I said perth.
me: oh. perth. right.

having glorified bacon and eggs. whatever they are. and then discussing how eggs can be justified, glorified and sanctified.
thrilling.

what have you darling been doing lately? share your souls.

love you all.
be good, hug a pine cone, and kiss a squirrel on the nose.
be really good, kiss a pine cone on the nose and hug a squirrel.

p.s. follow yours truly via bloglovin! I have heard rumors about google taking gfc away. go jump off a cliff google. but don't. coz then we wouldn't have blogger. or our lives.

the sound of silence

2012-02-05T22:17:00.000Z

once again, the title has absolutely nothing to do with this post.

I love awkward pictures. embrace the awkwardness.

and I shall leave you with my gumboots. gumboots, I love you very dearly. you make me happy.
you're like brownies and hazelnut coffee. ok.

this was a very splurge-ful and wordless post. I like to break tradition every once in a while. I talk too much, so a wordless post must be nice for you squirrels. emphasis on the breaking tradition every once in a while.
please savour it.

it won't last long.

see?
I'm still talking.

sigh.

jess
xox

winter, I am smitten

2012-02-04T22:37:00.000Z

oh-so-smitten.
the cold kinda made me a little less smitten.
but still mostly-smitten.

it's lovely stuff. it's white and cold. and cold and white.

the thing I love most about snow, is how quiet it is. it sneaks up on you.
but don't worry, I didn't get a fright. I approached it calmly and said, "why hello snow. you may have sneaked up on me, but we can still be friends."

oh my poor family. I drag them out into the snow and tell them to smile in freezing conditions. yes, you do love me sister.

oh snow. you have such good fashion sense. you dress everything in a beautiful, sparkling white.

tomorrow we shall slip and slide all over you. we shall scream and throw you about. but, be assured that we do love you. even though we take advantage of your throw-able-ness.

my thumb is missing. how thrilling. who knew that snow did that to you?

hello bush. you look pretty.

hello brother. I am cold. you are cold. we are both smiling. wait, why are we smiling?

this girl is very good at sledging. she practically made sledging history.

oh little puppy. you looked so cute in the snow. but you were so very, very cold. so I stuck you in my jacket.

snow. oh snow. I am very smitten with you.

tomorrow shall be good. very good.

what is your favourite thing about snow? are you smitten too?

love you all.
be good, fall head-over-heels for snow, and stick a puppy in your jacket.

what she wears

2012-02-01T22:25:00.000Z

yes. I'm doing a fashion post. but seeing as I'm wearing it, it probably isn't fashion. more like ooh, look! I like how that looks. if I put that there....oooh! I like that belt, and those are pretty dang comfy....
yup, that should do it.

victory dance. yes.

it took me a full ten minutes to get that i've-been-dragged-through-a-bush-look.
respect the dragged-through-a-bush look. yes.

photo credit: my sister & Jeeves

oh I was born to it. gok, sign me up now.
gok, I was kidding. k.i.d..d.i.n.g. as if.

so. I have done a what she wears post. oh the triumph. life is sunny, cold, blue, red, pretty, ugly, hard, soft and mostly beautiful.
hey, exciting blogging challenge coming up soon. I'm so giddy about it. who ever thought that a country would have part time traffic lights? I watched courageous two nights ago. I watched and I loved. that's all. ginger coffee is very good for the soul. I have managed to wake up at the Godless hour of 6:30am for three mornings in a row. pick your lips of the floor; I kid you not.
my mind is like a jellyfish right now. I had to explain this to you because you probably hadn't already guessed.
anyone up for a midnight snack of tea and biscuits?

love you all.
be good, smile at the floor and throw christmas cake out the window.

freedom

2012-01-29T16:29:00.000Z

what a beautiful word. freedom.

however, it has nothing whatsoever to do with this post.

that's what I've been staring at for the past few days. drink, computer, journal. drink, computer, journal. drinkcomputerjournal. drinkcomputerjournal. crinkjomputerdournal.

in other words, I have been sick. so I have been ~~trundled~~ shoved off to bed on numerous occasions, practically got married to ginger, lemon, and honey tea, watched so many this-movie-is-impossible-no-one-could-possibly-do-that-this-is-a-fairy-story-oh-that-was-cheesy films that I am no longer living in reality.

oh! oh! you'll never guess. I found aslan in the park. I was thrilled. but I don't think I had as much belief as lucy pevensie did, because he really didn't talk to me. thanks a lot aslan. geez, all I wanted was one wink or something.

hello pony.

hello hartley's jelly. so, it went like this:

me, staring in the cupboard: hey, beth, you wanna make jelly?
beth, standing in the kitchen: yup.

so we made jelly. the end.
a perfect fairy-tale story with a strawberry tasting ending.

any non-freedom related, beautiful life stories to share?

love you all.
be good, make jelly, and hug a hedgehog.

thankfulness

2012-01-24T17:30:00.000Z

focusing on being thankful for the small things can be hard sometimes.

down-right, slap-me-now, ow-that-hurt, tootin-rootin-hard.

just clarifying.

thankful for long walks in the countryside.
long walks that may have hills that are so steep they kill you, but to be thankful even though you're dead at the end.

thankful for small village cafe's that serve ridiculously large sandwiches for boys like my brother and om-nom-nom-paninis for me.

thankful for you all, and learning that some of you love to read until all hours of the night, that some of you love batman and captain jack sparrow, that some of you have 7 siblings and some 2. I loved reading all of your comments.

thankful for dad's who make you laugh, thankful for the warmth of a log fire on a cold winter night.

thankful for brownies. oh so thankful for brownies. dark chocolate brownies, white chocolate-raspberry brownies, orange and chocolate brownies, dark chocolate-blackberry brownies, mint chocolate brownies, milk chocolate brownies, fudge brownies......oh my wordy.
they are good.

thankful for the smell of clean washing, thankful for a cup of tea (or five) on a chilly morning.

thankful for a mama who is slowly teaching me--without my knowledge apparently--to cook things that aren't beyond my mental and why-can't-we-just-skip-this-step-who-needs-that-ingredient-anyway capabilities.

just thankful.

what small things in life do you hedgehogs find yourselves thankful for?

love you all.
be good, steal your dads mac, and kiss a chipmunk.

p.s don't forget to go here and tell me your 5 squishies!
and also, who's up for a challenge? like a really really fun challenge?
oh, and also-also, check out the new "the girl" page. yay for change!
oh, and also-also-also! just kidding.

you, me and five squishies.

2012-01-22T17:13:00.000Z

sounds divine right?

sounds like some sort of kids tv show that mum's don't let their kids watch.
but it's not.
promise.

well, at least, it might be like a kids tv show, but you're mum should let you watch it. because it's cute and cuddly.

so.
I was thinking. while I was making my sister some crazy-hippie-organic-home-made-ginger tea, I thought that I would like to know more about you all.

you all know how I love photography, and that I can't cook and that I have a sister who draws. but I don't know that kinda stuff about you guys.

so.
I'll tell 5 squishies about myself--things you don't know about me--and, in return, you guys can tell me 5 squishies about yourself.
tell me whether you hate ginger tea, or whether you have a secret love for elvis or if you adore curly green hair.
I would love to know. really. leave a comment and tell me your 5 squishies or do a post and leave me a link in a comment!

here goes nothing.

I love herbal remedies. I love making them and learning about them. I just ordered this. giggle. herbal/organic/homemade remedies are a little bit hippie, but these ones are true-blue scientific. just clarifying.
I really, really love country music. bring on the banjo and the cowboy boots. amen.
Sunshine truly is happy juice. well, it is mine. I love sunshine. alotalotalotalot. a lot.
I do not like sultanas, currants, or raisins. they're like dead flies. and we all know that dead flies do not make tasty eating. so why are you eating them?
I do pilates. oho yes. so, I am a herbal-remedy-pilate-loving-hippie-cowgirl-vintage-new-zealander. and why you put up with me I'll never know. but I do love you all. so yeah.

be good, tell me your 5 squishies, and pull a goat's beard.

i love it. that's all.

2012-01-16T18:05:00.000Z

you know, I don't think I've ever said why I love blogging so much. or why I even blog. or why I love you guys so much.

so, my little hedgehogs, let's get into the deep and meaningful (pick your lip off the floor, yes, I am going to be deep and meaningful. for, like, a whole minute.).

I love spilling my mind out on a post. I love talking to you all, you make me feel like I'm having a conversation with you every time I do a post.

I love that blogging gives me incentive to edit my pictures. I love that it helps me strive to take more pictures and how when I see something I see it in a post as well.

I blog because I get to share a little of how life can be beautiful. and fun. I blog because I can share with you all my love for Jesus. I love blogging because I don't have to use capital letters at the start of my sentences.

you guys put up with it. because you are awesome like that.

hello sheep. you know, this sheep was like poser of the century. he even winked at me.
woah. so sidetracked by mr. sheep.

I love you all because you make my day. you make me giggle and I feel like I'm part of a worldwide community. that sounded hippie. moving on.

I blog because....just because. because God is amazing. because you are amazing. because this world is beautiful. because sometimes life is hard and sometimes it's ridiculously funny.

I love blogging because it's just plain wunnerful.

there. I'm pretty sure that was a whole minute and a half of deep and meaningful-ness.

aren't you proud of me?

well. there you have it. I love to blog and I love you all. thanks for sticking round for all the mushy-gushy-ness.

be good, find mr. sheep, and give a squirrel a haircut.

oh life.

2012-01-13T19:32:00.002Z

1. why hello carrots. see that light shining on them? that's the sun. amen. praise be. we had sun today.

2. I'm not dying from lack of sun. no way.

3. yes, yes, I am. this lil new zealander is turning into some sorta blonde hedgehog.

4. I may be enjoying the new nose that I got for Jeeves. but then again I may not. I'll leave you to guess. let's just say he had a nose job.

5. I'm not still muttering under my breath about the number-of-days-raining-vs-the-number-of-days-of-sun-in-england.
nooo way. not me.

5. blueberry pancakes + stewed apples + maple syrup + plain yogurt + cinnamon = one happy lil tumtum.

6. new look? like? no?
before, I felt like I was still living in 2011 every time I looked at my blog. and that really messed wiv my widdle bwain.

love you all.
be good, squish a blueberry and catch a chicken.

p.s. the winner of the love, christmas photo challenge didn't respond, so olivia, you are the winner!
please email me with your choice of camera strap and address.

dreams of twenty-twelve

2012-01-02T21:41:00.002Z

I'm not into new years resolutions. because I know that I'll never stick with 'em. I'm good like that.

instead of new years resolutions, I have squishies.

because I'm cool like that.

squishies can mean a lot of things. so bear with me. in this instance, squishies are my dreams for twenty-twelve.

squishy #1
to go back home to New Zealand for a extended holiday. this one is my most imperative squishy on the list.

squishy #2
to start a photography business. yes please.

squishy #3
get an iphone. I know, it's materialistic and selfish. but I'm pretty sure Jesus would understand. I'd even call it a JesusPhone. what an excuse. if you ever run out of excuses, I will (without fail) send you some: I am the queen of excuses. and of brownies. brownie recipe anyone?

squishy #4
second shoot a wedding. oh the mischief I could get up to.

squishy #5
get fit. yeah. life will be crazy this year.

squishy #6
go to Israel and Egypt. I want to see where Jesus walked, lived and breathed.
and Egypt looks warm and sunny.

squishy #7
meet a blogger who comes over from america on a tour-of-england trip. just because I would love to meet up with a blogger whose blog I read.
the awesomeness.

squishy #8
love the Lord with my heart, mind, soul, body, strength, my everything.
to DO the Word.
to listen to God.
to love people with real love from Christ.

squishy #9
to eat this puppy up for breakfast.

squishy #10
no, I don't eat dogs.
to get a 35mm f/1.8 lens. yum yum yum.

love you all.

be good, eat white chocolate-raspberry brownies, and boo an innocent bunny.

p.s. we now have twitter for Truly Yours Designs!! yay and double yay. follow us if you dare.

deliciously new

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000Z

this new year is going to be deliciously new. do you know why? because we've never lived in 2012 before.

ha. I got you then. bet you didn't know that.

but, seriously.

2011 was beautiful, hard, challenging, awkward, different, long, short, rewarding, and delicious.

I moved house, I went home to New Zealand for a holiday, yours truly reached 313 followers, me and my sister started a business, I received a Nikon D3100, I met so many wonderful blogger friends, and I breathed. all year round.

funny that, isn't it?

trip down 2011 Street.

this year, my word is breathe. you guys probably know that I like this word, like a lot. but it's my word.

it's my squishy.

happy new year my lovelies.

I hope that 2012 is filled with everything you hope for, everything that you never even dreamed of, everything that God wants you to do, everything that you never planned for, and every moment you breathe.

amen.

love you all.

be good, stay up till midnight, and say good morning to a goat.

dear life, love from, me

2011-12-30T00:09:00.000Z

dear Jesus,

I'm so happy that I can breathe. thanks.

love from,

grateful

dear red hats and red leather gloves,

how did life go on without you before?

sincerely,

in-love

dear cold days,

could you get a bit warmer? no biggie.

forever-and-always-wanting-to-be-warmer,

cold

dear black and white,

thanks for being there. that's all.

love,

your fan

dear sister,

you're cute. and I love you. just sayin.

yours forever,

lil sister

dear jeeves,

I really do love you. will you marry me?

yours truly,

head-over-heels

love you all.
be good, drink coffee and kiss a bumble-bee.

p.s. lots of people have done this, I know, and I'm afraid I can't link to any particular blogger, as I can't remember who did it first or started it out!

in love with jeeves

2011-12-26T22:20:00.000Z

so, a few people asked some for some details about my new Nikon D3100.

first off. his name is jeeves. say hello.
if you haven't watched the series jeeves and wooster then you most certainly should. and you should also know that jeeves is my hero. amen.

I am officially in love with jeeves. he is dressed in black and white, does everything he's told and goes everywhere with me. he is so devoted. but he doesn't make cups of tea. or so they said in the manual.

jeeves is wearing the 18-55mm kit lens at the moment. I am super happy with it, though I'm hoping to buy a 35mm f/1.8 soon. just because life is beautiful.

notice anything different on the photos?? three hugs to anyone who can see what it is. actually, make that two. hugs are not cheap these days.

yes. I am eating jeeves' cap. this is how much I love him. and this is how weird I am.

this will probably give you nightmares. just sayin.

if anyone has any tips on how to get the best out of jeeves, please do drop a comment below! I do know that I have to take the lens cap off before I take a picture, so no need to tell me that. I picked that one up pretty quickly.
I'm kidding guys. geez.

this is the real jeeves (pictured below). he truly is amazing. and the statement about him is utterly-beautifully-eternally-true.

source

when you have time, find yourself a jeeves. either in person or in camera form. if you do find him in person, ask him if he has a brother.

love you all.

be good, boo a squirrel, and have a cup of tea.

i died of happiness. the end.

2011-12-24T19:42:00.000Z

I am so giddy right now.
I practically died yesterday. it was like someone gave me the world then I threw it back at them and was given something better.

so, I sat on the floor at my grandma's, like you do, watching my grandma open her presents. we did our presents to her and her presents to us yesterday (christmas eve). so.

it was my turn to open my present from Grandma, and I had two from her and one was rather large and heavy.
box-shaped dontcha know.
then I unwrapped my present. gasp gasp gasp. staring me in the face was a Nikon D3100 kit.
there are not many times in my life when I am speechless. but I was then.

I died.

the end.

what I had been saving up for months was now my present! from my awesome Grandma (an early birthday present). I am so giddy.
I hope that you are all as happy/giddy/blessed/dead as I am.

squeal.gasp.scream.die.giggle.

pictures from today.

merry christmas.

p.s. just for those who might be thinking it, I'm not boasting or bragging.

please don't be mean, I'm just a giddy-kipper.

be nice, kids.

merriest of christmases

2011-12-23T11:56:00.000Z

you may be any of the above. or if you feel as though you are something else, do tell me! I'm open to them all.

I hope that you have a day full of way too much food, ridiculous christmas-cracker jokes, an early morning and a late night, family screaming around the house and a christmas tree glittering.

I hope that some of you get a white christmas and if you do, please send me some snow. amen.

I hope that this christmas is even better than the last. with more sticky toffee pudding than last year.

I hope that christmas is remembered for what it really is. remembered not for presents or even being nice to people. remembered for Christ's birth and his whole life on earth. that rhymed. christmas does that to me.
remembered for Jesus and that He only came to earth to die for the sins of the world and redeem mankind.
remembered for the fact that He lived.

I hope that everyone realizes that when "mommy is kissing santa claus", she is really kissing your dad, that rudolph prefers white bread to carrots, and that santa never goes down the chimney, he comes through the front door like any other bloke.

my favourite song at the for christmas. sung by taylor swift.

watch this. it is so cute I could die. just to let you know, these kids are New Zealanders. amen.
all good things come from New Zealand. amen. hallelujah.
merry christmas.

love, christmas finalists + winner

2011-12-19T18:39:00.000Z

heyheyhey.

it was so much fun doing the love, christmas photo challenge!
all the entries made me think of hot chocolate, snowy days and warm fires. and sticky toffee pudding.

we have three finalists and I can tell you now kids, it was no easy task picking the winner.
no sirree. I practically died in the process.

finalist # 1
carli's picture stole my heart and my love for old-fashioned ornaments.
this picture screamed christmas. it screamed warmth, christmas trees and childhood memories.

finalist # 2
olivia's picture made me go all dreamy. that hot chocolate makes me want to dive into that picture and have a bath in it.
I loved the composition in this picture and the focus made my heart stand still.

finalist # 3
jennoelle's entry warmed me up inside from head to toe. I wanted to hug that lil-teeny-weeny-tiny christmas light. the bokeh was most definitely edible. like midget gems.

so. after dying, drinking tea, weeping, eating stewed apples and icecream, the winner has been chosen.

the winner is...
carli !

well done carli, please visit iMo's shop to choose which strap you want and then please email me with your choice and address.

for those who didn't win and for all my lovely readers, here is a little treat:

a 50% discount at iMo! pay $15 instead of $30. treat yourself for christmas! go on. you know you wanna. click that button. only 20 people can get this delight, so be quick!

How it works:

Voucher Deal: $15 for $30 (50% off!) voucher to use on anything from www.imostrap.com
Retail Price: $30
YoursTruly Price: $15 (50% off)

- Number of vouchers available: 20

- To redeem voucher: When you purchase your voucher, you will be emailed a unique code to use directly at the shop's website www.imostrap.com within 48 hours.

- This deal is open to all countries and voucher may be used toward shipping costs

- Voucher is good for 3 months from purchase date

- Seller is located in Hong Kong, please allow around 10 – 14 business days for shipping.

- To purchase this deal, simple click on the 'buy now' button. Use your paypal account to complete transaction.

- If the 'buy now' button is no longer working, it means the item is sold out.

what are you waiting for? shoo and click that button!

love, christmas photo challenge

2011-12-13T15:26:00.001Z

photo challenge number 1 is up for grabs!
soak it up kids.
the joy. so, listen to the rules kiddos and enter like the christmas turkey is a' runnin' outta the door.

take a picture of your favourite thing about christmas.

maybe you love your tree? maybe it's the snow.

or maybe it's that devilish sticky toffee pudding that stares at you all day long.

or perhaps it's dancing unashamedly to rockin' around the christmas tree.

I knew it.

love,

christmas

christmas cupcakes. om-nom-nom.

now! onto the part you're all waiting for. the prize.

sponsored by the amazing-how-on-earth-do-they-do-it shop, iMo. they have generously offered one of their camera straps--the winner can choose any strap they like!

this beautiful clay-coloured camera strap has my heart. my whole heart. it screams "I am sophisticated. I am classic. I am b-e-a-u-tFUL." who wouldn't want that around their neck? I sure as heck could do with it giving me some support when I drip coffee down my shirt.

see? she looks sophisticated. classic. b-e-a-u-tiFUL. if this camera strap could make me look like that, I think I'd enter for it myself.

all I can say is: yum.

have fun and link up below! the love, christmas photo challenge ends on the 19th December 12pm.

please use the button.

P.S. all of my readers can use this discount code "537711" to receive 10% discount on any items you buy from erica's shop: love, erica (the sponsor from the last giveaway)! crazy-great I know. this is only valid until the 16th of December.

let it snow + winner

2011-12-12T15:41:00.000Z

1. we went up to our aunty and uncle's the other day. we experienced delicious snow.

very cold snow.

but delicious. let it snow. and snow. and snow.

2. and guess what? we haven't even got our christmas tree up yet. someone better comment and tell me how ridiculous this is.

3. we have just got a log fire. oh my wordy-pants. how scrumptious is that? I can hear the crackling of the fire and feel it's warmth on my finger-tips. warmth is important. repeat after me. warmth is important. yes.

4. photo challenge comin round the bend. keep y'all eyes peeled fow the gawgeousness of a deeelicious challenge.

5. the winner of the delightfully delicious (can anyone tell I love this word?) giveaway is Jocee from The Cupcake Dictionary!

please email me sweetpea, so the prize can be sent to you!
also, all of my readers can use this discount code "537711" to receive 10% discount on any items you buy from erica's shop: love, erica! crazy-great I know. this is only valid until the 16th of December.

be good, laugh hard & drink coffee

2011-12-06T14:40:00.001Z

you may call my title strange and off-topic. I call it ~~madness~~ genius.

so, winter sets in, not in snow and frost, but in rain and grey skies. days are short, mornings are cold and nights are drenched in rain.

on the other hand, days are spent indoors reading, drinking hot drinks and working, mornings are dark, but deliciously mysterious, nights are spent listening to the pitter-patter of the rain, or sometimes the hail bombarding down upon the roof.

phew. that was my piece of romantic writing for you all. I love romantic and dramatic writing, but it's just so exhausting. so, that's all you'll get from me today.

this is my kind of algebra. christmas is coming up! I thought that I'd be the first to tell you, seeing as you probably don't know already. days are full of christmas music and hot drinks. joy.

receiving these earrings in the mail was such a treat. along with a beautifully sweet letter, it totally brightened up my week and I've been wearing them since.

www.brightandcloudy.com is the sweetest little shop ever. make sure you go and visit and check out stephanie's amazing items.

they are cuter than apple pie on a wednesday. sigh. anyway.
I was nearly surprised outta my eyeballs when I saw 301 followers yesterday on my dashboard. get outta town. you all get three hugs each.
ok, make it 4.

anyone interested in a photo challenge with prizes? holler out.

love you all.
be good, laugh hard and drink coffee. you didn't know that was comin, did ya?

enter the giveaway! hurry!

delightfully delicious giveaway

2011-11-28T20:59:00.001Z

this giveaway has ended.

well, my lovelies. time for another giveaway. it's like warm slippers and caramel slice.

our lovely, beautiful sponsor is erica from the amazing shop love, erica. she has the most delicious jewellery line. and one of you delightful darlings will win this anchor necklace. be still o my heart.

oh-so-gorgeously-beautiful-and-delightfully-adorable.

I sang that. just to let you know.

so, the real question is, how do you win it?

simply send me $100!

I was kidding guys. really. geez.

mandatory entry

what is delightfully delicious to you? slippers? elvis presley? perhaps that caramel slice that you shouldn't be eating but you are? or maybe something devious like taking a shower.

extra entries

follow yours truly by gfc

like erica's facebook

post/tweet/facebook about this giveaway

heart erica's shop

post/tweet/facebook the button up top

one comment per entry please! giveaway closes on Friday 9th December 12pm.
anonymous peeps, please leave an email address.

i'm not dead after all

2011-11-27T11:01:00.001Z

as much as you might of thought that I was. I'm not. truly.
I am alive after all.

so, apart from being MIA, I have been busy as a squirrel. with truly yours designs especially, and schoolwork and life.
I'm happy to accept as much sympathy as can possibly be got from you all in regards to algebra.
kids, algebra is like sitting on a pinecone.

winter is practically here for us in England. cold, cold, cold. at least, it is for me. but while I've been dead/MIA, beautiful things have happened. little things that make your weeks that much more special.

like looking through the blogs/drawings we've designed of late. the portfolio is building up my loves.

1st: enjoying the small things || 2nd: kathryn's camera || 3rd: what we're up to || 4th: they all call me mom

like editing pictures a little crazily. just a little. c'mon, I know you do it too.

like seeing 295 followers. am I seeing things? 295? you're joking around with my eyeballs. go and give yourselves massive, breath-taking hugs. over and over. and over.

like reading The Help and watching Horatio Hornblower (for the 15th time or something oober weird like that).

like receiving the cutest earrings in the post yesterday from bright and cloudy. post on this later.

like listening to bryan adams. if I was a man, I would have a voice like his. yum-yum, it's so lurvely.
ok. I'm rambling now and I need a cuppa. love you all.

what's been special about your week?

breath, drink tea and be good, kids.

wanna be a photographer or writer for an online christian girl's magazine?

head on over and contact haylie! she needs your skills!

england survival guide 101 {2}

2011-11-15T15:33:00.001Z

I did a first part to this "england survival guide 101" a couple of days ago. maybe a should make books about surviving in england, new zealand and australia. this could be good. this could be fun.
totally sidetracking.

survival tip 0008
when you think it's cold, it's not. it's gonna get a lot colder.

survival tip 0009
you invite someone around for dinner and you tell them to "bring a plate". don't do this.
they will actually bring a plate. just a plate. nothing on it.

survival tip 0010
learn your southerners from your northerners. if you really have no idea, don't guess.
when you're down south, you don't like the northerners. when you're up north, you really don't like the southerners. ok?

survival tip 0011
never, ever, ever, ever, ever jump a queue. not ever. when it comes to queues, you wait your turn, like a good brit.

survival tip 0012
british people can't cook meat on a BBQ properly. maybe it's coz I come from the kingdom of all BBQ's (aka NZ) and I'm spoilt with perfectly cooked meat. someone invite you (on that VERY rare occasion) for a barbie? say you're a vegetarian.

survival tip 0013
british people don't invite you round to dinner, lunch, supper, anything until you've known them for a million years. it's true.

survival tip 0014
you don't have trucks, you have lorrys. you don't have potato chips, you have crisps. you don't have the bathroom, you have the toilet. you don't have bread rolls, you have teacakes.

part 2 of you just know in your knower is coming up!

p.s. 292 followers? you guys are kidding with my guts.
I love you guys. so. hugely. much.

england survival guide 101

2011-11-14T17:15:00.001Z

seriously. you need to know how to survive in this wild country. as a kiwi-girl from New Zealand, I could've done with these tips, but I found these out pretty quickly as my parents are british.
these pictures have nothing to do with survival in england. just sayin.

survival tip 0001
always take an umbrella and rain-jacket with you where-ever you go. you put the umbrella up when it starts to rain, then you realize that it's too windy, so you put on your rain-jacket.

survival tip 0002
want to be extra british? go to a fish & chip shop, and order chips, mushy peas, and gravy.
feel the british-ness.

survival tip 0003
don't say hello to people walking down the street. you'll get a funny look, and they'll walk just that little bit faster. don't smile at them either. oho-no, that doesn't go down well.

survival tip 0004
along with your umbrella and rain-jacket, take a warm jacket, a cellphone, water-proof shoes, and a baseball bat.
warm jacket = do I really need to explain this?
cellphone = you just saw the cutest umbrella in the shop. with polka dots. you have to text your mum.
water-proof shoes = england? it's wet. a lot, a lot wet.
baseball bat = I was kidding. geez.

survival tip 0005
don't shop at harrods on a weekly basis. this is sure way to become broke. like, no-money-broke.

survival tip 0006
talk about the weather. this is very acceptable conversation and entertains some for a good 5 minutes.

survival tip 0007
don't talk about politics. you'll be there for a good hour. want to stay friends with you newly-found british person? no politics.

winners of embrace autumn giveaway:
personalized charm necklace: mary ann
$10 store credit: abby
please email me ladies!

listening to: tricia brock

embrace autumn

2011-11-05T11:54:00.000Z

this giveaway is now closed.

I think the autumn weather brings on giveaways. something about it makes me want to giveaway treats and little delights to you all. the chilly winds, the cozy nights, the hot cup of teas, the spiced apple muffins. it all makes me want to give you sweet little gifts

so you can thank autumn for this giveaway!

let's get straight onto the prizes shall we?

from our lovely sponsor, kimberly, at the amazing shop, chequered lily has offered

$10 store credit!

the other is sponsored by the sweet holly from the too-beautiful shop, scene but not herd,

a personalized silver charm necklace!

mandatory entry.

the best thing about autumn for you? hot chocolates? fires? cold nights? tell me!

extra entries.

follow yours truly via gfc

post/tweet/facebook about this giveaway.

facebook/tweet about holly's shop.

put the button on your blog/sidebar.

facebook/tweet about kimberly's shop.

one comment per entry please!

ends 12th November 12am

p.s. truly yours designs is sponsoring a giveaway over here today!

you just know in your knower

2011-11-02T10:48:00.001Z

giggle at will. our friend uses this term all the time, so I thought I'd steal it.
you just know in your knower.
does it seriously get any better than that?

anyway, I've had this on my mind for a wee while now. it's about knowing (in your knower!) what God's will for your life is.

I thought we could do a three part study on it. the first two, we'll do knowing the general will of God in your life and then lastly, we'll do knowing the specific will of God in your, as an individual, life.

before we can start running round like headless chickens trying to find what God wants us to do specifically, we need to know what God wants us--as servants of the King--to do on a daily basis, as it tells us in the Bible. the general.

so let's start. we'll start with the purpose of our lives.

The Service of God

13 "I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’
14 “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:13-15

ok, so that was a chunk of Scripture, but bear with me sweet-peas. did you see a common thread in that Scripture? serve the Lord. what is our purpose but to serve the Lord? we are on this earth to submit our lives to our Creator and to glorify Him in our every word, thought, and deed.

this is the first step.

Seeking God's Kingdom

33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:33-34

seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. how many of us actually do this? do we seek the kingdom of ourselves and our own righteousness before God? we need to truly seek God.
pray. listen. read the Word. seek.
and all these things shall be added unto us!

the ladybird has nothing to do with it. truly.

Doing the Father's Will

34 "Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"" John 4:34-35

no excuses. Jesus is telling us that the harvest is ready, ready for the gospel, ready for you to shine His light into the world, ready for you to do His will. don't make up excuses: it's too hard or I'm too young or I'm too old or I'm so isolated & I can't affect anyone where I am or I'm not a talker, so I can't tell people about Jesus.
show your neighbours the love of Christ. tell that non-Christian girl at school about Jesus. pray for your enemies. abide in Christ. read your Bible. praise Jesus for all the good and bad things that have happened in your life. exhort your sister who needs some Biblical guidance. LOVE Jesus.

I love you all.

linking up photo # 3 to wild & wonderful wednesday

twenty-five

2011-10-27T21:08:00.000+01:00

twenty-five years.

it's a long time. a long time to wait, a long time to live somewhere, a long time to love.
a long time to stick around with someone.

my mum and dad had their 25th anniversary on Tuesday, and I know this is a little late, but I wanted to tell you all how wonderful they are. here entereth my bragging rights.

by the time my mum and dad were 18, they had a baby, a house, a car, jobs and a not a whole heap of money.
how did you guys do it?

by the time they were 27, they had had four kids, they had moved to the other side of the world, another house, and not a whole heap of money.
how did you guys do it?

by the time they were 30 they accepted Christ as their Saviour.
now I know how you do it.

by the time they were 36, they were grandparents, they moved for the 8th time, they lived in a house bus with 3 teenagers.
how on earth did you do that?

by the time they were 40, they had three grandchildren, moved back to the other side of the world, lived by faith, moved for the 13th time and totally rocked.
I'm not even gonna ask how you do it. You just do it.

as of right now, you have been married for 25 years. you have put up with us kids and showed us what true faith in Christ is. I love you both. so much. happy anniversary.

miscellany.

2011-10-22T17:26:00.001+01:00

miscellany goodness.
or it might even be miscellany badness.
or it might be both.
both. both is good.

miscellany 1.
has anyone experienced having a ~~dead~~ slightly frazzled brain?
please tell me your experience.
maybe we can start a frazzled brain anonymous.

{this has been my view for the past week}

miscellany 2.
some people have started doing "spot the blogger" series on their blogs.
me and my sister thinks it's super funny-cute.
but seriously, kids, if you want to use our idea, that's cool, but remember:
stealin' isn't fun. so always credit back.

{this has been my sister's view for the past week}

miscellany 3.
did I say my brain was frazzled?

miscellany 4.
I have made two new pages! check 'em out. go on. shoo.

{my sister's brain food. mints. she is literally obsessed with them}

miscellany 5.
truly yours has truly rocketed. wowee folks. me and my sister are so super busy with orders.
they just keep a comin'.
and a comin'.

{this is getting longer and longer. I still can't believe it's all happening}

miscellany 6.
if you want to get your bro really excited, get him a bass guitar.
at least, it worked on mine.
he got really excited when my mum & dad bought him this for graduating.

miscellany 7.
autumn is feeling more like winter.
1 sheet, 3 duvets, 2 polar-fleeces, 1 dressing-gown on my bed at night.
can someone please send me to New Zealand?

miscellany 8.
like the new design? I'm feeling the autumn colours.
yup.

ok. my brain has gone now.

I love you all.

spot the blogger #3 winners

2011-10-15T13:26:00.000+01:00

hello my lovelies!

spot the blogger #3 was so much fun.

and you guys did some major-crazy-way-too-smart guesses.

I thought that I would end it sooner, as there is already a winner.

In fact, we decided to make it two winners.

the first winner, who guessed crazy-quick all three of the bloggers is....

polka dot!

congrats polka dot; please email me!

the second winner, who also guessed super-quick all three bloggers is...

natalia!

congrats natalia; please email me!

now, everyone, please, to help us out, comment below and

tell us which bloggers YOU think are well-known.

which bloggers do you think deserve a drawing? which bloggers are well-known to you and your friends?

this would be a huge help to me and my sister!

spot the blogger #3

2011-10-13T16:52:00.000+01:00

woot! spot the blogger round 3 is up!

and this time, for a little more pnash, we're offering a prize to the winner who can guess

all three bloggers first!

I won't be publishing the comments until it's finished, so people can't peek.

the prize is a personalized picture of the winner!

blogger # 1

blogger # 2

blogger # 3

now listen up kids. these are the some helpers!

not all of these bloggers are fashion bloggers.
you have to guess ALL THREE bloggers correctly to win.
you have to be the FIRST one to guess all 3 right to win.
please put your guesses in one comment.
the winner has 48 hours to respond.
spot the blogger ends October 17th 12am.

Not heard of spot the blogger before? find out more here!
Check out spot the blogger #2 as well:-)

interview with le chou chou & winner

2011-10-12T20:11:00.000+01:00

Paola, from the amazing, too-good-to-be-true shop, Le Chou Chou, sponsors our most recent giveaway.
(the winner of her item is announced below)

She is super sweet, super talented and super smart.

Read all the goodness my darlings, read all the goodness.

1) What inspires your amazing jewellery and trinkets on etsy?

I was born in Italy near the city of Naples, which has a great traditon of artisanal jewellery and miniatures (yes, this is the famous city with the San Gregorio Armeno street in it, the "street of cribs" ). My creations are born from the uniting of these two traditions.

2) What made you choose the name Le Chou Chou?

"Ciù ciù” refers to the Neapolitan name of certain types of gummy candy, the kind of colorful ones that are sold at village fetes, but it's also a pet name for children or to indicate a particularly nice and sweet person. This word comes from “chou”, which in French means “sprout” and it's used as a pet name in the same sense of the Neapolitan word. I put "le" before the article to make the name more original and to give an ironic “touch of class”, and for the same reason I wanted to start using the French names this year: the chic and different French sounds contrast with the informality of my creations.

3) Coffee or tea? Or neither?

Coffee!

4) Do you do your own photography? If so, what camera and lenses do you use?

I do some photography, but I prefer to entrust it to professional photographers. Credits are shown under all of my pictures.

5) What item from your shop is your fave and do you wear any of your own jewellry?

Just the bracelet that I am sponsoring for the giveaway! I love it, it is my lucky charm and a great conversation starter.

the winner of the filigree tea cup bracelet is...
Jayne!

Congrats Jayne!
Please email me with your address!

sisters, homeschoolers and me

2011-10-10T16:24:00.000+01:00

these beautiful girls are so precious.
they may not be my blood-related sisters, but they are soul-sisters.

they are also graduated homeschoolers.
there was a lot, I mean a lot, of homeschooler-bashing that day.
we had way too much fun.

they are beautiful, talented, smart, funny and beautiful.

my poor brother had to put up with five girls that day.
brother, I sympathize with you.

we drank coffee, we walked, we laughed, we took pictures, we laughed some more.

see what I mean? they are so much fun.

speak no evil, smell no evil, see no evil and hear no evil.
see? they come up with blow-you-away posing ideas.
yup.

can anyone guess which one my real sister is?

soul-sisters peek when they're not supposed to.
I love it.

we all knew the lines to the movie, series of unfortunate events.
because everyone should.

we pulled many silly faces. we threw leaves at my brother. we sang songs down the street.
because that's what soul-sisters are for.

Never mused along with beautiful musings on monday before?

Here's how:

1. muse your way through photos.

2. link up!

that's it!! I know right?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway before 11:59pm EST today!

180

2011-10-05T12:50:00.000+01:00

this movie is so challenging.

watch it, if you dare.

warning: if you're under 16, please ask parents first, as it has some graphic scenes to get the point across.

it is poignant, sharp, eye-opening, moving, real and heart-breaking.

just to let you all know:

ray comfort (the man who made the film) is a new zealander. oh yes.

he used to preach in our city square.

all good things come from new zealand.

amen.

don't forget to enter the giveaway! it ends on the 10th.

go international!

2011-10-02T19:41:00.000+01:00

this giveaway has now ended.

today, my darlings, we are going international.

head on over to go international's hostess and find out more!

for the go international event, the giveaway is sponsored by the lovely paola from the amazing shop, le chou chou.

she has generously offered to give away this amazingly beautiful
filigree tea cup and shabby lace bracelet worth $50 (£33)!

you all know how much I love tea, and having a tea cup on a bracelet? it's too good to be true!

you like? I thought so.
a girl can do anything with one of these on her wrists.

it's going to be for ONE of you lovelies! just because you're all so special to me and I love you.

what to do to enter??

mandatory entries
tell me, what is your favourite hot drink?
follow yours truly by gfc.

extra entries
heart paola's shop le chou chou on etsy.
tell me your fave item from paola's shop.
blog about the giveaway.
tweet/facebook about the giveaway.
like le chou chou facebook page!

please put each entry in a separate comment!
this giveaway is fully, and beautifully international!
ends October 10th 11:59 EST

check out the other giveaways at these blogs too!
p.s. also check out my last post!

this giveaway has now ended.

truly yours designs

2011-10-01T18:59:00.000+01:00

this is something that I have been wanting to share with you for some time now.

my lovelies, I introduce to you...

truly yours designs

mine and my sister's new blog designing website!

me and my brother have been working on the website for a wee while, and me and my sister have been designing blogs for people on the quiet.

but now! but now, truly yours designs is open to everyone!

let me explain it a little.

my sister, as you know, draws personalized pictures. and I, as you might know, design blogs.

we decided to combine the two efforts and make personalized blogs!

do you feel that your blog is in need of a makeover? need something fresh, clean and totally YOU?
that's what truly yours designs is here for. hurry and get a design!

please check it out and tell me what you think! comment below with what you think.

www.tyblogdesign.com

awkward and awesome thursday

2011-09-29T18:31:00.001+01:00

something I should have started doing a long time ago.

because I have many "awkwards" throughout my week.

emphasis on the many.

awkward

tripping up on a lamp wire in my bedroom, then looking round to make sure no one noticed.

having someone wolf whistle at me, then see the dog I'm walking and the whistle dies on their cocky, whistling lips. ha. yes, this is a staffordshire bull terrier. whatcha gonna do about it?

typing in 400-100 on the calculator without thinking. guess what it makes? 300. double ha.

flinching every time a fly buzzes past. yeah, I'm cool like that. no, I'm not thinking that it's a wasp or a bee. as if.

so I lied.

shaking way too vigorously the clean washing I brought in. I may have been checking for spiders. then again, I might not.

those awkward pauses on skype.

silence.

using my cellphone light to check the walls for spiders before I go to bed. triple ha.

which makes ha, ha, ha, if you hadn't worked it out.

awesome

me and my sister taking our coffees to our back hill and sitting in the sunshine, talking about nothing.

watching dr. quinn, medicine woman. and loving it to bits.

having a 27 (81 F) degree day in autumn. this is the life.

talking to four people that I hadn't talked to in ages. oh the bliss! I have felt so sociable this week.

having conquered many pages of maths today. it's like victory over sin. victory = me. sin = maths.

me and my sister diy-ing a chair to make it look shabby-chic. ok, so more emphasis on my sister diy-ing the chair. I did help! a little. tutorial on DIY-ing a chair? yes?

looking like an old nana before I go to bed. my dressing-gown, my slippers, tucking my pajamas into my socks, and usually a cup of tea. it doesn't get any better folks.

and just because a post should have pictures....

meet mr. harold the bunny.

hello, beautiful, blue, stringy-cloud sky.

had any awkward and awesome moments this week?

touch up tuesday

2011-09-27T17:33:00.001+01:00

I thought I would join in with touch up tuesday!

first off, I adjusted the exposure, as it was underexposed, then I brought some more colour into the picture.

afterwards, I applied an unsharp mask and took some of the noise out.

I warmed it up, and adjusted the curves. then I applied some actions/layers.

after that, I simply added b & w and bumped up the contrast!

I also added a HDR effect for a little pnash...

which one do you like better?

the winners of spot the blogger are.....

Qui guessed Polka Dot (blogger # 2) first.

Jennoelle guessed Hannah (blogger #1) first.

Elsie (blogger #3) commented before anyone guessed, so it kind of made it easy for everyone,

but Dezzy Louise guessed Elsie first.

well done everyone! the next spot the blogger will be hard and will have a prize for the winner!

so do your homework!

sugar and spice and all things nice

2011-09-21T12:44:00.000+01:00

this girlie here? she is a the sweetest of peas.

beautiful blue eyes, dark, curly eyelashes (yes, I'm jealous.), adorable freckles, and the sweetest smile of all time.

we had a great time. along with my sister (who was holding umbrellas in the very likely event of rain), we chatted about dancing, dogs, birthdays, hats, and all that goodness.

the best part? this darlin' lives next door to me.

did I mention that she looks way better in hats than I do?

you'll probably be seeing many more pictures of this wee poppet.

terrifically curly eyelashes. I want some.

I can't tell you all how amazingly good it was to be taking portraits again. seriously. I nearly died from happiness.

as much as I love leaves and flowers, it was so blissful taking pictures of a sweet, little face that made gorgeous expressions and laughed and smiled.

leaves just don't do that, you know?

gumboots, hats, scarves, knitted cardigans.

puddles, leaves, chilly air, grey sky.

it's all part of it.

an autumn photo shoot.

where black and whites are a must and hats are a necessity.

thanks my little sweet-pea from next door. you have given my autumn the best of beginnings.

done any autumn photo shoots lately?

P.S. the winners of spot the blogger will be announced on the next post!

a weekend of wishing

2011-09-19T16:49:00.000+01:00

this past weekend has been a weekend of wishing.

it's a mean thing to do to yourself. so don't try it at home.

but, seeing as I put myself through wishing for things that can't be (at least not yet),

I might as well share them with you all.

beautiful wish 1.

wishing for a beautiful Nikon D3100.

the HD movie, the ISO, the everything.

see? it's plain mean.

adorable wish 2.

wishing to go to New Zealand. to see my little man, my darlin' girl and my baby boy (just in case anybody's wondering: they're my nephews and nieces!)

to see my beautiful church family.

I know. it's just cruel.

enchanting wish 3.

wishing for summer to come back.

that one's plain and simple.

fascinating wish 4.

wishing and dreaming of a huge, historic manor 5 minutes from where I live.

wishing that I could take it and renovate it.

and use it in all it's glory.

priceless wish 5.

wishing that my video-graphy was much, much better.

much, much, much better.

mucher better.

beautiful, adorable, enchanting, fascinating, and priceless truths.

I have friends. Beautiful friends.

I have Jesus. My wonderful Saviour.

I have my family. My priceless family.

and I have 184 followers. 184 enchanting, beautiful followers.

maybe my weekend of wishing did me good after all.

I know what I don't have, but I know what I have.

and it makes me love it all the more.

Never mused along with beautiful musings on monday before?
Here's how:

1. muse your way through photos.
2. link up!

that's it!! I know right?

tea and biscuits

2011-09-17T11:44:00.001+01:00

so, the other day I decided to get adventurous.

like, really adventurous.

yes, I decided to make cookies.

I know right? how adventurous is that?

usually when I go in the kitchen, strange things happen.

but I decided to brave it.

let me talk you through it.

so first of all, we get all the beautiful ingredients together.

double check that we didn't forget the flour.

flour helps.

then we find ourselves a highland cow.

after that, we get all the wet ingredients and mush it all together with a mixer.

then we get the dry ingredients (this time we remember the flour. oho yes.) and mix them up with the wet ingredients. oh, and the little dark-brown, sweet, chocolatey things.

chocolate chips? yeah.

it ends up looking something like the picture above. no, I didn't lick the spoon.

I think.

spoon little blobs of chocolatey-cookie-like-mixture onto the tray.

then find that we have cookie mixture on the camera.

poop.

then we stick the little blobs into the oven, forget to take pictures of them in the oven, wander outside and talk to the neighbour, remember we have cookies probably burning and then find that they're looking after themselves.
after all that, we drag them out of the oven, shove them on a cooling rack and stare at them for a good ten minutes.

this next bit is the best bit of all.
we make a cup of tea. in a jar. you're thinking this is too good to be true right?
just wait.
then we get the nicest looking cookies and put 'em on a plate; afterwards, we get some flowers and place all three said props on an old chair and commence the photo-taking.

cookies, say hello to my readers. readers, say hello to my cookies.
the next step is really easy.
trust me.

you grab one, bring it up to your mouth, and sink your teeth into the cookie-goodness.
oh, and don't forget to chew and swallow.

by the way, I feel as though I should warn you:
this recipe is a New Zealand recipe. not for the faint hearted, you understand.

chocolate chip biscuits (or cookies)

75g butter, melted

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 cup plain flour

1/2 teaspoom baking soda

1/2 cup chocolate chips.

follow instructions above, if you can make head or tail of it. it's pretty much as I explained: simple, easy, just listen to your common sense. I have none, but you guys probably do.

pre-heat the oven to 180 °C or 356 °F or gas mark 5 and cook for 10 minutes or until golden. beware: see how small the little uncooked blobs are? they turn out huge once they're baked, so you can make the blobs smaller. yup.

don't forget to play spot the blogger!

spot the blogger # 2

2011-09-14T16:58:00.000+01:00

round two of spot the blogger is up!

you guys seemed to enjoy the last spot the blogger, so I think we might just make it a series or somthin'.

maybe.

ya'll know that I'm not very good at series.

emphasis on the or somthin' bit

blogger # 1

blogger # 2

blogger # 3

spot the blogger is going to be getting harder each time, so step outta your zones and look around at some fashion-y-well-ish-known-type bloggers!

sometimes we'll do big fashion bloggers, other times we'll do smaller bloggers who post pictures of themselves regularly, sometimes we'll do teenage bloggers, other times we'll do mom bloggers....

so widen your blog-readin' my lovelies and soon there'll be a prize to the winner who will guess all three bloggers!

but not yet.

so hold on to your boots.

never played before? just spot the blogger! when you've guessed, write a comment down below with who you think they might be and then I'll reveal the who the bloggers are in 2 days!

if you're wondering, my sister drew the pictures and I filled them in with colour on the computer.

winners re-draw

2011-09-12T12:17:00.001+01:00

well, two of the winners didn't reply to their prizes and so they were re-drawn!

the winner of lauraclauson's bagette is...

polka dot!

the winner of simplicitycosmetic's choice of blush and eyeshadow is...

nela!

ladies, please email me with your addresses!

Just to let you all know that I have completely fallen in love with this indian-cowboy.

That's all.

hello, autumn

2011-09-08T16:21:00.000+01:00

I think that it's time that I say hello to autumn.

I've been just that teeny weeny bit remiss.

hello, autmun.

good morning, chilly days.

you don't know how much it killed me to say that nicely.

good afternoon, falling leaves and hot chocolate.

good evening, spiced apple pie and tea.

hello, rainy days sat by the fire.

goodbye, days of raspberry picking and outside lunches.

goodbye, ripening tomatoes and strolls in the sun.

hello, autumn.

how is your autumn? love it or hate it?

linking up photo # 3 to: texture thursday || show {off} your shot ||

go international sponsors

2011-09-07T13:10:00.000+01:00

hello darlings.

In october, I'm going to be participating in a thing called Go International, an event hosted by Roni.

The “Go international!” giveaway event Roni is hosting on October 1-10 – is loads of blogs joining together in a huge, awesome giveaway event, with each blog hosting its own giveaway.

The whole point of this event is to host giveaways that are entirely international.

No U.S only!

It's going to be a blast. With heaps of blogs having giveaways, people hopping around blogs, and entering some "too-good-to-be-true" giveaways, it's a great way to open your blog up to more exposure and to meet new bloggy-friends!

I am currently looking for a shop/company/blog who wishes to sponsor my blog giveaway for this event with a prize or gift certificate from their business. You can choose the prize, but please remember that you have to be willing to send worldwide/internationally.

To read more about what I accept and what perks sponsors get, go here.

The packages that are available (for this event) to the sponsors are these:

Simplicite' Package -- Donate a prize worth $25-$45

80x100 Sponsor button on my Sponsor page

Link to your site on the giveaway post.

The chance of being picked for an interview.

Innocence Package -- Donate a prize worth $45-$85

120x160 Sponsor button on my Sponsor page

Multiple links to your site on the giveaway post.
A 5-question interview with 3 pictures.

Le Grand Package -- Donate worth $85-$125

140x180 Sponsor button on my Sponsor page
Multiple links on giveaway post and winners post.
A 8-question interview with 5 pictures.

More photo posts coming soon! I'm not abandoning my photo-filled posts, honest as chips.
You may be wondering what honest as chips means, but I'll leave that up to you to figure out.

seven things

2011-09-06T09:58:00.000+01:00

that you don't know about me.

1. I love war films. Old ones, with classic actors in them and lots of action.

2. Emma is my favourite Jane Austen book and movie.

3. I don't really like massages, chocolate or popcorn. I know, what kind of girl am I?

4. Maths is my sworn enemy.

5. I love leaving little notes around the house for people, once I've been at their place.

6. I've just started watching Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and I LOVE it. Call me lame, but I would seriously just watch it to see this guy and Jane Seymour in it!

7. I was so surprised at how much you guys wanted to have another 'spot the blogger'!

Wowee. Thanks for all your beautiful words everyone! My sister and I really appreciate it.

I was awarded by Dezzy!

I award these amazing bloggers:

Haylie at Wildflower growing in the Sunshine

Jocee at The Cupcake Dictionary

Grace at Grace Love the Beatles

Rachel at Dramatic Elegance

Ladies, all you have to do now is tell 7 things about yourself!

winners...

2011-09-01T10:09:00.001+01:00

*squeal*

(I'm not sure why I'm squealing for you, you lucky dogs, winning all this good stuff.

Right, back to squealing.)

1. The winner of lauraclausons bagette is....

Marija! sorry, marija, but I had to re-draw the prize!

2. The winner of madisonstreetbeauty's choice of eyeshadow is...
Rachel!

3. The winner of simplicitycosmetic's choice of blush and eyeshadow is...
Olivia! sorry, olivia, but I had to re-draw the prize!

4. The winner of landofenchantment's print is...
Mary Ann!

5. The winner of lbjohn's hot air balloon necklace is...
Rachel!

6. The winner of haDarling's 3 bobby pins and necklace is...
Jenoelle!

Ladies, please email me with your choices (if your prize is a winners choice e.g. Olivia and Rachel) and addresses. If there is no response within 3 days, I will redraw the prize!

Oh, and the "winners" of the spot the blogger are Rachel who guessed Olivia and Carlotta and then Alissa B. who guessed Sydney from the Daybook. Well done girls!

Do you want more spot the blogger posts?

.

spot the blogger

2011-08-30T16:52:00.000+01:00

My sister, Beth, draws a-m-a-zing pictures.

So sometimes, she picks a well-known, fashion-y blogger and draws her from pictures they have posted of themselves. And then I fill them in with colour on the computer.

This is a picture of...guess who?

And...guess another.

And....another.

Whoever guesses one/two/all first gets their blog button on my 'lovely reads' marquee (on my sidebar)!
Oh, and a hug. Or two. Or three.

P.S. Me and my sister aren't being creepy or anything. Seriously. My sister just browses through blogs and draws pictures and then I just play around with colours. We're not being stalker-ish, promise.

ice cream in stone walls

2011-08-29T09:56:00.001+01:00

don't ask me about the title. it came in a fit of ~~madness~~ genius.

as promised, a post on my darling sister's birthday.

it was a day full of present opening, walking, shopping, cake-eating and movie-watching.

yes. ridiculously cute bridges were a big part of it.

they should be part of all birthdays.

my sister, quite rightly, refused an ice-cream, as befits a girl her age.

but me? nope. I indulged in my childish love of ice-creams.

be under no false pretensions, my loved ones: I do indulge in ice-cream.

a day spent peeking through stone walls.

and reassuring my mum that the huge, massive bulls won't come and chase after her.

{linking up with macro monday}

ok. so we may have got just a little lost. and the walk actually turned out just a little longer than it was meant to be.

ok, a little-a-lot.

a day talking to little (or big, it's all a matter of perspective. right.) white calves, that get all excited when you run alongside them. beautiful little pink noses and long eyelashes.

windswept hair definitely had something to do with my sister's birthday.

beth's hair looked like she had just gone to a salon at the end of our windy walk, and I looked like I had been through hurricane Irene. yeah.

the walk ended with us all exhaustedly walking back to the car (after tea and birthday cake at a tiny, wee, sweet tea shop in a tiny, wee, sweet village) with me and Beth throwing hard red currants from an obliging bush at my dad and brother.

the best way to end a walk.

and then the day ended with macaroni cheese, white chocolate & raspberry brownie, and a movie.

ready yourself for some emotional, soppy sentiments to my sister.

all I can say, my dearest, best of sisters, is that I don't know what I would do without you.

if you ever leave me, you'll be in so much trouble.

like, a lot.

I always stand in amazement of all the things you can do; you are crazy-talented, shockingly beautiful, and dreadfully patient with me. thanks for putting up with me and all my talkativeness.

I love you!

Never mused along with beautiful musings on monday before?
Here's how:

1. muse your way through photos.
2. link up!

that's it!! I know right?

P.S. 199 entries in the giveaway! Just that lil', tiny, biddy bit more to 200...c'mon now.

yours truly is back...

2011-08-26T11:02:00.000+01:00

1. Oh yes, I'm back! Or maybe you guessed that already?

2. Refreshing. The word I would use for my blogging-break.

It gave me the time I needed.

3. My sister had a birthday while I was on my break, so please shout out a happy birthday to her!
It was a day full of goodness. A post on that later.

4. I have something deliciously exciting to share with you all.
Deliciously, scrumptiously, delightfully exciting.

5. Can any of you guess what it is?

6. Potatoes from your own garden are good.
Very good.

7. How do you like the new design?

8. So, I like pegs (or 'piigs', which is how I pronounce them, being a Kiwi).
Yup. Pegs are good.

9. Me + food photography = one, big, huge problem.
I am so bad at food photography! I blame it on not having a 35mm lens (or a DSLR for that matter).
Yup. That works for me.
Any tips?

10. English country side is too cute sometimes.
But it's getting cold! Like, cold, cold, cold. Summer, you have deserted me. How could you?!

P.S. The giveaway is ending soon! We have 190 entries! Can we make it to 200?
Just because 200 looks way better than 190. Right.

a break

2011-08-15T17:08:00.001+01:00

Hey Lovelies!

Lately, I've been really busy with blogging and design and I haven't had much time to just finish off some jobs I need to finish and spend time with my family.

I think a refreshing break from blogging is in order.

I'm going to finish off a design order and then just be able to have the time to go for a walk with my sister or sit and talk with my dad or play guitar with my bro or make dinner with my mum.

Just take some time to re-organize all these crazy, run-around posts that are in my head and have some fun taking pictures for no reason at all.

Taking a break to rest my mind and do some writing, not because I should but because I want to.

And most importantly of all, to take a break to really get back into the routine of sitting down in the morning with Jesus and the Word of God (I haven't been very constant lately). To take some time to pray and seek God.

So I shall say Au Revoir for a week or so!
Love you all.
I will still be online so I'll still be commenting on your posts!

{don't forget to enter the giveaway!}

miscellaneous mumblings.

2011-08-14T17:35:00.001+01:00

Yeah.

Not ramblings. But mumblings.

In my mind, I have written a million posts, but when I get to writing them down they come out like this:

.yawyna rettam t'nseod ti os, yas ot gniog saw I tahw togrof yllatot I

I know.

Be prepared for random ~~ramblings~~ mumblings and pictures that don't match.

miscellaneous 1
I woke up to the sweetest delight yesterday morning. A package arrived from Jerusalem for me.
I was in bed and my sister came running in with the package,
"Look Jess! Look! A package!"
Then the rest of my family proceeded to fill my bedroom at 8:30am as they watched me open it to see what it was.
Yeah. My family is cool like that.

miscellaneous 2
I, of course, knew what was in the oh-my-goodness-how-awesomely-cool package.
It was a package from Hadar from HaDarlings. A pair of earrings! They were the sweetest, most delicate things I have ever seen.

miscellaneous 3
I want you all to know that I'm absolutely nutty on fruit. Really. I just love it. That's all.

miscellaneous 4
I realize the picture above has nothing to do with fruit, but those are the beautiful earrings I got!
Yes, it's my sad attempt at modelling them. I don't do them justice.
Sob.

miscellaneous 5
oh sunshine, sunshine, hast thou forsaken me?

miscellaneous 6
I am exhausted. Me and my sister had two and a half days to paint my brothers bedroom before he came home. We did 3 coats of paint on 4 walls and a ceiling. It was a surprise for him and, thankfully, he loved it!

miscellaneous 7
I love these earrings. Hadar, you rock. I know I'm rambling about them, but seriously, you guys have to check her shop out and grab something before it all goes. Hadar is also one of the sponsors for my giveaway!
It's pure goodness folks. Pure goodness.

miscellaneous 8
I love you guys. Yup.
Just thought I'd you let know.
Oh my wordy.
I just said I'd you let know. No jokes.
Jess, you need a coffee.

Any miscellaneous mumblings to share? Please do!

{don't forget to enter!}

so, who will be my travelling buddy?

2011-08-10T10:21:00.001+01:00

Don't all jump at once ya'll!

Queue...

(uh, hello? is this the weirdest word ever? yup. it is. thanks for backing me up)

...up, and I'll take you one at a time.

I know it. You guys are all drooling-ly jealous of my way too cool pictures from a car window.

I know, how do I do it?

I don't.

This girl here? She cannot take moving-car-out-of-window-shaky pictures.

That's why I need a travelling buddy. To take my car-window pictures for me.

This is sign that I feel like shouting at when we're sitting in the car, not moving, waiting in a

queue

(uh, hello? is this the weirdest word ever? yup. it is. thanks for backing me up)

That's why I need a travelling buddy. To tell me to shout at the cars in front of me, not at the signs.

Oh yes. Another one of my to-die-for car window pictures.

Oh c'mon, open your eyes! It's not that bad.

That's why I need a travelling buddy. To tell me that they are that bad and to give them up.

People, this is my country. Say hello.
Ok, so I may be missing my home-land just a little.
A little-a-lot.
That's why I need a travelling buddy. To tell me that it's ok to have a holiday somewhere other than NZ.

Don't forget to enter the j'adore giveaway!! It ends 31st of August!

j'adore giveaway!

2011-08-04T15:15:00.003+01:00

This giveaway has now ended!

Yup.

You know it.

This is un grand giveaway!

You heard it folks, six prizes!!
Let's dig in.

1. This gorgeous "bag-ette" sponsored by the lovely Laura from Mama Bleu Designs

2. A full sized vegan eyeshadow by the amazing MadisonStreeBeauty

3. A choice of blush and eyeshadow by the beautiful Sarah from Simplicity Cosmetics

4. This totally, amazing vintage print by fantastic Debrina from Land of Enchantment

5. This too cute Hot Air Balloon necklace by the gorgeous Lori from Blaine

6. These 3 bobby pins and this beautiful necklace by the oh-so-sweet Hadar from HaDarlings

Want to know how to get one of these beautiful prizes?

Mandatory entry:

1) Tell me about something that makes you really happy; ecstatically happy; blissfully happy.

Something you adore.

Extra entries:

1) Follow my blog

2) Blog/tweet/facebook about these Etsy shops.

3) Blog about the giveaway

4) Put the giveaway button on your sidebar

One comment for each entry please.

This giveaway is open to USA only--sorry international readers !

The giveaway ends on 31st August.

my polka dot girls

2011-08-03T09:11:00.000+01:00

These are my polka dot girls.
Aren't they lovely?

{linking up with perceptive perspective: smiles}

My two blue-eyed, blonde-haired, polka-dot girls.
And I love them both.

Black on white polka dots.

White on black polka dots.

Big polka dots.

Little polka dots.

Red lipstick and winged eyeliner.

Subtle victory rolls and curls.

{linking up with wordless wednesday}

Serious looks.

Silly expressions.

{linking up with 52 weeks of happiness}

Brick walls and whispering trees.
Stinging nettles for the photographer.

In-between shots.
Random lamps.

Faraway, dreamy looks.
Window seats.

My polka dot girls.

me + mr. darcy

2011-08-01T16:52:00.001+01:00

Me + Mr. Darcy?

We are, like, so close.

He invited me to his house.

Seriously.

Pemberley is pretty nice. So is Mr. Darcy's lake.

Pike fishing you know.

I don't think that I have ever seen a place so happily situated.

I certainly approve of the place.
But then again, there are few who would not approve.

The gardens are delightful.
I was hoping to see Mr. Darcy there, but I was told that he was away, visiting his aunt at...
Rosings Park?

I was crossing my fingers that he would come walking out of these bushes again and ask me if my parents were in good health.

But he didn't. Still, the house was beautiful, even though Mr. Darcy wasn't there to show me round.

Oh, Mr. Darcy, you + me?
We are so close.

Never mused along with beautiful musings on monday before?

Here's how:

1. muse your way through photos.

2. link up!

that's it!! I know right?

your questions answered # 2

2011-07-30T09:36:00.000+01:00

What is your least favourite colour?

Probably highlighter green or murky brown-green (like dirty pond water)

What is your least favourite food?

Mushrooms. And seafood. Don't even go there.

What is your least favourite movie?

The Mill on the Floss. Oh my wordy, that film is ridiculous.

The ending is atrocious. I can deal with most tragic endings, but this one? So stupid and it's a BBC! I can't believe it. Oh, and The Old Curiosity Shop: also a BBC and also ridiculously tragic.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island (somehow) and you could only have 1 thing with

you (besides your Bible, and, obviously, clothes) what would it be?

Besides Richard Armitage? Just kidding.

Kinda.

I would take either a phone or lap-top, so I could talk to people.

I hope this island has electricity? Good.

Oh, and my camera.

If you could of been a co-author to writing whatever book, what would it be?

The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer.

If you could meet one author, who would it be (author of art/book/song/anything)?

Author in the history: Georgette Heyer.

Author in the present: Ree Drummond.

What is your favourite book?

Only one?

The Corinthian, Frederica, Bath Tangle. Yeah, that was three. I know.

What/who is your favourite band/artist?

Band: Stellar Kart

Artist: Brooke Fraser or Adele

What sleeping position do you tend to sleep in?

This made me crack up!

On my side, with my knees bent.

It takes usually three tosses in my bed before I can go to sleep. Don't ask.

your questions answered

2011-07-28T17:21:00.001+01:00

The other day, I opened the board up for questions.
In other words, people could ask me whatever they wanted. Here are my answers!

Q. What are your pet peeves?

A. I have way too many pet peeves.

1. I hate odd socks. I literally can't even go to bed with odd socks.

2. I really don't like loud noises: shouting, really loud music, noisy trucks, screaming. Nope.

3. Slurping.

4. Plastic bags in a sink full of water. Yeah, I know.

Q. What are your pet loves?

A. 1.People leaving little notes everywhere around the house for you. Love it.

2. People dropping in for surprise visits.

3. People ringing up just to see how you are.
4. Observing people (I know this sounds weird! bear with me) and how they do things.
I LOVE seeing the way different people drive, cook, talk, laugh, sing. I just love it.

Q. A few favourite blogs?

A. Phew! Only some?

(Life is too short not to) wear red shoes, Sharing Endless L'amour, Ramblings and Photos, Pastor's Girl's Ponderings, Wildflower growing in the Sun, of horsefeathers

Q. How many designs have you done?

A. For other people? Umm...only three, coming up four. For myself, five or six!

Q. What got you into blogging?

A. Great question! I guess I saw a number of other people doing it and it seemed a cool way to stay in touch with friends and share some stuff.

Then it went on from there. I found more & more out about the blogging world and how many people were in it and luckily I got to meet some way-too-awesome bloggers!

I hope to meet more people as I go along and make more great friends;-)

Q. What is your favourite food?
A. I love fruit. Raspberries, strawberries. And I love Chelsea Scrolls (or buns, as some of you might say) without sultanas in them.

Q. Favourite season?
A. Summer. All the way. But Summer really isn't Summer in England.
So when I say Summer, I mean an New Zealand Summer!
Those Summers are SO good.
Lol, I just said Summer 6 times. Make that 7.

Q. Sneakers or Flip-flops?
A. Hmmm, can I say neither? I don't really wear sneakers and I NEVER wear flip-flops.
I have this thing about feet. Yeah, we don't really like each other.
I mostly wear ugg Boots & high heel boots when it's cold and cute flats and small heels when it's warm.

Q. Cats or Dogs?
A. I am such a dog person. I just love dogs to pieces.
Me + Dogs? Great friends.

Q. Is your hair really that curly...or did you curl it yourself?
A. No, my hair isn't that curly (referring to this picture), my hair is naturally wavy, so when I want really curly hair like that, I put my hair in rags the night before and then voila!
It usually lasts 3 days without any hairspray/gel/mousse.

Q. What are you doing/not doing in order to stay pure for your future husband?
A. Wow, didn't see that one coming! lol Nice.
Hmmm...I actually have no desire whatsoever to get married, in fact, I'd rather not.
So, in light of that fact I stay pure for the Lord, not for my future husband! I merely think of boys as brothers, but obviously I don't treat them with the same intimacy/physical friendliness as I do my real brother.
Does that answer the question?? :-)

Q. How does being a Christian make you different from those who aren't?
A. What an awesome question!
It is not so much that being a Christian makes me different, but it is Christ in me who makes me different from the world.
I have Christ's light in me, and light being the opposite of dark, it is the light that makes me different. I have eternity to look forward to, a surety of life after death, which in turn makes me live for Christ, not myself. Not to say that I don't find myself living for my own selfish wants and desires sometimes, because I do!
But more and more I find that my desires turn into His desires and I begin to live for Him, not my own flesh.
Does that make sense?

P.S. If you have any other questions, just ask in a comment below and I'll add my answers to this post!

My Lady Miriam Part 11

2011-07-27T14:08:00.000+01:00

After many requests to write more...here is part 11 of MLM!

...They returned to Blackmoore Park shortly before noon, on the best of terms and with Lord Charles exclaiming that he was quite famished and more than ready for his luncheon. Miriam returned happily that she too was in need of nourishing refreshment, and would much the happier for it! Charles went in search of his sister and Miriam set out to change her dress from her riding habit before the midday meal.
Charles, after a quite exhaustive search for Philippa, found her standing in the middle of the morning room, with a worried expression on her usually cheerful features.
“Philippa? Are you quite well?” Charles asked anxiously as he shut the door quietly and went to her.
“I am always well Charles! It’s nothing, I am sure, but there—there is a gentlem—no, there is a man who wishes to speak with Miriam.” Philippa paused and added, “I am not all sure that he is a gentleman Charles.”
He frowned and replied,
“Where is he? Did he state his business?” Philippa sat down before answering his questions,
“He is in the Red Saloon. Browning told Mr....Mr. Kendall that Lady Miriam was not in, but he said he would wait. He was so very insistent upon seeing her!”
A shade of annoyance crossed Charles’ face,
“How very poor that Miriam should be bothered in such a way under my very own roof! I shall have this young man shoved off quietly. I won’t have Miriam bothered.” He added emphatically.
“Oh no! He isn’t at all young Charles!” Philippa ejaculated, “Why I believe he has seen the better side of forty my dear! Or so Browning informed me.”
A mixed look of doubt and surprise replaced his annoyance and he answered dubiously,
“Forty? Well then, why the deuce...? I think that I shall speak to this Mr. Kendon—“
“Kendall.” Philippa corrected.
“Yes, Mr. Kendall. I shall speak to him myself. Did you say the Red Saloon Pip?”
Philippa nodded as she stood and watched him go out of the room. She stood there for a moment or two, her brow furrowed, deep in thought. She ought to go and tell Miriam about this—this Mr. Kendall. For yes indeed! Miriam might know of or perhaps (heaven forbid!) even know the man. And if she did not then he might be sent on his way, for there was no use in quizzing and keeping this man where he was not wanted! No indeed. She would go and inform Miriam. Though she did wonder how Charles got on with Mr. Kendall; she laughed within herself, for Charles was dear, but not very up to the mark on such things! He did not often deal with commoners as their father had, once upon a day, when he was housing tenants on his colossal estate. No, she and Charles had been brought up in the best of society and she was only too glad that the responsibility of confronting this man had not come to her!

Charles, however, when presented with the scene which had provoked Philippa’s sympathy for him, found himself rather more dazed than confused.
Mr. Kendall was, as Browning had so aptly put it, never going to see forty again and as Charles saw the man in person he was very much in agreement with him.
He was an imposing gentleman, with a wide berth and a solid stance. He stood, quite unmovable in the Red Saloon, his beady eyes roving around the room and his large, ringed fingers tapping impatiently on the back of an elegant, gold trimmed chair.
He was wearing a murky-yellow satin waistcoat, which did not quite button all the way to the end; his pantaloons were (unlike Lord Blackmoore’s which fitted like a glove) loose-fitting and of a unrecognizable colour; his jewellery was of no distinction, excepting of course the neck-tie pin which was unspeakably large and sparkling. His hair consisted mainly of a mass of brown unruly waves and curls, his nose was pointed, though rather crooked and his mouth large. He looked to be rather weather-beaten, and perhaps of
rather a very open mind.
As he saw Lord Blackmoore enter, he straightened himself up and looked pointedly at him.
“Good day to you guv’nor! I ‘ave come to speak to ‘er Ladyship,” He paused, as if remembering something, “The young Ladyship, not the old gentry-mort, if you—er—please.” He finished off her sentence with a satisfactory nod, content that he had put forward his request in a most genteel manner.
Charles merely blinked, quite unsure how to answer this mode of speech.
After a moment of his waiting for Lord Blackmoore to answer, Mr. Kendall sighed and said,
“Look ‘ere flash cull, your man said ‘er Ladyship weren’t in, but I know that’s cutting a sham see? I ain’t going to kick o’er the traces! I just want to see ‘er Ladyship don’t I? I ain’t going to be gulled guv’nor! Not when I sees the young gentry-mort coming to this place not ten minutes gone! Me being a peevy cull see? Me wanting a word with the young Ladyship an’ you being a gentry-cove, we do what we’re both meant to do guv.”