OUT FOR THE COUNT.

I know it's only Thursday and not quite the weekend just yet, but I'm going to say it anyway: wow, WHAT a week. Work has been FULL-ON (yes, it deserved capital letters), and to top it off, everything seemed to take 50 bazillion times longer than it should have. Which is frustrating times a bazillion. I really do love what I get to do for living, but far out. I'm pooped.

I am so very thankful that tomorrow is Friday; that I have a partner who will just listen and let me vent; for a mid-week dinner out with fam that lifted my tired mood; for many cups of tea & coffee; for the warmer, rainy weather that has made sleep more restful; for your lovely blogs that have given me happy, welcome distraction. x

(PS. Do you have any favourite mood-lifters?)

source: Bator Horvath.

SPLITSCREEN: A LOVE STORY.

A cute and creative little love story. Oh, and it was filmed entirely on a mobile phone!

(By JW Griffiths).

FRIENDS, AIRPORTS + RAMBO.

We had a BUSY weekend. It involved:

• two early mornings

• haircuts-- a trim for me, but a totally new do for Patrick. I'm pretty sure he's more stylish than me now!

• catch-ups with our friends and their cute kiddos, and a sore tummy from laughing so much

• another cute and thoughtful (belated) little birthday present

• a visit to the airport with Patrick's fam to see his mumma (waiting for her flight back home after flying in from a holiday overseas). I love airports.

• a trip to the carwash cafe-- why yes, I will have a coffee while we wait for you to clean the car, thank you.

• warm, afternoon sun

• watching the sunday night movie-- Rambo: First Blood Part II-- with my love and a hot chocolate

Such a good weekend, but now it's Monday and I am one very sleepy Rachael. An early bedtime tonight sounds like a plan.

Hope your Monday is rosy x

PHOTOBOOTH FRIDAY: ROUND FOURTEEN.

HAPPY FRIDAY! We took these photobooth photos last night on our shiny new imac-- I think it's funny how in the first two pictures, Patrick and I are pulling the same face, in the opposite photo (not planned). Ok, maybe it's just me that thinks that's funny. Moving right along...

Have you got any fun/different/exciting weekend plans? We haven't had a catch-up with our friends in f-o-r-e-v-e-r (in between work/family commitments/sickness & so on, & so forth!) so we're hoping to get together this weekend because everyone is finally free and healthy. I'm EXCITED :)

Just saw this print on pinterest and thought it was highly appropriate for today's post (it's available here).

Hope your Friday is super x

SIX HAPPY THINGS.

1- My lovely new glasses! It was a 2-for-1 deal, so I also got a pair of prescription ray ban-esque sunglasses. I will probably never wear them but they're nice to have just in case.

2- Our shiny new 27inch imac (with Rei and Asuka). We ordered it the same day apple released the latest upgrade and it has been a long seven week wait, but it finally arrived yesterday. It's so lovely and super FAST.

3- I finally finished reading the first two books from the True Blood series (which one of my best friends lent me an eternity ago!). I think I kinda like the tv series better (for once), but the books are p-r-e-t-t-y different so it's almost like a new storyline with the same characters.

4- I love getting parcels in the mail! Especially from this store-- I bought this dress, which I like even more in person :)

5- We finally got to catch up with some of our best friends last weekend, and I got the cutest belated birthday card-- honestly, HOW cute is it?!-- and little notebook (plus a pretty new black floral scarf, not pictured).

6- Beautiful morning sunlight x

TILT-SHIFT TOKYO.

Love this collection of tilt-shift photos taken around Tokyo, by Takahiro Yamamoto (via photography served).

COSY CORNERS.

It has been all kinds of cold around here lately. It is probably nowhere near as cold as some of you might be used to, but it is about as fresh as I can stand. A couple of weeks ago, we had our coldest day in eleven years (EEEEP!). Thankfully, the days have been clear and sunny, so sitting in a cosy corner in the warm sunlight is just about the best thing ever x

sources:tovemichelle. etsy. indenfor. remodelista. freunde von freunden.

MONDAY, I'VE GOT BROWNIES ON MY MIND.

Yesterday afternoon, we went out for an early dinner, so we were home early. I had some time up my sleeve, so I decided to do some baking. I baked brownies-- double choc-chip, chocolate brownies. They turned out perfect...just a little bit crunchy on the outside, but soft and fudge-y on the inside. It's now Monday afternoon, I've got Monday mid-afternoon-itis, and all I want is one of those brownies!

Hope you are having a kind Monday x

PHOTOBOOTH FRIDAY: ROUND THIRTEEN (+ SIA)

Welcome to the Photobooth Friday evening edition :) I think Friday nights are probably my favourite night of the weekend-- the long week is over but there's still two whole days off before Monday comes around again. I am already showered, changed into comfy clothing... oh, and you long-haired gals will agree with me-- how amazing does it feel to have your hair out after it's been up all day? It's the simple pleasures :)

"Breathe Me" by Sia has been one of my all-time, very favourite songs for years, but I realised that I'd never seen the music video before. I have discovered that I love it :) So I thought I would share. It's clever and quirky, just like the lady herself.

(PS. Although it is beautiful played any which way, this song is best enjoyed with a little volume for maximum emotional effect).

Happy Friday xx

sources: Phil Tidy via Vimeo. Image source: here. Design: me.

HARRY POTTER FEVER.

I don't know about you, but I am a MASSIVE Harry Potter fan. I am not ashamed to admit that I have lined up for hours to make sure I got the books on the same day they came out, then devoured them in a couple of days afterwards. So when I was having a quick browse at apple trailers this morning and saw that a new trailer for the very last movie was posted just yesterday, I nearly died with excitement!

Here it is for all you Harry Potter fans like me :) x

(PS. I haven't forgotten about Photobooth Friday! I will be back later today with another post).

sources: everythingharrypotter.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS: PART2

It has been a while since my last etsy favourite things post (you can read my first one here) and of course, I have 'favourited' about a bazillion things since then! So I thought it was time to share a few more:

I am having a love affair with midi skirts (& dresses...) at the moment and I can't wait until it's summer here again, so I can wear them with a tshirt, a pair of sandals and a tan. You can find this one here.

The CUTEST vintage teapot, complete with a little bunny rabbit snout! (find it here)

I'm not much into traditional romance, so I love this card-- cos let's all face it, love is about the good times AND the hairy legs/messy/forgetful times as well right? :)

How amazing is this iphone dock? Yep, it's made from real wood (mmm, the smell of timber) AND it really does charge your iphone. They are custom made to order, available here.

At the moment, one of my favourite times of the day is having a hot (hot) shower right before bed and getting clean and cosy. I have had my eye on these kimono robes for a little while-- I especially love that they are eco-friendly, highly absorbent and dry quickly.

Love this little porcelain doily-inspired necklace and mini porcelain 'hello' brooch.

My very favourite pair of earrings are made from feathers, but after enduring a few rainy nights, they are looking a little bit worse for wear. I love this pair.

A lovely little print reminder with cute illustrations (it says 'practice small random acts of kindness daily').

This post reminded me of this funny little Woody Allen print (seems he's QUITE the popular man at the moment!).

I think this crown card would be perfect for the kiddos-- or even the big kids too ;). It's packed flat and comes complete with a matching envelope.


sources: MrsVintage. Kims Little Monsters. Lauren Carney shop. woodtec. Eco Friendly Beauty. andOdesign. thesoaktree. Heidi Burton. ilovedoodle. presentandcorrect.

ONE LAST LONG WEEKEND.

It is our Monday here today, due to a long weekend-- our very last long weekend for the year (sad face!). I spent most of the time trying to get better and I think, today, I'm finally starting to get there, thank goodness. So even though it was a low-key long weekend, it was still lovely just the same. Some of my favourite long weekend loves:

• driving way out into the suburbs one night for a zarraffas coffee (due to our local one closing down), and discovering a yummy new burger place right next door to them as well! Yay!

• warm nights in, when it's cold and rainy outside

• Patrick's home-cooked breakfast: pancakes with fried banana, bacon and maple syrup... SO GOOD

• end of financial year sales at pretty much every single store around (actually that is probably a bad thing.... eeeep!)

• freshly laundered bed sheets

• super duper cool new glasses (ie. the prescription kind that help you to see) to replace my old frames-- I pick them up in a week and a half, yipee :)