:: The Chalk Garden...

via

via

via

via

Such a GOOD film! I watched this today with Ari. He quite liked it, because Hayley Mills plays a 16 year old pyromaniac.  I liked it too. I love Hayley.  She's so great. And quite lovably demented in this film.

xx Pip

:: Win :: Super Amazing Useful Things From Frankie

Oh Frankie. You probably love Frankie as much as I do.  And Frankie has done a super amazing job at branching out into other kinds of publications, like Afternoon Tea, Sweet Treats, Spaces and Smith Journal too. Aside from the super amazings, there are the super amazing and USEFULS. This includes the Frankie Calendar and the Frankie Diary!

 Is SUPER AMAZING USEFUL just your cup of tea?  Well all you have to do is leave a comment and you might win BOTH The Frankie Diary AND The Frankie Calendar.  If you win, you will feel glad.  Glad is good way to be, I think.

Did you know I write for Frankie?  I do.  Lucky me. I'm totes glad.

Entries close on Monday night Melbs time.  Australia/NZ only, puleeze!

Fank you Frankie!

xx Pip

:: Scrolls and Trolls...

Do you have anything you want to tell us about?  Today is the day! Let us know in the comments. Here are some things I want to tell you about...

• The crafty Fabric-A-Brac event that's upcoming in Sydney
• An article in The Mercury about me and Brown Owls THIS Friday.
• A piece in the Herald Sun (maybe this Saturday? maybe next?) about the new book. I think it's going to be in the Saturday Weekend lift-out.
• My new book is hitting the shops late this week/early next week. OMG.
• Good Stuff ads are filling up fast. More than half are gone.  It's $60 a half page and $100 a full page.  (Crafters, corporates, authors, musicians all welcome in Good Stuff!)
• You can WIN a copy of Make Hey! over here! Thanks to The Hoopla!
• I watched Pan Am on one of those online streaming sites. OMG. It's SO GREAT!
• My computer is going SO SO SO slow today.
• My troll is back and she's got a new pseudonym. It's quite a cute one.
• We were dog-sitting Ziggy, but now he's gone home :(
• I made cinnamon scrolls (there they are pre-icing) via Smitten Kitchen.

What do you want to tell everyone about? Got any news? Over to you!

xx Pip

:: Good Stuff : The Mike's Holiday Guide/Magazine : Advertiser Call-out

Get ready!  We are launching our very first ever ONLINE gift guide slash magazine this year.  It'll be chock full of cute articles, ideas for DIY gifts, decorating inspiration, recipes, giveaways, stories and more.  I've got some really wonderful contributors lined up, as well as some of my own stuff too.

Aside from that, Good Stuff will feature half and full A4 page MINI-blog posts or regular old ads which are UP FOR GRABS.  Rather than conventional ads, I am going for more editorial kind of advertising, which gives you a bit of space to tell us a bit more about you and what you do/make/are hoping to sell for Christmas!  We're after cute craft, great design and products which will fit with the whole Mike's vibe slash Mike's family. You can advertise your online store, bricks and mortar store, your blog, your company, your product, your book... whatever is best for YOU!  If you just want a regular ad, that is fine too.

You can send me an email to book a page now (or a half page) with GOOD STUFF in the subject line, and I will email you back a confirmation once we have sorted through all the submissions.  The deadline for artwork/copy will be October 20th.  So we need to get cracking!

The guide will launch on November 7th. It will be published online as a flip-type magazine via Issuu and viewable for free ON and via the Mike's blog, with ridiculous amounts of promotion via our social media channels. Issuu is a great platform as it encourage easy sharing and linking within publications.  Good Stuff will remain in the sidebar at the top of our blog until the end of January 2012.

I'll be on the radio and telly and in the press in the coming months, chatting about my book and blog, so you can be super guaranteed of lots of interest/excitement about this humble abode.

Okay!

See ya later for some other Good Stuff.
Don't forget to sign up for Softies For Mirabel!

xx pip

:: Inspired By...

My latest blanket inspired by Space Invaders

Hey. I wanted to ask you something.  I was chatting on Twitter on Saturday about inspiration.  Specifically I was chatting about people who might be readers of my blog, getting inspired by projects seen here, or indeed just making things from the tutes here.  I really LOVE that.  It makes me SO HAPPY. Everything you see here is for sharing.  That is the way I like it.  Share and share alike.

BUT, how about when people share an idea and sort of act like it was THEIR idea?  And then take the credit for it. Personally, although a bit kinda weird, when it's one of my ideas I am, from this day forth, going to try not to get all MINE MINE MINE.  I kinda think it's good that they are making stuff and getting inspired.  I  like that.  I think the world needs happier people and making makes people happy.  I figure there is no point getting too antsy about people borrowing my ideas without credit, because what I want most is for people to use my ideas.  I sort of can't afford to split hairs about that too much.  I am here to encourage and enable happy days and creative times.  I sort of expect it.

Of course, I totally get that it's different for other people.  DO not give me the stink eye, because I think it's totally GREAT if you want to stink eye anyone who is inspired by you and doesn't give you credit.  I am just not going to do that.  (Although I did put a little note on my blog yesterday asking people to send me pictures of things I might have encouraged them to make, because I really do like to see where all those clicks are coming from in my Stats.  And who you are. And what you make!)

Admittedly I did feel a bit weird recently when I saw something super similar to a thing I had made being lauded as SO ORIGINAL on someone else's blog.  Especially when after I left a cheery comment (complimenting their lovely work), the Meet Me At Mike's link was removed from the Blogroll in said blog's sidebar. Ugh.  But I have been doing a lot of thinking, and I have decided it is silly for me to be too miffed about that.  My kind of craft is about sharing.  And there shouldn't be strings attached.   I am going to try and be happy that the person got so much positive affirmation, just from making something gorgeous.  Even if it was my idea in the first place.  Who cares?!  After all, it was THEM who had to make the thing, even if it wasn't their original idea.  They still had to do all that hard crafty work.  They chose the colours and made other design decisions that ensured the thing they made was super fantastic.  So I am trying really hard not to be all grabby and what-about-me about it.  I am learning to be okay with it*, because really, it IS probably okay.  I am only being sooky because I want people to know that the inspiration came from me. And ACTUALLY, it probably doesn't even matter.  It's not ABOUT me!  So shoosh up me.  I am LUCKY to be a teensy part of something lovely that someone has made. And I am glad they check in here, even if it is incognito!

I guess it's just that when you spend a LOT of time on your blog showing crafty things, it feels funny when the things grow a life of their own, without any credit to me.  But WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT... that is GREAT! Slap me with a wet herring, build me a bridge and tell me to GET OVER IT!  At least people LIKE what I am doing!

So, what I am wondering is, I'm wondering about YOU.  If you use a pattern, are inspired by a photo you see on a blog, or make something from someone else's tutorial, do you give them credit when you are doing a show and tell?  Or do you not really think that is important? Or do you kinda not credit them, because you are so super proud of your work (because things can take a long time to make, even if you did not come up with the original proto-type), and then later mumble something in the comments. Or do you cover your tracks to their blog like a ninja and pretend you have never even heard of them?!

Do you openly divulge your inspirations?  Or do you have a hard time doing that?  And who are your inspirations, whilst we are talking about it?

(And if you make things that you see here, or things similar to the things you see here. BLOODY GOOD ON YOU!  That is what I am here for.  And if you show me that is ace. And if you don't, well then it is none of my business (but I would LOVE to see!!) I invite you to take the things I do and share them/make them/reinterpret them in any way you like.  Free reign.  And thank you for being part of my community of crafty wenches/fellas.)

xx Pip

* This is quite hard.

:: New Fave Tunes!

All found via this podcast.  Note that the 3rd video is not suitable for kids.

xx Pip

:: Cute Tracks To Start Your Day...

Here is the new video for Bjork! She is channeling Grace Coddington on a windy big-haired day.  This is very lush and moody and planet-y, isn't it?

And here is the Kimbra video with the ace dancing in it. I found this via Helen.  Thank you Helen!  Some of the scenes were shot at Helen's place (Bakehouse Studios). Did you know that Helen and I had babies around the same time, and they used to play together a lot. That is true. It was fifteen years ago, OMG.  Time does fly.

Have a great day, you!

xx Pip

:: In Case You Want To Catch Up...

I did an interview with Booktopia here.
And one with Shearer's Books here.
And I wrote a piece for JustB here.  It is about single tasking. Single tasking is the biz.
And The Hoopla profiled me as one of their Top Bloggers here.
And I did a Facebook chat for Dymocks Books here.

xx Pip

PS : It is okay if you can't be bothered to look at any of these. I just like to make sure that my Mum doesn't miss any of this stuff!

:: Softies For The Mirabel Foundation!

EDIT :: Softies For Mirabel Deadline is extended til the end of FEB 2012!

Hello!  How are you?  Are you well?!  Maybe you are new here?  Maybe you are not? Whichever it is, well or not well, new or not, WELCOME!  Today marks the beginning of our annual campaign Softies For Mirabel.  Softies are handmade soft toys.  Softies For Mirabel is a worldwide drive, collecting handmade toys for the children who are supported by The Mirabel Foundation.  This is our FIFTH year of collecting for the great kids Mirabel works with, and it's going to be the BEST SO FAR, I think!


I'm giving you a heads up NOW, because we need you to make toys and get them to us by December 5th.  If you are a busy bee, it might take you a wee bit of time to get your toy (toys!?) organised, so it's good to get a head start, right?  (Wait till we announce the Mailbox is open before you send us your toys, though!)


The toys will be exhibited in Melbourne (more about that soon!), so you can come and visit them later in the year, and for those who are not local, they'll also be showcased on this very blog, as well as in this Softies For Mirabel online gallery!  After their viewing, The Mirabel Foundation will gather them all together and carefully pair each toy with its perfect Mirabel child companion, and the toys will start their new life with their new bestie!

This is the PERFECT solo or group project!  Are you part of a craft group? Make softies together!  Do you have a gang of ace people who care about stuff?  Make softies together!  Is your book club reviewing craft books next up (hint hint!)? Make softies together!  Do you know a primary or secondary school group who might like to be craft along? Make softies together!

Toys can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. They do not have to be super dooper professional looking.  They just have to be made with care and love and the sort of thing a child would want to buddy up with. Do make sure it's not going to fall apart or lose its stuffing, though. No one likes to lose their stuffing!


Keep in mind that some toys will go to cute lil babies, so we need some without buttons and other choking hazards. But we also need some for older kids too :: so make the kind of toy YOU would love to receive. You can see some of the toys from previous years here (there are some great toys :: go look!!) There are some links to free toy patterns over here and also here and here :: if you have any links or toy ideas to share, you can do it here. Go wild, I say! You should upload an image of your toy to the Flickr group before you send it : Flickr accounts are FREE!


Don't send your toys to us yet. I will let you know when the mailbox is open, as well as the mailing address and you can start sending then.  But DO start making now! Yes! Do that!  And take photos of your softie and add them to the gallery on Flickr so that we can see what is being made and how clever everyone is!   Keep in mind that they'll need to reach us by December 5th.  (This is especially good to know for Overseas makers!)


The Mirabel Foundation is a really amazing group of people, headed up by Jane Rowe.  They support kids  who are affected by parental substance abuse.  They also support these kids' parents and extended family.  Many of these children are unable to live with their parents, due to difficult circumstances or even the death of a parent (or both parents).  Some are in the care of elderly grandparents or older siblings.  You can read some of their stories here.   It's stuff that no one should have to deal with, least of all kidlets, but Mirabel does not turn away. Nor should we. Nope.  Open your eyes, think about these great kids and do something to show them that the wider community thinks they are super special and capable of even more awesomeness.  Because these kids are already super awesome.


Please comment below if you would like to be part of our campaign.  And please keep an eye on this very blog to find out when the mailbox is open, and details of the Softie exhibition too!  I've put the Softies For Mirabel button in the top right corner of this blog. You can copy and paste the code or button on to your own blog or website to show your support, if you would like to!  Thanks to my pal Angela at Three Buttons for designing our logo!  Are you going to join in?!

xx Pip

:: Cute? Yes/No

Have you seen anything as cute as this?
I do not think so.
No I do not.

Bronte the Cat, with Achilles the Tortoise atop Bronte's Cushion.
You can see more of the cushion and tortoise and Bronte too, in Make Hey! Out in TEN DAYS! Wowee!

xx Pip

PS :: here is an interview I did for Booktopia!

:: Good Things and Cheese...

Hi!  I am getting ready for my author chat on the Dymocks facebook page.  It's in just under 2 hours (at 11am Melbourne time) if you would like to say hello and ask a question.  Maybe no one will turn up!  Perhaps I should just type Knock Knock jokes, in those circumstances?

I have been having a good time. I have.  I haven't really been doing a lot of  AMAZING things... but I have been doing lots of good things!  Here are some things I wanted to tell you about ::

1.  I really liked listening to this podcast about GOSSIP (especially the parts about gossip relating to HIV in Malawi! OMG!  Fascinating!)
2.  I have been listening to the Kimbra album a lot. Really, really, really great.  You have to listen too.
3.  I have been making a breakfast version of this salad : with a sliced omelette in it. Yum.
4.  I have been hanging out with my studio buddy Victoria and Kirsty too.
5.  I have been writing up interviews for lots of websites and publications ahead of the launch of my new book.  Make Hey!  is officially out in ELEVEN DAYS! OMG! (If you are in Melbourne, keep you eye on the Herald Sun Saturday Weekend liftout, because one of these Saturday's there will be an interview avec moi... in case you care.  It's okay if you don't care!)
6.  Craving Japanese food and reading a lot of Japanese cookbooks!  Eating lots of super healthy food and looking after myself.  Trying not to stay up too late.  Trying to get up early.
7. Hatching a plan for a Space Invaders crocheted blanket. Yep.  Go the Larksfoot!
8. I have been recording more chapters of James and The Giant Peach for Ari.
9. I have been planning events related to the book launch.  I'll be at Readings in St Kilda on October 27th. More details about that soon!
10. This is going to sound really super cheesy, but I have been Planning for Positive every morning.  I know. Turn on the griller. Get out the grater. Cheese alert.  But really. It totally works for me.  I make a mini list of super simple things that will make the day better.  Take a long walk.  Listen to something stimulating. Plan a nice dinner. Think nice thoughts about the kids.  Download something good to watch later in the evening.  Simple.

What are you doing? What are you liking?  Will you chat with me on Facebook today (at Dymocks!?!)  Will you Plan for Positive?

xx Pip

:: The Pippy Stripe Blanket!

Do you remember when I made this blanket  (above) for my new nephew?!  Maybe you don't, and that is okay! I finished this back in January, and it was my first foray into messing about with stitches and varying patterns and going a bit wild free-hand style!  I am all about this kind of crazy crochet.  It's my favourite thing to do and I have spent the whole year refining it.  That's how much I love this freehand colourful stitch explosion!

As soon as I finished this I started the Max Blanket... I have been showing lots of this blanket on Instagram and a bit over here, but I realised that I had not shown you the finished (well, ends to be sewn in!) blanket.  And I finished it a cuppla months ago, so I am the Queen of Slack Showing Off!  Here she is.... drum roll.... ta-dah!

I have noticed some lovely blankets in this style popping up about the place in the last couple of months... so here is my original Pippy Stripe blankie (the one I made for Max) for you to see properly!  Just in case you want to make one too!  I think everyone is going to be making these in the world of crochet, I do!  This is the one that is in the Mollie Make's feature about me too, I think!  Kirsty photographed me a while ago trying to get those darn ends finished!

To make this blanket, I started with a basic Granny Stripe pattern for the first couple of rows to get a good foundation and a nice easy to follow stitch count.   (Have a look at the pattern by Lucy at Attic24! Or try the pattern by Jan Eaton in this book.. .this will show you how to start off!)


After that I just carefully added rows of different stitches, things like popcorn, larksfoot, basic treble and the like, and payed close attention to the stitch count. You don't want to decrease stitches or add stitches, so you need to follow the row below closely and stitch into the stitches below without adding or minusing!  If you DO accidentally add or decrease, you need to make up for it in the next row quick smart by doing the opposite.  So keep an eye on your work, laying it flat after each row, and making sure that you are following the row below, count wise.

I will write a proper tute to show you what I mean, if you would like!  Would you like that?

xx Pip

Final image by Kootoyoo

:: A Sort Of Spanish-ish Recipe And Other Things Too...

I have been doing a lot of good stuff. I know. Amayzink! The warmer weather has given me a kick in the pants in a really good way and I am feeling very excited about life.  (Even though about 27 stressful things are happening, I have decided not to turn myself inside out over them, and to concentrate on doing the best I can with the things that are good!)

So.  I had a bit of a dose of Ari's virus. Bum. But that's kind of good in other ways, because it forces one to slow down a bit.  I'm one of those people who think that having a few days off with an illness is the same as having a holiday. That is a bit demented, right?  I must unlearn that and have a holiday that does not involve medicine and runny noses sometime.  But I digress, because this is not the good stuff.  The good stuff came on the weekend when I was feeling a bit better.

I have been taking good care of myself, in a bid to get better, drinking heaps o water and jasmine tea. Eating lots of vegetables.  Trying not to stay up too late.  Enjoying the sunshine. Reading.  Listening to good music.  Taking walks.  These are good things. Probs they are not super amazing things, but they are my kind of good thing. I like the easy, simple good things, I guess.

I made a really delicious dinner last night.  And today is a lovely sunny day, so I got up early and walked around the park a couple of times listening to podcasts.

I listened to a really great interview on The Sound Of Young America while I walked.  It was Simon Reynolds talking about his book Retromania. Pop Culture's Addiction To Its Own Past.  It was really interesting, and talked about the revival, reinterpretation and re-imagining of music over the last few decades.  It talked about the impact that technology has had on music, with software like ProTools and Auto-Tune contributing to a sameness in music in the last 15 years.

All this made me wonder whether the internet/technology has devoured music in one big gulp rendering a lot of it generic.. or whether it's actually enabled wider access to music for the masses (and ace people like us) and given everyone the tools to make and distribute their own music in a user-friendly, democratic way.  I think that it's the usual double edged sword, actually. We can all make/access music, even though some of us don't make/access music in the best kind of ways.  I think the hunt for the pearlers in a sea of samey same is half the fun.

What do you think?  Is music a constant rehash and is that problematic?  Or is it a constant flow of reinvention and reinterpretation and is that excellent? Is it a good thing that it's so easy to record and share your own music on sites like Soundcloud?  Or is it annoying that there are so many mediocre artists to sift through? Is the internet a super rad way to distribute music in an instant?  Or is it a super annoying way to exploit artists by sharing files illegally?  Have you heard it all before anyway?  Or are you celebrating old sounds played in new ways?  Is this all a revolution? Or is everything just on repeat?

Apart from that I have been watching a great show with my fave gap tooth gal, Tommi Miers. It's called The Wild Gourmets In Spain (or also perhaps known as A Cook's Tour Of Spain.) It's showing on ABC2 now in Australia.  It's a blooming good show, and any fella who can bake bread on a stick is a hottie, as far as I am concerned.  And that is not a euphemism.  You have to watch this show, because it is jam packed with fantastic recipes and wonderful people.  I really LOVE it a lot.  I want to eat Spanish food all the time, especially that amazing Chorizo and Watermelon Dish. OMG. That looks weird and great!  I really love the way Tommi Miers cooks. She's really fearless and doesn't even wince when she burns herself or has to chop up a wild boar. Ugh. Yay.

Last night I cooked a delicious beef dish inspired by Ms Miers. It goes like this

Simple Spanish-ish Beef

1 kilo of diced beef/steak

2 tins of diced tomatoes

2 onions, sliced

2 red peppers, sliced

1 tablespoon of sweet paprika

juice of one small lemon and some rind if you can be bothered

1/2 tablespoon of dried oregano (or a bit more of fresh oregano!)

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 good slosh of red wine vinegar

1 good slosh of olive oil

Slosh the oil into a heavy based pan and heat it up.  Now throw in the onions.  Cook them over a medium heat, stirring now and then, until softened and a bit golden.  Now throw in the peppers and cook until softened.  Next throw in the garlic.  Cook for 30 seconds, stirring all the while. Now add your tomatoes, beef, paprika, oregano, lemon and vinegar.  Season well with salt and pepper.  Cook for a couple of hours over a low heat, or until the meat is tender.

I made roast potatoes as a side ::

Peel a kilo or so of potatoes (more if your family are greedy!)  Cook the peeled spuds in boiling water for ten minutes.  Drain and allow to dry in the colander.  Put a healthy slosh of oil in an oven tray.  Throw in your potatoes and toss them well.  Cook for an hour or so in a hot oven, turning frequently.  When nearly done, mix a tablespoon of extra oil, with 1/2 tablespoon of sweet paprika, some sea salt and black pepper and a clove of very well crushed garlic.  Throw this over the potatoes and toss them well.  Put the potatoes back in the oven and cook for another 5 minutes. Yum.

Serve with international condiments like aioli and chipotle in adobo sauce. Yum.  And a crunchy salad too. Yes.

In other news, I am making a scarf called the Misso-no Scarf.  It is a zig-zag one in honour of Missoni.  It is the exact same pattern as the Cheery Wave ripple, but I am using Double Crochet (AU) instead of Treble.  It makes a zig-zag instead of a ripple, dontcha know?  You are learning a lot today, right?!

xx Pip

:: Saturday = Late Afternoon Risotto

Just hanging out, ya know?  Going through books I have had for an age.  Looking at lovely old English recipes.  Hoping people read my piece on JustB about bodice busters.  Taking photos.  Making risotto.  Fixing my email system up so that I don't cry with overwhelmed fright every time I open my email program. Rippling along.  Looking at the books Ari stacked on my bedroom shelf.  Just doing stuff.

Here's a recipe for you. Because you are here and you are nice and I like it that you pop by, ya know?

Lazy Risotto A La Oven

2 regular size tins of diced tomatoes (or chopped up tinned whole tomatoes)

1 carrot, peeled and grated

2 cups of arborio rice

3 cups of stock or water

1 tablespoon of capers (not rinsed)

1 tablespoon of sweet paprika

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 red onion, sliced

1 tablespoon of pesto if you have it

1 tablespoon of red or white wine vinegar

1/2 cup of mozarella cheese, chopped roughly or grated

1/4 cup of other cheese : parmesan or cheddar : again chopped or grated

Fresh herbs : a half a handful of whatever you have on hand (or a teaspoon of dried herbs like basil or an Italian mix)

Fry the onion, carrot and garlic in a good glug of olive oil until soft and aromatic.  Add the tinned tomatoes, paprika, pesto, herbs, vinegar.  Cook for ten minutes, stirring often.  Season with salt and lots of pepper. (I like white pepper, but black pepper is good too)

While that's cooking, slug some olive oil into an oven proof dish/pot with a lid.  I use a cast iron one.  Heat the oil over a medium heat and throw in the rice.  Saute the rice for a minute or so, stirring all the while.  Then tip in the stock.  Excellent.  Next tip in the tomato sauce you just made.  Perfect.  Mix it all up and finally throw in the cheese.  (You can also throw in some chilli and some lemon juice/nutmeg at this point)

Cook in a medium oven for 30 minutes with a lid on. Ta-dah!  Add more salt or pepper as needed and serve with a dollop of chili or more pesto if you like!

(Based on a recipe I found via The Vine)

Hope you are good today.  You look good from here. Honest.

xx your pal, Pip

:: Kimbra and Our Car in Our Lane..!

Look. That's our car when it had its' bonnet smashed in. And that's our laneway and our laneway garden mid-Winter. And that's Kimbra. Yep. Yay!

xx Pip

Thanks to Michele for the heads up!

:: Treasure Boxes...

Ari is still sick. He has 'slap cheek' virus.  Ugh.  He has been sleeping half the days away, and the nights too.  I just tucked him back into bed with some Nurofen and a DVD.  I watched the beginning of the film with him.  It is James and The Giant Peach.  There's a bit where James opens a well worn box to reveal a collection of important treasures.  Things that boys like.  Jamesy mementos of life so far.  There is something pretty great about treasure right?  Especially when it is personal and sneakily stowed away for none to see.  It's really good to see that none-to-see stuff.  There is something delicious and personal about it, don't you think?  It's sort of an instant insight into the Treasure Keeper.  It goes straight to the heart of who they are, what they did, where they have been.

Ari has a box of treasures.  It's filled with damp leaves and a snail at the moment.  The snail is called Gerald.  Max has not got a treasure box, but rather a pillowcase of things he finds on the footpath. They are a kind of treasure, I think.  As for me,  I seem to have lots of boxes of things, but no one special box.  I really want one special treasure box. I am going to do that.  I am going to go through my things and choose the most treasured or sentimental.  I am going to put them in a box.  And then I will feel complete. Well. I will feel even more complete. I feel fairly complete already.  But I still want a treasure box.

As I was thinking about Treasure Boxes, I remembered that Amelie accidentally found one in her bathroom.  And I thought about the one that is in the opening scenes of To Kill A Mockingbird, filled with all kinds of things found in a tree hollow.  Some people I know are making their own soon-to-be-revealed treasure together, too.  And The Happiness Project talks about being a Treasure House of Happy Memories. Maybe there is treasure everywhere?

Do you have a Treasure Box?  Do you want one?  Do you know of any on the screen or page, apart from Amelie, Jem and James's?  Did you make treasure maps when you were smaller, burning and scrunching them for extra authenticity?  Or did you have one then?  Tell me about treasure!

xx Pip

:: Things I Know Now...

Out my bedroom window...

I am still reading Gretchen Rubin's book. I am reading it twice.  I really am in love with this book, because so many things in it ring true for me.  I am up to the bit where she talks about 'True Rules'.  Do you have True Rules?  I sort of have something a bit like True Rules called Things I Know Now.  I like to leave some room for the rules to move about a bit.  Sometimes things that are true now are not true later, for me.  So here is a small list of Things I Know Now, in honour of Gretchen the Re-Reader who I am Re-Reading...

Things I Know Now

1. It's best to just dive in
2. Most people are nice, with good intentions
3. Things are often way different than you think
4. Life is better with chili and salt
5. It is best to stop eating/drinking BEFORE you start to feel sick
6. You'll have more energy if you improve something every day
7. Sunshine will make you feel nice
8. You should create a positive daily ritual 
9. Things usually turn out okay
10. It's important to learn new things regularly
11. If your mouth is watering you really like that food/drink
12. Sometimes the best things require a bit of 'toughing out'
13. It's important to know how to cook nice things
14. True friends are as important as family
15. Breathing is really good, so try and stop and do that sometimes
16. You will often get what you least expect
17. Listening is really hard, but really super important
18. Computers can suck the life out of you, so enforce screen free time
19. Emotionally, children usually want the very thing you are finding hardest to give, and it's best to push yourself to give them that thing
20. A good long hug can make most things feel better
21. You can usually handle the things life serves you up
22. "You have not lost your ATM card"* (this one shows itself in the shop every other day)
23. Getting up early to work is heaps better than staying up late
24. Getting up early is a really good idea in general because you get quiet time
25. Don't say never, because people do change

What Things Do You Know Now?

xx Pip

:: Le Weekend...