Happy Birthday To Me!

Dear friends,


Today (1st July) is my BIRTHDAY! Yippee! I am turning 23 today :) For some reason Blogger thinks its still June 30th...but its July 1st here in England.


Its so funny. I remember turning 20 and thinking how 'old' I was- that was 3 years ago!


So while I walk around my house singing Stevie Wonder (Happy Birthday to ya...) and opening presents and cards, I wish you all a wonderful weekend!


With love xo


(image: google)

Love has its own voice.

'Love doesn't need to be discussed, it has its own voice and speaks for itself. That night, by the well, the silence had allowed our hearts to approach each other and get to know each other better. My heart had listened closely to what his said, and now it was content.'- 


Paulo Coelho, from 'By the River Piedra I sat down and Wept'






(images:google)

Health and Happiness Tips.

Hi everyone,


First I want to thank my lovely friend Kim at Fill Your Well for including me in her four favourite up and coming blogs. Kims blog is always a wonderful place to be and read every day, with her tips on good deeds, her music sharing and her love for life. Thank you :) x


Secondly, I am writing this post because I want to find out your tips for good mental and emotional health and happiness. In my life, I havn't always found it easy in this area and as a result have done a lot of research into it. So I thought that I would share my thoughts and get your feedback too.


A tip given to me by a friend of mine when I was feeling down is to:


Write down 3 wonderful things about your day. Even if all you did that day was say have a nap and read. It taught me to focus on the little things of beauty- on the small things in each day we take for granted. For example, your three wonderful things could be:


- Pink roses growing in my garden that made me smile
- Thinking about dreams of travel
- Chatting to a friend I hadnt spoken to in months.


etc. 


Focusing on the good aspects of your day increases your personal happiness by getting your mind to focus on a more optimistic attitude. Do this every day for months and it pays dividends. Other blog friends have talked of writing a gratitude journal. This is a similar idea but writing down things in your life you are grateful for. Or a laughter journal with funny pictures and quotes and every time something hilarious happens to you, you write it in there.


So the 3 positives of your day is my tip for health and happiness this week.


I love talking about this subject so I'm sure there will be many more blog posts on it, with more tips and more discussion on what works for you.  


I have just started a 'Be Inspired' tab on my page where I have written a quote by singer India Arie, that I love. Have a read, she is very inspiring! x


With love and positivity
xo


(image: google)   

Today I've been dreaming about..

Hello my dears!  I have done two blog posts in one day but my mind has been whirring with dreams lately so i thought I'd share them with you. They are simple little dreams that make me happy :). Today ive been dreaming about....

Going to Paris and sitting in a coffee shop, drinking hot chocolate (chocolat chaud) by the Eiffel Tower...tres delicieux! I did this two years ago with friends and I miss exploring Paris. It is a beautiful city I have yet to see more of.


I also want to find a...

Coffee AND Book shop in London... this is my new search! Just the thought of sipping a tea surrounded by amazing works of literature makes me smile :)




I would sit reading in this coffee shop wearing jewellery by Eclectic Eccentricity, like this necklace:

 Isn't it gorgeous?




And then I would round off my day by walking to the Victoria and Albert museum shop where I would buy something creative like these buttons: 

What are you dreaming about today?

xxx

(images: weheartit, google, vandashop.com)

Four Loves...

1. Wimbledon Tennis! (my favourite player Serena Williams is out :() but I have been hooked to this tournament. Come on Andy Murray- do it for the UK!

2. Freshly picked strawberries from our garden 

3. THIS Cath Kidston Cushion

4. Vintage Make up Adverts....so quirky...




What do you love?


xxx 




(images: google)

Who You Are

This song (Who You Are by Jessie J) sums up how I'm feeling at the moment. I'm experiencing a lot of fear about certain situations and I need to find the self confidence and strength to get over it. Its so difficult. But like Jessie J says here, 'its ok not to be ok'. Isn't she great? ps. I love that shes singing this on the New York subway!
Hope youve been having a good Monday 
xx

(video: youtube)

Weddings.

'And we were dressed from head to toe in love. The only label that never goes out of style'- Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City.

Today I am posting about weddings because my friends are getting married today! (well they already have got married) and I was unable to make it as I'm not feeling well. *sigh* Congratulations to you both!!!


I love weddings and all they symbolise. The love element is of course the most important and to me the most beautiful, special thing in the world. To give to someone throughout your life on that level, to constantly give out of kindness for the welfare and joy of the other person, is quite simply, spell binding. Difficult, hard work but in some ways, although I may be romanticising it, if you love and you give, it can be a magical journey.


After all, if we stop believing in love what have we got left? 

xx

(images: google, flickr, weheart it)

Weekend Love.

Have a beautiful weekend friends!


What are you up too? I shall be enjoying the sunshine, watching Wimbledon tennis tournament ( hooked at the moment) and seeing friends. Have a good one!
xx 




(image: google/we heart it)

'Trying to sleep in the tree house'

'Summer was our best season. It was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree house, Summer was everything good to eat, it was a thousand colours in a parched landscape.' - from To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee 



(images: google/ weheartit.com)

A random post and WELCOME

Hello blog readers!

I just wanted to say its so amazing that you read and comment on my little corner of the blog world. It makes me smile. I also wanted to say WELCOME to my new followers and hope you enjoy reading- thanks for following. I want to know all about you too :).


So this post is going to be quite random. I had a lovely day today. I made a home-made birthday collage card for my sister who turns 21 tomorrow. And I caught up with a friend I hadn't seen in ages, with peanut butter toast and a comfy couch! Its so nice to share stories, and laugh and be silly... eat chocolate and kick your shoes off every once in a while.


At the moment I am loving:


* My sunflower shoots- they are growing so quickly with all the rain here in England that they are going to need to be replanted soon! I can't wait to see them grow into actual flowers :)


* Made in Chelsea- the English version of the Hills. It is so addictive, set in Chelsea, Central London. I love the characters especially Caggy. Does anyone else watch it?


* Discovering new novels. I have just finished reading 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' by Jonathan Safran Foer, recommended to me by Anna at 'Little Reminders of Love' and am eagerly awaiting my next read. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a beautiful book!

*Aloe Blacc's music- especially when he sings live and acoustically.    


*Scrapbooking. I have been making collages of photos I love and theming each page. This is a project that is taking a while and I'm not sure what I'll do with it next.... but it's good to express myself creatively.

Lastly, I am in awe of the work of Action Against Hunger UK. Take a look at their website here! 


Hope you are having a wonderful week. What are you doing and loving?


xx




(all images: google)

Remember to say I Love you...

"It's getting impossible to hear you" said the young girl from her bedroom in Manhattan. "I'll holler if I have to" said her friend from his bedroom in the Sixth Borough...


'The string between them grew incredibly long, so long it had to be extended with many other strings tied together: his yo-yo string, the pull from her talking doll, the twine that had fastened his father's diary, the waxy string that had kept her grandmothers pearls around her neck and off the floor, the thread that had separated his great- uncle's childhood quilt from a pile of rags. Contained within everything they shared with one another were the yo-yo, the doll, the diary, the necklace, and the quilt. They had more and more to tell each other and less and less string.     


'The boy asked the girl to say 'I love you' into her can, giving her no further explanation. 


'And she didn't ask for any, or say, 'That's silly' or 'We're too young for love' or even suggest that she was saying 'I love you' because he asked her too. Instead she said, 'I love you'.  The words travelled the yo-yo, the doll, the diary, the necklace, the clothesline, the quilt, the birthday present, the harp, the tea bag, the tennis racket..


'The boy covered his can with a lid, removed it from the string, and put her love for him in a shelf on the closet. Of course, he never could open the can because then he would lose the contents. It was enough just to know it was there.'

(from 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close- Jonathan Safran Foer)


(images: google)
     

Laughter is..

'Always laugh when you can. It is the cheapest medicine' Lord Byron



A wonderful friend of mine bought me a book called 'Keep Calm and Carry On' about a year ago. The quote above is from that book and I think it is so true. In our journey through life, we must find time to laugh. Whether it's at a commercial, or sweet babies pulling faces at you in a cafe, or at a silly joke your dad or friend has told, or even at something the guy on the radio said while you were washing up dishes (my worst chore!). Laughter truly is the best medicine.


What's been making you smile? 


I got my first blog review by a lovely friend and blogger called Chas. You can see it above. That made me smile!


xx


Ps.... I got to eat my raspberries! We went to my grandparents for dinner on friday night and I had some for dessert with home-picked redcurrants and strawberries :). Its the little things that matter after all. 






(image: google)

You can take life's knocks. x

"So, my little Amelie, your bones aren't made of glass. You can take life's knocks. If you let this chance go by, eventually, your heart will become as dry and brittle as my skeleton. So go ahead, dammit."

(the old man in 'Amelie')







(image:google)

Quote of inspiration.

'I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.'
Walt Whitman

(images: google)

Raspberries, Tents, Allotments and Summer :) x

I've had a lovely day today:


*walking in the sunshine with my sister and looking at the gorgeous allotments near us. someone was growing raspberries which has made me crave them even more!


*visiting my grandparents and reminiscing about the war, coupons, rationing, evacuation, and their holidays. i love my grandparents!


*seeing a friend and catching up after 3 months and having deep, philosophical discussions (and some funny anecdotes of course).


*trying my first ever cup of chamomile tea!




Right now I am craving:

Raspberries 
(especially with white chocolate- yum!)








I am wanting to go camping in this Cath Kidston tent:

  


and I am wanting to go for a summer trip with my friends and look at the stars.


What are you excited about this summer?


xo


(images: google)

My heart is written at lamp light with a pen in my hand.

I have been writing a diary (journal) since I can remember. My first diary entries were way back when I was seven years old, in a little pink notebook with a kitten on the front. I still have them somewhere in my desk.

From the yearnings of childhood, giggles laughter and birthday parties- through the adolescent growing pains into the now woman I am... through travels in India and Ghana...and living away from home... through first loves and not so first loves my pen has documented the map of my life so far. 
And even though I write my heart here, my heart is written at night by lamp light, with a pen in my hand.


How long have you been journalling or blogging for?


xo    


(images :google) 

Sunflower Update!

Dear friends,


Most of you will know that I started growing sunflowers about 3 weeks ago now! Due to my lack of camera, I am unable to show you what they look like however this picture of seedlings above is very similar to how they are growing! Other than being attacked by slugs and snails- which I am trying to fend off.. , they are sitting nicely in their pots in my garden.


 In a few weeks I will be able to plant them properly for when they flower into gorgeous things of beauty!


Hope youre having a fab weekend. Are you growing anything at the mo?


xxx





(image: guardian.co.uk)

Summer Picnics...

I love these beautiful pictures* of summer picnics. It makes me think of long, lazy summer days with friends, enjoying the sunshine, nature, flowers.... and each other! Such a wonderful time of year.


Have a great weekend. We are expecting thunderstorms! But still, a girl can dream.....


El xo






*(images: google)

To love an imaginary world.

These past few days have got me thinking about how special it is to dive into an imaginary world. A world that is your own, created purely by your mind. An aid to that is of course, wonderful literature. Stories created by the best story tellers from around the world, works that have hope and meaning, that speak to the heart and soul.


At the moment, I am reading 'The English Patient' by Michael Ondaatje. It is a story of love set in a time of war. A story of the very essence of what it means to be human. Giving, hope, tears, pain, love, hate and the struggles of life are interweaved throughout this novel.


One of my favourite things to do is when a book inspires me, I write down the quote in a notebook or the diary I am writing at the time. So I can look back at it and gain some deeper insight.


I am so excited that fellow bloggers have created an online book club.


What is on your bookshelf right now? What do you recommend to read?


Love,


El xo 


(image: google)
  

Quirks

The other day I was thinking about quirks. Everyone has them, I guess they are an intrinsic part of our personalities. So what quirky things do you do?


I...


- Have kept every birthday card I've ever been given. This started because my Mum made a collection of them for me from when I was born and since then I just can't get rid of any of my birthday cards! What happens when I get to old age? Who knows.


- Have various overflowing memory boxes and journals stuffed into my wardrobe because they just don't fit anywhere else.


- Wear odd socks around the house on a regular basis. Really- who cares if they match? 


So what about you?


Have a fab Tuesday xo


(image google)

I have learnt....

I have learnt.....that LOVE is the most important thing. Creating it, giving it, sharing it and of course recieving it.  I have learnt.... that sometimes when we are down, we can pick ourselves up by reading novels, sharing thoughts, growing sunflowers and living life to the full. I have learnt.... that friends and family are precious and such an important support network. I have learnt that in life whatever happens to us, we can try to dust ourselves off and start again. We are like re-energising flowers who emerge after a long winter :) (thats how I like to think of it).  


I have learnt to love the seasons, to love the small things of beauty- the pink rose in the garden, the white clouds in the sky, the smile of a little one, the fact that I am alive and I can type my thoughts and emotions...
I have learnt gratitude- such an important tool.


What have you learnt? Have a wonderful week! 
El xxx


Ps- The sunflowers are growing wonderfully, have lots of shoots coming through but as i don't have a camera at the mo, I cant put pics up! 


(image: google)

Loving... :)

This blog inspiration comes from Julia at *this daisy. I'm going to fill this in and i want to know all of yours too!

I believe..  in God, love, life, laughter and happiness.



The world.. could be a better place if people put down their guns,  bombs, and hatred and just learned to love each other.


Someday..  I want to have fulfilled all of my dreams.


I'm not very good at..  sewing.. although I want to improve. 

I love my..  family, friends and of course- chocolate!


When I need a break...  I blog, read or go for a walk in nature :)


I am most happy when... Around those I love. 


It bothers me when I hurt people and when things are going wrong in the world.


I never thought I would get to see so many interesting places (India, Ghana, Israel) and meet fantastic people in my life.

My motto..   have a positive attitude. smile. love. and 'this too shall pass'.

 
 
El xxxx

(image: pictures from google, weheartit.com)

Quote of my weekend...

                                


'Perhaps there is a language which is not made of words and everything in the world understands it. Perhaps there is a soul hidden in everything and it can always speak, without even making a sound to another soul'
(A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett) 


This weekend I have been re-reading A Little Princess. It has some truly beautiful ideas about a rich young girl who suddenly loses her only surviving relative and wealth but relies on her imaginative nature to get her through adversity. And beautiful ideas about life. 

What do you think about the quote?

El xxxx


(image: google)

Dear friends, an Ode to Happiness....

Dear friends,

I must confess that lately I have not been at my happiest. In fact, these past few months have been very difficult. I am only telling you this because I want to show you what I have learnt. And to wish you a happy, sunshiney weekend.

Happiness can be elusive... but I have found that through a positive attitude, creativity, friendship and love one can do anything. So here are my tips for happiness:

1.  SMILE!

It sounds so simple but sometimes even when you dont feel like it, turn your mouth into a big smile. This releases chemicals (seretonin) in your brain which makes you feel instantly happier. Plus it brings others joy to see you smiling.

2.  Do something fun and different- that you are passionate about.

Live your passions. Go out for a walk and enjoy nature. See friends and do something you wouldnt normally do. Go to the theatre, cinema, listen to new music. Watch a documentary. Paint. Garden. Cook. Learn to sew. Make greeting cards.   Remember that life is short- and should be enjoyed. So be creative!

3. Spread LOVE. That doesnt have to be romantic love, that can be giving. It can be listening to others, supporting others, raising money for charity, campaigning for justice..... anything. Tell your friends and family you love them and inspire others to love.

4.  Act 'as if'. Act as if you are happy and you will feel happier. The brain can't tell the difference between reality and imagination at times. So act as if, and your body will react!!



What I have learnt mostly is that happiness is feeling happy with yourself. This is harder to be learned. But on this journey through life, we can learn to heal our souls and minds and spread love to others too.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,

El xxxx

(images: google, weheartit.com)

Lifes Poetry

'And your very flesh shall be a great poem'- Walt Whitman

Tonight I am thinking about the importance and complexity of life, the dreams we all carry intertwined with us... love, friendships and our futures. The ups and downs....our fears, our hearts...Lifes poetry.

El xx

(image: google)

Victoria and Albert Museum Love

One of my most favourite places in the world is the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. It is filled with arts and crafts, fashion through the ages, textiles, jewellery and everything creative and beautiful. Last year I went to two exhibitions there- Grace Kelly where there was an exhibition of all of her dresses, hats, shoes, sunglasses (swoon) and had old black and white videos of her. Oh it was wonderful. The other was an exhibition on quilts from around the world at different times. That was fantastic- so interesting, They even had a quilt made by prisoners as a modern day art project!

But now I have discovered to my detriment that this wonderful place has a SHOP. and not just a shop- an online shop! Ahh! I am hiding my purse. In browsing I found these beauties. Enjoy:

 

And there are so many more prints.... as well as jewellery... teapots...   *sigh*

Tea, 1950s, helmets and love. Could it get any better? :)

What do you think? Go and visit www.vandashop.com

Love

El xxxx 

(images: vandashop.com)