Back to one/one

Pictured above are some lovely pictures from the 2011 Come Home! calendar. I can't believe it is nearly that time of year again, a time for fresh notebooks, new years resolutions and a sparkling new year. I'm currently in the midst of packing as I am off to Bangkok tomorrow, then Mumbai, Cochin and New Delhi. Feeling very excited about feeling the sun on my face once again, drinking sweet lime and spending time with new and old friends. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year wherever you may be. I'll be back in Japan mid January so until then the blog will be rather static.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! xx

Restless

White nights

images from a blog I really like, Lolita

The first night the snow came down I walked around my neighborhood at 11pm. The streets were completely empty and I couldn't stop smiling. It was powdery soft and so beautiful. Everyone keeps telling me I'm going to get sick of it but I can't imagine I will.

Happy Monday. It's nearly Christmas. Hope you have a good one. This is my first one away from family. Strange. Here's a nice quote and some pretty pictures to start your week.

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”- Howard Thurman

Cookie cutter

It's nearly Christmas and I'm hibernating in my wee apartment so I figured what better time to make cookies? Hope you're not going crazy with silly season madness. If you're stuff for gift wrapping ideas you should check out  the Hello Sandwich gift wrapping zine. Cho kawaii!

 Below is the recipe I used, a touch of cinnamon makes them extra delicous.

xx

• Ingredients 
• 
  
• 6 egg yolks
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups butter, softened
• 2 1/8 cups white sugar
• 7 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon hot water or as needed

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Cover dough and chill for at least one hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thick and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on to the prepared baking sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. To make frosting, mix together the confectioners' sugar, oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. gradually add enough hot water to achieve a spreadable consistency.

Ku:nel vol 47

A lovely spread from the latest issue of Ku:nel. Swoon. 

Holy smokes

It's a whole news realm of cat collaging. Cats! Flowers! Cats and flowers! I found these amazing images over at youcanmakeiteasy.  You can find more amazing work over at Stephen Eichhorn.

PS. I woke up yesterday morning to discover a winter wonderland. Everything is lightly dusted in snow and it is utterly breathtaking. I have been walking around in total awe. Photos up soon!

To be

I was grappling with thoughts on trueness to self and turning away from all the self consciousness and social climbing bullshit (or at least trying to). I want every action I make to be because I truly mean it. I want to have clearer ideas about the person I am and what I strive for. Alas my discombobulated thoughts came out awkward, fumbly and jumbled. Then I stumbled across this list in my drafts inbox. It seemed to sum up everything I wanted to say, and far more eloquently. If you know who wrote it please email me, I would love to credit whoever did. 

• Never depend on your eternal surroundings for happiness, nor another person
• With every act you carry out, whether it be washing your hands, feeding your cat, holding someone's hand; have passion
• Now is all that matters, you can always deal with the present moment. Don't be crippled by pasts events/future
• Be open minded about everything. Let go, go with the flow. Life is really interesting and constantly stimulating this way
• Respect all living creatures.
• Adore your own company
• Embrace strangers, smile with them
• Be grateful for everything
• Embrace relativity
• Humans are incredibly intricate yet simultaneously, very simple. Keep this in mind
• Everyone is having a different experience, don't expect others to reciprocate your own frame of mind
• You will never love another until you love yourself
• Everything you can imagine is real
• Everything is the force of life, you are the force of life
• Cook meals naked, embrace nudity
• Never, ever settle for mediocrity
• Don't pollute your mind
• Love your job, give it your heart and soul. Never do a job just for loot. Have passion for it
• Always expect the unexpected, Always!
• Share baths
• Keep a tape recorder by your bed to record spontaneous epiphanies and dreams
• Don't obsess over the nature of time, you will lose your mind
• If you want someone attention, bite them
• Chill the fuck out, keep it real

Lists for December

Top 5 things I really should do, but don't

1. Finish memorising katakana and hiragana

2. Complete chrismas card craft bee 

3. Develop the growing stack of film sitting in shoe box

4. Brush my hair in the morning

5. Stop being a grinch

Top 5 people I have been dreaming about

1. Mum

2. Bill Murray

3. My koto teacher

4. Boyfriend

5. Best friend

Top 5 books on the xmas wishlist

1. Luella's guide to English style by Luella Bartley

2. Ignorance by Milan Kundera

3. Being and nothingness by John Paul Satre

4. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

5.  Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Top 5 things I am obsessed with

1. Come away with ESG - an amazing album

2. Koto

3. Seeing Black Swan

4. The affection crazed cat that lurks opposite my work

5. Themed skype dates 

O strange world

Cradle stories

Commenting on the self destruction and debauchery of our 'troubled youth' Lucas Soi shys away from nothing. Intensely detailed with pen and ink it's probably not something you want to buy your mum for Christmas. At first it seems like your standard 'bored teenagers looking for fun' until images slowly take a turn towards downright scary and reminiscent of something from the Salem witch trials. Depicting the restlessness of teens and a bored suburban upbringing Soi pinpoints the warped reality of youth.