Ku:nel vol 49 & 50

Above are my favourite images from the past two issues of Ku:nel. There was a lot of food featured so I had to be careful not to salivate over the pages. Some of the clothes induced the same effect. The bottom picture is of the Ku:nel mascot. He is so cute! Every issue he is featured in the top right hand corner of the cover doing something different. Sometimes he is eating, sometimes sleeping, occasionally he is reading the newspaper. His main goal in life is to relax and be happy, much like the ethos of the magazine!

Home is not where you live but where they understand you

Amanda De Vitto

The home of stylist Carline Van Oel at Konfetti Form

A table setting. Source unknown

Yimmys Yayo

May Roses at La Mignonette

Martin Pisottis space at Daydream Lily

Michael Wells

Source unknown

When I was younger my parents used to drag me around antique stores, furniture fairs and auctions and I always thought 'you poor things. your life is so boring'. To spend a weekend in the pursuit of further decoration for your home seemed ludicrous when you could be frolicking in the grass, launching a war upon the kids next door or fishing for cockabillies in the river. The life of an adult seemed stuffy, tedious and taxing. While my young self is still a cheerleader for this logic I can't help but swoon these days when I see 60's ceramic poodle pepper shakers or a fine piece of taxidermy. When things shifted I'm not exactly sure, but there is nothing like an inspiring space to spend ones time in.

Hero

How wonderful is this? WOWOWOWOWOWOOWOWOW.

As found at the ever wonderful Yimmys Yayo. Note to self. Do not check at Yayo at work. Awkward nudey screen moments. 

Tourist

The friendliest castle

The window of my favourite chu cream shop in Japan

A quaint barber shop in Oguni

Riku busting some moves on the dancefloor

Fresh chu cream. NOM.

A lovely door

Befriending a dinosaur in Aizu

...and a samurai

A sign at a temple. I was a sucker and took the stairs.

This is what happens when you are deliriously hungover at McDonalds

My weekend has been pretty wonderful to date. I went to Oguni, and Aizu and did lots of action packed touristy things. Even though I live in Japan I always feel like I'm on holiday which is a rather spectacular thing. I saw a great band called Rabi Rabi play last night and today, even though I was a touch hungover, I ventured on to see castles, temples and the kawaii backstreets of Aizu. I also constructed a french fry heart in McDonalds which I was rather proud of. A good day!

These days

Stanley Chow

Max Dalton

Eric Chase Anderson

I love the art work that has come out The Royal Tenenbaums. I revisited the film the other night and ah, that moment when Margot gets off the bus, and Nico's 'these days' is playing. So good! If only life was more like a Wes Anderson film. 

Make it awesome

photo taken by nik brinkman at fewer shades. I sent his lovely girlfriend this sponge in the post because it was too cute not to!

One of my favourite bloggers is Aron from Make it Easy. He has such a positive attitude and sees beauty in the most remarkable things. When I first started reading blogs I was very uncertain, being a die hard lover of all things print. Make it Easy showed me everything that was good about blogging culture. Aron has set up a new site called This Can Save Your Life. It has a list of simple exercises to help you and others around you be happier about life. My favourites are:

-write a letter to your best friend, explaining how much you love them

-put on some music and dance in your room until you break a sweat

-on a piece of paper, draw a cartoon version of yourself.  on one side of you, make a list of your best qualities, and on the other side, make a list of things you can improve on 

Those are just a few but I think you should visit the site and look at the whole list! It reminded me that it is never too late to improve your day or make a difference to someone else's. 

Mid week mix

Got my mind set on you by George Harrison (I'm a sucker for young George)

I get a kick out of you by Gary Shearston

Balitmore by Randy Newman

So fine - Electric Light Orchestra  

Black Mountain Rag - Doc and Merle Watson