For those clever ones out there, my name is Welsh for the smiling basket. Why? Well, a basket is a vessel that appears stable. In fact, it is tightly wound, rarely reveals weakness and is widely accepted not to smile; that's me. I intend to, through this blog, unwind, release my load and smile, hopefully bringing strangers on the joy ride with me. So friends, I am setting out on a journey, and I hope to see you at the other end.
You feel like a weight has been lifted. Or removed, chopped off rather. And the salon smells really nice. And hairdressers basically have a PHD in psychology and can talk you through anything. Oh, and the compliments the next day are fantastic.
Unless, of course, your hairdresser sucks and has hacked your precious locks to a pathetic mess. Then I bid you good luck.
Don't you just love those mornings when you wake up and feel like you have had enough sleep?? You could take on the world. Ahhhh.
Hehehe. This photo is hilarious :)
Good luck everyone. I know I won't wake up tomorrow feeling refreshed. I will feel like a zombie risen from a grave, but I can prey, and wish the best for you.
A feeling that makes one self-conscious and unable to act in a relaxed and natural way.
A voluntary or involuntary restraint on the direct expression of an instinct.
I know it's not easy, but I find when you do you have a lot more fun. And people who relax and don't care what other people think are hot. And good dancers. Just something to keep in mind.
So, to be happier, as they say "dance like nobody is watching." Literally and metaphorically.
Just because it has some appropriate lyrics. Rip loose le danse caboose.
Wowee. What can I even say about parkour? Does it have a point? Not really. Is it insanely awesome? Well, yes. For the vast majority out there, honestly, you will never be able to parkour around the place, but I implore you not to turn darker shades of emerald. Just enjoy the redundancy :)
I knew that for 100, I needed something that everyone agreed with.
I was aware, going into the triple digits that it would have to be good.
Where can you hear Avril Lavigne sing Coldplay's 'The Scientist', the Temper Trap sing La Roux's "Going in for the Kill" and Maroon 5 sing a combination of The Police's "So Lonely" and Akon's "Don't Matter"? BBC Live Lounge!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY!!
Oh, these are my favourite thing ever. You can find at least 2 artist you like, I promise. I don't even like some artists, but they have good covers or their songs are covered well. Ah, I actually just come home and listen to Live Lounge covers. Your welcome and enjoy.
Also, please, please comment ideas! I am running out and I still have 900 things to blog, so I will definitely be needing your suggestions :)
Ok, wow, she is scaring my socks off but the rest of the video is funny and strange and makes your day interesting. I think the idea of people dressing like zombies to go for a walk in a giant crowd of zombies is funny, not the actual zombie-ness.
And this is just a massive "what?? They actually have zombie fashion parades?!?!?!?!?!?!" fun time.
P.S. Don't watch these if you don't like zombies and/or will have nightmares, please. It's not worth it.
We went to the Moscow circus last night. Now, I am a circus connoisseur, and am thus, extremely fussy. But last night, the number of good-looking guys on the stage that winked at me (for I was in the front row) was astounding, and managed to warm me to the circus, somewhat. Also, my dear old mother kept loudly whispering "he's cute!!" and I had to violently shoosh her for fear that the performers would hear.
But I found it incredible, because no matter how many amazing things they do, nothing amused the crowd like a guy getting inside a giant balloon.
Now, I didn't mean for this to turn into a review, but I will say that going to the circus to see people make a fool of themselves and nearly kill themselves in next to no clothes, whilst you eat eat weird and unhealthy food is a sure-fire way to happy up.
Now, kids, don't think I'm being racist. I am only appreciating the diversity of our planet. An example is, my Ukrainian grandma has a very thick accent when speaking English, and she has these vouchers for a bakery nearby, and whenever I visit her I ask her what she has so that I can hear her say 'voucher' which she pronounces 'vulture.' It is one of my favourite things ever.
Also, let us not forget when you see a pretty good looking person, then you discover they're from a different country, and then you hear them speak. It's so beautiful it melts you brain and vocal chords, and the only thing you can manage to utter is 'marry me.'
I love trees. In summer they make much needed shade, in autumn they turn beautiful colours and provide leaves to romp around in, in winter they just look nice, especially when snow lands on the branches and in spring I guess, it's nice to see the leaves all back. And then there are those trees that are just nice all year round. But I think the most important thing trees do is provide us with the air we breathe. And a home for thousands, maybe millions of animals and insects.
A mature tree removes almost 70 times more pollution than a newly planted
tree.
A healthy tree can have a value of up to $10,000.
A single tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. That
means two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of
four!
One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving
26,000 miles.
Over the course its life, a single tree can absorb one ton of carbon
dioxide.
An average American uses about 750 pounds of paper every year, and 95% of
homes are built using wood. That means each person uses the equivalent of one
100 foot tall, 16 inch diameter, tree every year for their paper and wood
product needs.
Despite the fact that they're good for you, they are so relaxing (and tasty :) ) and you can make them at home for peanuts!! With stuff you will have in the house for sure!!! And you get to look like a monster for a bit!!!!
I apologise if you find my title ambiguous, but when I went to Italy earlier this year, I could help but be filled with euphoria at the size of the women in the paintings. While many of them aren't 'fat', per say, they are not these stick creatures whose waist is about 3 inches and whose thighs don't touch. In this painting by Raphael, you can see for yourself, she is NOT fat, but actually a real women!! I'll be damned if that's not what most women actually look like. So I guess this is my little tribute to the kick-ass Italian (and I'm sure other painters I'm not educated enough to know of) artists, who appreciate and immortalised the true figure of women. YOU GO!!
Varenyky are Ukraine's take on dumplings. You can fill them with meat, cheese, fruit; anything you want really - I once made some with MnM's and jelly babies (however, I don't advise this combination). My favourite - obviously made by my grandma - are varenyky with potato, and topped with fried onion and sour cream. Delicious!! They may be severely unhealthy, but it's hard to notice when you eat these little munches of awesome.
P.S. I think you have realised by now that the reason I was silent for a week and then suddenly posting like, 9 times in 24 hours is because I spent the week with my grandma, who has no internet.
Crash, how I love thee, let me count the ways. The countless hours spent with you collecting wumpa fruits, trying to get all the gems, getting frustrated because I can't beat a level or a boss and getting cheats and walk-throughs of the internet. You don't have the best graphics, you never did, but I guess that just makes me love you all the more.
Magic on a shiny strip of plastic. It may not be a great quality image, but there is something special about pushing the tape into the VHS and pushing the heavy buttons to play and rewind. And you can endless tape over them. Ahh...
Coincidentally, they can be so very nostalgic.
I remember when we recorded TV shows and movies, and at the commercial break we would stop the recording and then run to start recording again when the show or movie started. Also, I remember when on my VCRs there were advertisements for DVDs and I thought it was super cool and so technologically advanced. Oh, the good old days.
I just love it. Re-watching kids movies, visiting places you once knew so well or loved so very much, eating or smelling something that you loved or that someone you know gave you or smelt of. Look, it's hard to explain, but I think you get the idea . I love nostalgia. It can be sad, in a way, but it dredges up a lot of happy memories that you might have forgotten.
Oh man. Borscht is a Slavic traditional soup made with beetroot. At my grandma's house, I eat borscht for breakfast every morning. And lunch and dinner if I can. You don't understand how good it is. But if you do, good for you. I recommend it with a nice dollop of sour cream, a bit of dill and, if possible, get an old Slavic lady to make it for you. But you can do it yourself, too. It doesn't matter, because no matter who makes it, it won't be as good as my grandma's :)
Nan, nanna, granny, g-mama, baba, babyshka, oma. They kick but, don't they?? The sweet ones, the posh ones, the cute ones - they're just so great. Not so much the mean ones, but hey!, nobody's perfect, no, no, no, no, no. My grandma is so beautiful. I just got a blue woollen jumper, cream woollen cardigan and a khaki angora cardigan/wrap. And delicious Ukrainian food everyday. Yeah-yuh! Love you Bunya!!
Mi! Ma! Mo! The theatre is a wonderful place. You can get dressed up to sit in darkness for hours. Going to the theatre is like watching a real-life movie, but with not-as-good special effects. Woo-hoo!!
Stealing your mum's or friend's perfume when they go to the bathroom. Oh yeah. But I think the best thing is going to really fancy department stores and making a b-line for Chanel, Dior and Marc Jacobs (and the list goes on) and trying out ALL of their perfumes even though you - and the women at the counters - know you will never afford it :)
An invaluable friend for times that a hard, times that are great and times when you should be doing something else. Who knew the interweb held so many secrets??
Oh, that sense of accomplishment. For me, today, it was when I finished my maths assignment. It was more like a book, really. It's really good to finish things, especially when you don't won't to. It's the first step to success. And sanity :)
Showers aren't just to get clean, they are also about wasting water, having a little sittey-down, pondering life and other philosophies and having a good time. Mmm...that clean, warm, refreshed feeling you get is just unbeatable.
This is my favourite little quirky café. Sitting down and having a little drink, maybe a nibble of something, is really wonderful. Any café will do, but those really groovy, trendy, kitchy or quirky ones are the most fun I think. After all, it's barely even about the food and more the purpose and feel.
Some people hate their families, but even when you hate them, you love them. Capisce? My cousin is up from Melbs at the momento and I think she is one of my favourite people. Love ya couzzie xoxox
Fam-bamz and holidays and my g-mama, all make me so happy :)
