Gamarjobat

My dad had sent me the link of this amazing Japanese comedy duo. I didn't expect it to be quite so hilarious, but I got sucked in real quick by their awesome performance.

Don't really have anything else to say about it. Just watch the video:

Do you have any great comedians for me to check out?

Current Nails

Hope it's clear on the picture, but I'm really loving the overlapping, almost chevron like, look.

Owl Things Considered

This adorable little owl is in fact a lipbalm, can you believe that? The stuff they make just keeps getting better!

We're having such tropical weather at the moment, it's very unDutch. During the day it was too hot to spend any time on the computer, in the evening there was so much thunder I had to turn the Mac of as a safety precaution. But now, just before I go to bed, I can finally manage to write a little something.

Another hot day tomorrow! (Though I am kinda happy that summer finally came.) Any good tips to cool down a little?

Blue, the color of our planet from far, far away

Last year I wrote about Regina Spektor, but at the time I hadn't hear the cd Far yet. I recently ordered it and the first few times I played it I didn't think that much of it, but then I suddenly got it and was addicted.

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It's probably her most mainstream cd so far, though some people don't like it because of how she sings at times. But I absolutely love it, I love her "weirder" songs too though. Usually I don't like it when people seem to want to "please the masses", often their true sound gets lost in the process, but even though this cd is slightly more "normal" she has kept the things that make her so special and so lovely. Could I possibly use any more quotation marks;)

I really wanted to show you the video of Laughing With, because I love the song and also because the video is so beautiful and fascinating, I urge you to check it out HERE.

Feel Good Food: Rice Soup

Some time ago a friend gave me rice soup to try. It was delicious! So when I saw a discounted pink package of special girly rice soup(which later turned out even contained stickers!) it was a no-brainer.

It had these tiny slices of adorable kamaboko in it:) Though the whole thing was delicious, you could hardly taste the little creatures, but they sure made me smile.

I added some surimi for variety and really enjoyed this as a lunch!

Mocha Rose

A while back I spotted these cute lip balms by Rosebud. The Mocha Rose looks lovely and smells even better. I thought it was quite expensive for a lipbalm and I left the shop, only to buy one a few weeks later. And I'm so glad I did, I love this stuff!

Any new discoveries you've made and already can't live without?

Spotted

So many fabulous things found online again, let's kick it all off with:

This amazing woodgrain bathing suit, why is that not a hype yet?

I've always wanted to make fruit leather, and I have a feeling it might be even more delicious with rhubarb in it.

I love silhouettes and I love kittens, so why not combine the two?

My love for birds goes beyond owls really(although yes, they are my absolute favorite!), I find that lots of birds and birdy items make me happy, like this one:

Leaded light owl? And not just that: an owl-boy, which makes it twice as good!

Pretty stationary never gets old, don't think I have a bird planner yet...

This t-shirt is awesome! I love the totoro-like forest creature and the owl on top of course.

Let us end with this irresistable kitten!

I know I said I didn't need any more things and here I am lusting after all sorts of stuff. Alright, alright, I must admit, that shopping itch has come back a little. And I may or may not have brought back a few(or a bunch) of dvds today, but that doesn't mean my plan isn't still in action. I'm hoping to do some organizing again tomorrow. And even throw out some old dvds to make up for the new ones today.

Never would have thought I'd be a "one thing in, one thing out" kinda girl, but it has started to feel right. Hope to keep this train going!

Lovely Movies: Bridesmaids

Now I never expected this movie to be so good! Had I not won tickets I probably would never have seen it.

I was in shock the first minute, since it started with a very awkward and in your face sex scene. But that was followed by hilarious moment after hilarious moment. The trailer does not do it justice at all, but here we go:

Kristen Wiig was great, she's so good with facial expressions, you just know exactly how she(well, the character I guess) is feeling. Melissa McCarthy was amazing, the way she spoke in this movie,was so extremely different from her usual voice, it was unbelievable! Chris O'Dowd was just adorable. And then of course there's Maya Rudolph from Away We Go.

So in a nutshell: don't let the trailer fool you, be prepared for a great cast, and you might want a precautionary bathroom visit, because you will probably laugh. A lot!

P.S. If anyone know where the sweatshirt below(on the left) comes from, please let me know! I saw them in the movie in multiple colors and thought they were amazing and looked so comfortable.

5 Minute Recipe: Green Tea Cake

Last week I promised a cake recipe that is delicious with the shake I made then. So today I'll be explaining how to make a super quick and easy as 1-2-3 green tea cake with oatmeal and honey. Delicious!

Mix together:

-4tbsp flour

-4tbsp sugar

-2tbsp matcha(/green tea) powder

Then add:

-1 egg

-3tbsp milk

-3 tbsp oil

Mix well, put in a fun silicone mold, sprinkle some oatmeal and some honey on top and microwave for 3 minutes.

Let me know if you try it:)

Giveaway at Going Green with Noah

There's a really big 4th of July Giveaway Marathon at Going Green with Noah. Over 20 Independence Day themed giveaways! One of which features this bookmark from my shop.

Hop on over there if you want a chance to win it. It's open until the 27th of June and you can enter HERE.

Owl Things Considered

This beautiful poster was part of the advertisement of this year's Dutch Imagine Film Festival.

I forgot to post it when it just came out, but was reminded of it because of this strange commercial:

The Owl-Human hybrid is so cool! Although I haven't heard of it in any myths before, it wouldn't look bad next to, say, centaurs. Don't you think?

I thought it was a bird, but it was just a paper bag.

So I just came back from seeing the movie Brides Maids, a special sort of free premiere I'd won tickets for. More on that later, for now though: Fiona Apple. The song Paper Bag was featured in the movie and I was instantly reminded of how much I love it!

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And it has such a pretty video too:

Another song I love is After You've Gone, now technically this isn't a Fiona Apple song, it's from the 1920's, but I love her version. And it's the one I stick to when I play it on the guitar and sing it myself.

Anyway, she reminds me so much of Piper Perabo (and a bit of Regina Spektor too). I think both of them look a lot like Sims, now I don't mean this in a bad way at all, but they just remind me of them, it's something in the way the eyes and eyebrows move together and something in the jaw line. Anyone else thought that too?

Adding to collections...

A while ago I was invited to go and pick some things that would other wise have been thrown out because their previous owner had passed away. There was a list attached and it included a bunch of things that I just couldn't bear picturing in a dumpster somewhere.

Among the things I picked where these three cameras, they're all analogue and I haven't tested them yet, but if they work(and I think they might) they'll be awesome. The one above is a very old Kodak Instamatic which still has the original box and even the flashcube.

Below is one that can take panoramic pictures and one that turns on in a really cool way: the square the lens is in pops out completely. So cool! I can't wait to try them all.

The reason I came was the knitting needles. My instinct said there would be some like the ones below. I've always wanted some, they have a cute little acorn like shape and are all plastic and oh so pretty. To be honest I was afraid I'd never find any in my lifetime(and if I did they'd be a cute pink, but yellow and purple are gorgeous too), but now I have two pairs, plus some metal pink ones and a bunch of regular dull greys of course.

Then all of a sudden I spotted owls. These two tiny little gold cuties.

They have a special place on one of my bookshelves. I love putting all sorts of trinkets and things on my bookshelves. Here's an example of one in my room. It has some owls, body shop perfumes I bought on sale, a creepy and cute Marie Antoinette painting I made some years back, a fox statue from my graduation ceremony and a reading fairy without wings(but with a flower light to make up for that).

This shelf is mostly reserved for Lemony Snicket and the Spiderwick Chronicles. Though due too lack of space I put some other, more grown-up novels, in front too.

I love how two of my biggest loves: owls and books, go so well together. Putting them on my shelves is the perfect excuse to collect them, don't you think?

Spotted

Came across some amazing stuff again this week! Today was a bit disappointing, like when they denied access near closing time at the Japanese shop, just when I was craving their ice cream! But putting these together for you has made me all excited again!

These lace earrings are fabulous, don't just match anything and everything, but are perfect for summer too.

Leanne Marshall (from Project Catwalk years back) not only makes stunning dresses, but is now selling fashion illustrations too.

I love moustaches! They are fun on every item. And these erasers are so cool too.

For the real chocoholics: chocolate inhalers, also come in coffee flavour.

These incredible huge candy sculptures look so real!

Origami doesn't really get old. I love how people always find new ways to incorporate the old craft. This jewelry is the perfect example.

Now that I use my camera bag a lot and am also loving backpacks again as well, I would love a waist/hip purse so I carry my basics in a more accessible place. These caught my eye.

If you're into creepy stuff as much as I am, you'll love these lockets.

Lovely Series: Rules of Engagement

Oh, how I love sitcoms! I'm an avid watcher of the Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother, but in these past few months I've also fallen for Rules of Engagement.

It's about a group of friends: 2 couples, a bachelor and his Indian assistent.

Even though the recipe is pretty simple, it's still an original series. It doesn't have a very realistic feel to it, but the characters are quirky and loveable and they're very human and deal with issues of all sorts, but it never ever gets depressing or whiny.

And I absolutely love the show's intro video and song:

Do you watch a lot of sitcoms? Are you following this one too?

Feel Good Food: Banana Almond Shake

A few days ago I figured out a new drink, I think it's delicious and it was high time for another recipe!

It's a banana almond shake and goes so well with the cake below. It's just a little sneak peek but I'll post the recipe of the cake soon.

Ok, what you'll need for the drink: (serves 2, or 1 huge glass if you'd prefer that)

-almond milk

-1 banana

-1 stem ginger ball in syrup

-a little bit of cinnamon

-2 to 3 tbsps oat meal

Now I don't really know the exact amount of almond milk, but if you'll put in all the ingredients and fill it up with the almond milk until it's enough to fill two glasses you'll be golden.

I really like this drink and love the foam layer on top too, it makes me think of cappuccino(maybe I should try if this can be served hot?).

Pretty Paintings: Ryan Myers

The art of Ryan Myers reminds me both of the Little Fox as well as Mark Ryden. It switches between very colorful and very serene and is, yet again, cute and a tad bit creepy.

Ryan Myers also sells original drawings on Etsy.

All images belong to Ryan Myers.

Marvelous Music: Radical Face

If you're a Nikon lover too, chances are you absolutely adore their commercials. The thing that mostly makes them so magical is the music.

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So I looked it up, and here it is.

The rest of Radical Face's cd Ghost sounds pretty good and the cover looks amazing!

Great Reads: Self-Made Man

I just finished reading Norah Vincent's first book. It was phenomenal! It's been only a few years since I discovered how amazing non-fiction can be, but this really went beyond any expectations I could possibly have had.

We follow Norah as she lived as Ned for a year and a half. It's both an objective and a personal story, I don't know if that makes any sense, but that's what it felt like because you both learn a lot about both sexes along the way, but of course get to see it through her eyes too.

Antony Hegarty(from Antony and the Johnsons) once said that it would do wonders if everyone would go through hormone therapy for a little while, to catch a glimpse of what the other gender is feeling. That, of course, is a bit drastic, but reading this book would all help us take a little step in that direction. It points out so well how different we are, while we're also all looking for the same things. It might make us more considerate and help us get along better.

On top of all the "life lessons" it was entertaining too. I don't think I've ever had such a fun yet informative read.

Lovely Movies: the Ramen Girl

I got so super excited when I saw the trailer for the Ramen Girl! Just when I was really getting into Japanese cooking, I was watching some trailers on a dvd and they came with this one:)

It's a lovely, funny and inspirational film. And I was happy to see that the Japanese people in this movie actually speak Japanese and not English with an accent, as is the case with most Hollywood movies that take place somewhere else.

You should probably eat some Japanese food prior to, during or after the movie, because you will definitely crave it.

Speaking of Japanese food, not only did I cook udon tonight, I just walked across this bento shop that they've been planning to open for ages (I think it's been about a year since I first spotted it and it's still not open!) and you can now apply for a job. It's sooner than I planned to look for work, but this is the perfect job! I'll let you guys know if I go through with it and become a bit of Ramen girl myself.