Love is SHAZAM

I am an epic music ninja.
(see pic below for clarity)

Shazam is one of my most FAVOURITE apps.

... and if you don't know what Shazam is....

I'm afraid we can't be friends.

Shazam - in a nutshell - picks up songs/music/sounds around you and tags them so that you can find out exactly what song is playing and who the artist is.

I use this app a LOT. In fact, it's the main reason why I don't have a passcode lock on my phone - because it would waste WAY too many precious seconds of potential music-ninja-ing. When I walk into a shop/ coffee place/ restaurant (etc) the "musical ambience" is the very first thing I notice and if it's an awesome song that I've never heard before, I get myself into such a flurry trying to shazam it before the song ends that I usually end up walking into mannequins and such. (true). I shazam shop music, coffee shop music, restaurant music, movie music, TV advert music, TV show music, elevator music. I shazam so much that I've even converted shazam to a verb.

So anyway, today I thought I would just share with you some of my recently "collected" shazam tags - I have just scrolled through my Shazam tags and created a Spotify playlist which you can play here. (I'm new to Spotify - so hopefully will have a few more playlists for you soon!)

Also - just wanted to add - that we had such a fabulous weekend! On friday - we watched Titanic with a good lashing of pizza and red wine (and when "the scene" came on - The Warr made me close my eyes and lifted up my arms and blew into my hair while Celine Dion belted out her shizz. It was like I was on the front line of the Titanic blazing into the sunset... #Magical). I did some yogi-moves in the ad breaks and husband snapped me. Saturday - I had an awesome "reunion" brunch with some Blogcademy babes - so fab to see them all again! Saturday eve - Warr and I went to Covent Garden for some cocktails, dinner and to watch Versaille at the Donmar Theatre. Sunday we had a yummy pub lunch and "design chat" with friends of ours who are getting married next year - and I'm creating their wedding stationery - FUN! And you guys - SO MUCH SUNSHINE! Summer is on it's way!!!

("Warr look at that sign! It says WC! We need to get a pic with that!")

This was a rather "Dear Diary" type post for indieBerries - but I totes can't help it - we just had such a fab weekend! And.... HOW LONG IS MY HAIR?!!?

So anyway, happy music playlisting!
How was your weekend?

x

The Gratitude Run

 I had an amazing experience last night.

Before I begin this post, I'd like to state that this is not a "boast post". This is not a "EVERYBODY COME SEE HOW GOOD I LOOK!". This is not a "I'm better than you, suckers!" post.

But last night, I went for a run.

Let me add - I enjoy running. I run and I enjoy it. But for the most part I usually find the actual running pretty tough. I try to run as often as I can - but it's never too far. When I (rarely) hit the 5km mark - I'm pretty chuffed.

So last night when Warr (who knows how good exercise is for my soul) was working late and messaged me to say I should go for a short run (his message read 3.9km exactly) I was all like "meh" but eventually laced up my shoes and dragged myself out the door.

Around the 3km mark - (and realising I only had 0.9km to go to reach "the goal") something inside me shifted. It was as if something in my mind said to me, "If Warren asks for a 3.9km run. Then that's what you should give him. In fact, you should always give him what he asks of you, and everything else you've got." 4kms came and went. 5kms came.

It could have been the new music playlist (or Warren's earphones that I'd swiped off the bedside table), but something felt different. And - strangely, not in my feet, not in my muscles, not in my legs, and not in my shoes. The difference was in my mind.

5.5kms came and 5.5kms went.

Something in my mind clicked over to the beat of the music and I began to think of all the things I am grateful for: I am grateful for my husband, I am grateful for this air on my face, I am grateful for this run, right now. And the list of gratefulness became a mantra:

I am grateful for the lighter evenings
I am grateful that it's getting warmer
I am grateful for my family
I am grateful for my father who is so loving and magnanimous
I am grateful for my mother for her strong mind and for being so caring
I am grateful for my brother  - for his witty chirps and his generous spirit
I am grateful that I am young
I am grateful that I am healthy
I am grateful that I get to wake up to my dream man every day
I am grateful for the talents that I have
I am grateful for my wit and my humour
I am grateful for the power in my legs that are carrying me through this run
I am grateful for a roof over my head
I am grateful for food to eat
I am grateful for a husband who believes in me through everything
I am grateful for having the most beautiful wedding
6kms
I am grateful for being able to pursue my dreams
I am grateful for yoga
I am grateful for meditation and the world it's opened for me
I am grateful for friends like Lulu who introduced me to yoga
I am grateful for friends like Bobbi who taught me to crochet
I am grateful for the success of The Photo Hunt
I am grateful for all my friends named Kerry, Kerry, Keri
I am grateful for being able to hear
I am grateful for the music in my ears
I am grateful for our trip to Tomorrowland
I am grateful for our trip home in two weeks
I am grateful for my parents coming to visit in June
I am grateful for our trip with them to Portugal
I am grateful to have such amazing parents-in-law who love me so much
I am grateful to have such amazing sisters-in-law
I am grateful to have such wonderful aunts and uncles
I am grateful to have such awesome nieces and nephews and cousins
7kms
I am grateful to have a man who treats me with nothing but love and respect
I am grateful to have dated someone who did not treat me very well - because it taught me a lot about myself
I am grateful for the growth I have seen in myself this year
I am grateful for puppies (I don't even own a puppy - what?)
I am grateful for my friend Angie who loves puppies
I am grateful for my friends Ings and Kristi who have recently lost their puppies :(
I am grateful for good books
I am grateful that I've stopped thinking about puppies
I am grateful for good literature, good poetry, good music
I am grateful for my blog and all the opportunities it has brought me
I am grateful for all the readers and people I have met through blogging
I am grateful to be able to make people laugh
I am grateful to be able to share my thoughts, words, pictures, cartoons with the world
I am grateful for all the things I have achieved in my life
8kms

At the 8km mark - I ran right passed our house.
Let me say that again  -
After 8 kilometres of running, I intentionally ran RIGHT PASSED our house.
Yes, my knees were screaming and my legs were tired, but my mind had so many more things to be grateful for - and - when your mind is happy - your body is too. So I kept running.

I am grateful that I am not in a wheelchair
I am grateful that I have legs that are strong and a heart that pumps blood
I am grateful for nature, for the things around us that we overlook every day
I am grateful for my husband and how hard he works for us
I am grateful for our future - and whatever lies ahead
I am grateful for weekends
I am grateful for any special time or ordinary time that we spend together
I am grateful for the love I have for him
I am grateful that we live right next to a beautiful park
I am grateful for my friends Shelly and Noo and how much I admire them
I am grateful that we live on the doorstep of one of the most vibrant cities in the world
I am grateful for all the cool places to go and the things to see and the stuff to do
I am grateful for the Summer time coming soon
I am grateful for our Sunday traditions
I am grateful for red wine and couch days
I am grateful for the way I was brought up
I am grateful for the school I went to
I am grateful that I went on an international exchange
I am grateful for all the traveling that I have done
I am grateful for all the experiences I have had
I am grateful that I am living my dream and for the husband who encourages me to pursue it
I am grateful for friendships
I am grateful for my family
I am grateful for love
I am grateful for Warren

I am grateful for life.

I will be honest with you - somewhere around the 7km mark - 

I noticed tears streaming down my face.
Not from my aching knees or my tired muscles - but from the complete overwhelming gratitude I have for being alive.

And it felt amazing.

(by "fastest 10km - it really means "pretty much the only 10km")

(and just so you know - this run was completely out the blue. I have not been "training" or on any special program or anything like that.)


What my newfound LOVE for yoga/meditation/gratitude is teaching me - is that the most powerful thing in your life - is your mind. And you have no idea how far it will take you, until you allow it to. And not in the way of, "YOU WILL RUN SEVENTY-THOUSAND-KILOMETRES-BECAUSE-I-SAID-SO" but rather, in being open, being accepting. Taking a step back, being calmer, being more peaceful - and simply letting your mind into that new gentle space and just letting it do it's thing.

So my challenge for you, if you would like it, 

is to let gratefulness be your running mantra and then
 Run until you run out of things to be grateful for.

and just see what happens

* * * * * 

And then I poured my soup directly on the counter

Because you can't win everything.

lol.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!
any exciting plans?

x

Artichokes

With Warren being away most of last week for a wedding in South Africa, I stocked up the fridge with edible goodies I could eat that would require little no cooking, cleaning or preparation. Ready made soups, carrots, little pots of mixed olives and sun-dried tomatoes and such. You know what I'm talking about: hunter-gather food. So when he returned, I had plenty of left over goods to try pawn off on him.

 

But why don't you want my artichoke Warren? It's delicious.

I was not impressed.

I tried again later when we were on the couch:

 

WAHAHAHAHA.

Arty. choke. 

hahahahaha

what a FUNNY CHOKE!

hahaha
WAHAHAHAA

LOL. ROFL,  HILAR.

wahahaha.

 

Ah sigh, it's good to have the man back in my life.
I love having someone to share my punny chokes with.

* * * * *

I woke up early this morning for yoga and -

The Warr: Happy 11 months Married!
Me: WOW! Is it 11 months married today?! WOW!! Can't believe WE SURVIVED!
Warr: Yeah. Geez. But one more day and that's me - done.

So from tomorrow, it looks like I'll be back on the market.

just kidding, 

Happy 11 months married wonderful husband!

One more month until.... PAPER.

I have a new love in my life and I'd like you to meet him.

I would like to introduce you to the new love of my life:
The Toaster.

We purchased this little beauty a few months ago and it has been making our kitchen a brighter, more lovelier, more retro and more epic place ever since. I am TOTES in love with the green-vintagey vibe  - and just LOOK at those sexy-little knobs! Ain't NOBODY got sexy-toaster-knobs like us.

It's been sitting in the corner in it's quiet, uber (understatedly cool) manner - just smugly gloating at all the other appliances over how supreme it is. This toaster is the hipster of toasters. You wanna set your toast colour? Here, turn my dial. There are definitely kitchen-appliance debates when we go to sleep at night, and I can guarantee you - the toaster always wins.

And you know what guys?

The best part?

It makes amazing toast too.

(Just for the record, the toast below is not burnt - it has Bovril on it. But given my reputation in the kitchen, I wouldn't blame you for thinking otherwise.)

I honestly have no idea why I chose to share this with you, perhaps I'm just so besotted with our lovely new kitchen friend.

Who knows - maybe tomorrow I'll introduce you to the fridge.

March Sponsors!

I'm back with a little round up of some awesome people from around the web who are hanging out in the indieBerries sidebar this month! Tuck in!

 
If you're a second language English speaker and would like a little English booster - I have just the thing for you! Skype English Class Now - is a fun and easy way to book a fun 1:1 English class from the comfort of your own home!

If however, you are a first language English Speaker with a TEFL certificate or experience with teaching English - why not apply to become a Skype English Class teacher - where you can help others develop their language skills. Pop on over to their free grammar and writing guide if you need a little extra English boost!

website || youTube || twitter || facebook

Is it just me, or is everything getting a dash greener around these parts? SPRING is SPRINGING and I am SO uber excited! What better way to celebrate the upcoming "SPRING-NESS" than covering a little corner in your home with some lush greenery? I actually went to a wedding fair last weekend with a friend who is getting married and I didn't see anything like these gorgeous green letters anywhere - so brides... if you keen for a garden-chic wedding with amazeballs decor - I suggest you pop on over to this shop!

As always, Jodie's weekend reads are always filled with the most juicy clickable links. Take a jump on over to see exactly what I mean! (Including.. ahem.. "why you should be jealous of nerds")

Shop || twitter || blog || facebook

Little Outdoor Kylie is single-handedly making the internet a much greener place! I have been loving her outdoor exploring and weekly bird posts! (Am actually secretly waiting for her to do a post on the Lilac Breasted Roller) Did I ever mention, that when I was much younger we lived in Northern Zululand and I attended a very rural school? One early dewey morning during assembly, the headmaster led the entire school silently out to the sports field so that we could all watch a tiny Lilac Breasted Roller that he had spotted, sitting so quietly, high up in one of the nearby trees. Once the gorgeous little bird had taken off - showing off it's most glorious colours - it concluded our morning assembly - and the entire school sang All things bright and beautiful in our loudest proudest African voices. So much love for Africa!)

If you got caught up in the hubbub of Valentine's day and missed this post - do have a peek over at Kylie's post on The origins of Valentine's Day - it's super interesting!

blog || facebook || twitter

___________________________________
Thanks so much to these gorgeous sponsors!
If you are interested in sponsoring indieBerries this month 

have a squizz over at this page!

The Click Frenzy: February

I am a bit late on posting this Click Frenzy but here are some awesome links from around the interwebs recently!

If physical illness was treated the same as mental illness
An awesome advert created to shift gender stereotypes for young girls.
This kid: The hackschooler. Amazing.
16 books to read before they come out at the movies.
Post It notes - left around the house by a stay at home dad - hilar!
Funny notes from kids to their parents.
Some celebrity photoshop transformations
Hilarious email conversation between a man, his neighbour and terawatt floodlight.
Logos that FAIL.
19 hard things you need to do to be successful.
Hilarious shower thoughts - this one's a GOODIE!
I love this guy's inventive solution to subway boredom...
Some awesome print ads - LOVE me some clever advertising.
32 truths for mature humans
Babies in Business - funny meme!

Happy Monday everyone!

7 things Sunday

7 Things I'm grateful for this week.

1. Another successful Photo Hunt event at Southbank yesterday and meeting a whole stash of awesome new people!
2. Some amazing yoga classes that I've had during this week. I've loved putting into practice the things I learnt at the workshop I went to last Saturday.
3. Having an amazing husband, who is so dedicated and supportive of everything I do. I'm eternally grateful for that.
4. A little bit more sunshine in London this week! YAY SPRING!
5. Some more Etsy Sales this week - so thankful for the support.
6. New music on my playlists - will share some soon!
7. Two new wedding guestbooks that should be arriving this week - it's always so exciting to see the books in print! (And then {obvs} the joy of packaging them up for the brides!)

What have you been grateful for this week?