New Zealand

There are so many reasons to love New Zealand - spectacular scenery, fantastic accents, great people and stunning snow.  This Air New Zealand safety demonstration video is aired on all Air NZ flights.  It's a winner and it really gets under your skin!

I wish more airlines would come up with such creativity.  Qantas currently start theirs off with a little greeting from John Travolta (as their International Ambassador), but it falls a little short. In honour of the amazing people of New Zealand, enjoy this little video.

Small things

image via here

Sometimes it really is the little things that make you happy and pull you out of a glum mood.  A big congratulations to one of my oldest friends (although she is heading on in age... he he, what I really mean is a long-time and dearly-loved friend) who is expecting her third baby.  This is very exciting and makes me reminisce about a fantastic trip to Japan when her first baby was born nearly 9 years ago.   A fantastic place to visit and so addictive.  If you've been, you'll know what I mean.  Congrats to my Tokyo-ites, looking forward to meeting number three.

Sadness

I've been feeling a little emotional lately. 2011 has been tough on lots of fronts. So much natural disaster, heartache and massive change all around. Is this all part of a bigger plan? If so then I'm not sure I'm liking it much. Turmoil is hard to take. Maybe it's time to focus on the little things that can brighten a tough day. Simple messages of love either spoken or written or unexpected. Perhaps silly laughter with someone else at an inane joke or comedic situation or the comfort of a knowing smile between you and your child that assures you that you are both on the same page.

Today an earthquake shook and people are left wondering about loved ones that are missing, hurt or worse. Yet another scary day for friends and strangers in Christchurch. At some point this 'Mother Nature' madness has to stop for 2011. Let's hope that she has had enough so that people can be found easily. Stay safe. X

Elk

images via Elk Facebook

No doubt you may well be a fan of Elk Accessories like me, my mum and most of my friends.  How gorgeous are these shots of their studio in Preston, Victoria.  I am loving that elk antler on the dark wall. 

Read more also about Marnie from Elk via Daily Imprint and Design*Sponge.

I've got my eye on this new cicada clutch. 

  

Addition

image via here

Here's a nice extension on a property in Sydney by Christopher Polly Architect via The Contemporist.   I love the lights and the feel of it on the back of a single-fronted cottage. 

Alila in Bali

It's been hard not to be obsessed with the news with so much tragedy striking Queensland at the moment.  Living in Cairns a long time ago I remember some great trips to Tully and an amazing sea kayaking trip out from Mission Beach.  It's also the first time I witnessed the bright green colour of the blood of a squashed cane toad, but that's a memory that perhaps needs to be erased.  Still we had a lot of fun back in the day when we were young, 21 and carefree.  To date it seems that Tully and Mission Beach have been greatly affected by TC Yasi and my heart goes out to the beautiful region in general.  Mother nature is a furious thing at times.

Perhaps it's time to think about a trip somewhere to rekindle our carefree days in a tropical location.  Girls, I'm sure you are up for a bit of avant garde adventure.  We could even contemplate bringing along our faithful skateboarding/mountain biking side-kick but he'd have to put on a face mask or two for old times sake.  So I thought it time to post about some luxury accommodation in Bali that I was reminded of yesterday.  The Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali are stunning.  Anyone is welcome to come on the "Re-living Our Youth" trip... sign up here!

images via here