Posted in WWWhat?

Keep Calm.com

I know I posted about meditation last week (on that note, the Deepak & Oprah 21-day challenge started yesterday: so far, so good!) but clearly the universe is trying to tell me something as I have come across another sort of meditation site with one of the coolest domain names ever: calm.com. I really think it’s worth having a look if you get a chance – especially if you’re having a not-so-great day and need a virtual getaway.

You can choose either a 2 minute, 10 minute or 20 minute ‘guided relaxation’, then you select your ‘scene’ from a whole range of images and background sounds (that go together). You can pretend you’re relaxing on a deserted beach (without any pesky seagulls), or chillin’ by a mountain lake, or watching the rain come tumbling down (without getting your hair wet). The moving image is accompanied by gentle sounds that really do take you to another place. Until that annoying colleague taps you on the shoulder or that pesky person next to you on the bus starts to eat an egg and tuna sandwich.

Stay calm.com!

A good excuse to reuse my calming photo of the Dublin sky from September...
A good excuse to reuse my calming photo of the Dublin sky from September…
Posted in Home sparks

A Pirate Party

And so my lovely nephew James turned 3 last week. Yesterday was his much anticipated Pirate Party – the invitation won me when the RSVP section asked Arrr you coming to my party? It was another extravaganza from the party mastermind, my amazing sister-in-law Jo. Countless hours were spent getting everything ready, with almost everything made by hand and with a whole lotta love. On a perfectly sunny Sydney day, there were plenty of cool pirate outfits, crazy pirate shenanigans and some delicious pirate food. A fitting way to celebrate the best little pirate I know – when they sang, “you are my sunshine”, I’m pretty sure they were talking about this guy. Anyways, here are some of the party pics, me hearties.

Strict entry criteria.
Strict entry criteria.
The treasure map for 'Pin the Flag on the Treasure'. Yep, painted by Jo.
The treasure map for ‘Pin the Flag on the Treasure’. Yep, painted by Jo.
Hats and eye patches for the pirate guests.
Hats and eye patches for the pirate guests.
Cupcakes from the high seas.
Cupcakes from the high seas.
Awesome.
The awesome cake.
Arrr, there be the cupcakes, jellies (in a pirate ship), chocolates and cake.
Arrr, there be the cupcakes, jellies (in a pirate ship), chocolates and cake.
Amazing, huh? Yes, ok, I made these chocolate guys - under direction from The Boss!
Amazing, huh? Yes, ok, I made these chocolate guys – under direction from The Boss!
Bags of loot for all of the little pirate guests.
Bags of loot for all of the little pirate guests.
Posted in WWWhat?

Friday Foto – On the Bus

This is a sign on Sydney buses. I’d never really looked at it closely before, but now that I have, I say welcome aboard, Man with 1.5 legs, Wobbly person with a bag and stick & Lady with wide hips singing “I’m a Little Teapot”…

BusSign

Posted in Sydney sparks

Thankful Thursday – love ya, Sydney

Last night I went to the opera with my mum (Falstaff; very good) and we spent some of the twilight hours of a perfect Sydney evening sitting in front of the Opera House watching the world go by. If you’ve never done it, I highly recommend that you do. It made me think of that Dr Seuss book DID I EVER TELL YOU HOW LUCKY YOU ARE? Yesterday, we told ourselves again and again.

That sky isn't fake. Neither are those birds or the people. Or those giant shells.
That sky isn’t fake. Neither are those birds or the people. Or those giant shells. Sorry ’bout the glare.
The ship was getting ready to leave as it blocked the setting sun. What a way to start a cruising holiday!
The ship was getting ready to leave as it blocked the setting sun. What a start to a cruising holiday!
It's still a very weird looking building, but I love it.
It is a very weird looking building, but I love it.
Ahhh...
Functional (mostly) and pretty to look at…
Posted in Sparky gifts

Hello, Dolly

Sometimes I get lost in the great online marketplace that is etsy. An email link here leads to something else there and before you know it, I’ve found this shop called Josmund from Oregon in the US of A. Josmund’s tag line is ‘miniature madness and funky finds‘ – I’d also add disturbing dollies and possibly crazy crap, but I appreciate that doesn’t necessarily have the same broad marketing appeal. Nonetheless, I wanted to share some of the madness and finds from this little etsy treasure trove with you here. And the arrangement of the pieces in these photos has a definite artistic quality, I reckon.

"Set of 7 Barbie and same size doll heads"...I do not like the way that one in the middle is looking at us...
“Set of 7 Barbie and same size doll heads”…I really do not like the way that one in the middle is looking at us…
"Doll parts"...just look at those jazz hands...
“Doll parts”…just look at those jazz hands…
"8 individual Kelly and Tommy size doll shoes"...I don't know who Kelly and Tommy are, but presume they are one legged dolls...
“8 individual Kelly and Tommy size doll shoes”…I don’t know who Kelly and Tommy are, am only guessing that they are one legged dolls…

Uh huh. You can check out the Josmund shop on etsy here, if you dare.