Place: west end deli

Poison: Latte

Favourite Things: Mamma Mia the movie.

I am slowly reading a book at the moment that portrays different leaders and their struggles with life. One chapter in particular has kept me muddled and spellbound at the same time.

A chapter about the writer Leo Tolstoy.

This quote had me captivated…

In the long history of literature, no one has exceeded Leo Tolstoys ability to portray the full essence of life…

Nothing seems to escape him. Nothing glances off him unrecorded…

Virginia Wolf writes of Leo Tolstoy…

‘Every twig, every feather sticks to him like a magnet. He notices the blue or red of a childs frock; the way a horse shifts its tail; the sound of a cough; the action of a man trying to put his hands into pockets that have been sewn up. And what his infalliable eye reports of a cough or a trick of the hands his infallible brain refers to somethinghidden in the character, so that we know his people, not only by the way they love and thier views on politics and the immortality of the soul, but also by the way they sneeze and choke. We feel that we have been set on a mountaintop and hafd a telescope put into our hands. Everything is astonishingly clear and absolutely sharp.’

I want to write like this. I want to truly see people for who they are, with eyes of grace and portray their stories to the world.

I want to express myself with clarity and purpose to encourage our world not to see an ocean of faces, as we walk through a city, but notice the licorice allsorts, the colours, shapes, flavours and intricacies.

I love human beings and all their quirks.

How about you?

what have you noticed lately.

A

Place: My Office

Poison: Diet Coke

Favourite Things: World Youth Day

My family and the media are a buzz with World Youth Day conversations. For those who are in Australia, basically 500,000 catholic youth gather every 4 years, for a sort of spiritual olympics.

2,000 young people are sleeping outside at the Olympic Park car park, in 0degree temperatures. All Sydney backpackers are full to overflowing. The sydney harbour bridge was closed for a peace walk and the police are absolutely blown away that 400,000 people gathered yesterday with no arrests.

Someone just sent me this photo though and its totally post worthy.

(I think its my uncle rob)

Have a great day, World Youth day!

Shine in the darkness

A

Place: Office

Poison: Diet Coke

Favourite Things: White scarf

Red rolle has created something new which I love…

Bid for this one of a kind bracelet. Its gold.

Go Rolle.

A

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Resin-Fashion-Bangle-Truth-Hope-Love-by-Olive-Juice_W0QQitemZ230271716821QQihZ013QQcategoryZ34050QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Place: My office

Poison: Dinner

Favourite Things: Visual Arts Team

Recently we started a new initiative at work. Happy Hour.

Every Thursday at lunch, we all storm into the boardroom and eat lunch together.

A novel concept?

For us it is.

So often we just keep working and working, eat our lunch take away, on the go and over our desktop computer, whilst leaning into our mobile phone, whilst holding a meeting at the same time.

We sent this mask out to our staff as a promo!

Its Gold.

Try it.

It works

Place: My Office

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: mustard skivvy

Check these out, my beautiful friend Kym Rolle did this artistry in the streets of the Goldy!

I love them…

Art on the streets, that speaks colour and light.

These boxes remind me of this scripture…

Matthew 5: (Message)

14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Shine bright

A

Place: My Office

Poison: vitamins

Favourite Things: being home

So yesterday was the day of all days. I have waited months and months, webpage after webpage, frustratingly broken phone ready for the iphone’s arrival.

I am so excited!!

This photo cracked me up

So apparently this is my new man in my life.

Yep, spread the rumours accross the oceans, Amanda has a new lover.

Smile

A

Place: qantas club

Poison: Diet coke

Favourite Things: new candle ‘mango and coconut’ from Ali cullen.

I recieved a lovely gift this time a week ago, a beautiful candle from LA… The smell is mango and coconut and every time I have set it alight this week, my memories go back to the short time I spent in Los Angeles last year.

Reading a magazine called ‘Creative’ this week, I was reminded of a truth I am so aware of, but so easily forget.

The power of smell.

When I was in the slums of Bangkok, the smell was so overwhelming and it created a lasting memory. This week walking into my friends house as a lamb roast was cooking it transported me immediatly to my family ritual of sunday roast. When I smell fish and chips, its friday. I smell an aftershave, my first love. I smell lavender my granma. I smell camphor, my nanna or maybe its rasberry slice that reminds me more of her.
Advertising executives are understanding more and more the importance of smell as a trigger point for marketing these days. Not only do people design and coordinate the atmosphere, the smell of a shop or an office is specifically designed to create a memory, a great feeling and a lasting impact.

Just a thought.

What smell-memory do people walk away from you with?

I am hoping that my frangrence is one that is full of positive recognition.

How easy is it for us to stink with the crap that plagues us, rather than come with a fresh scent of inspiration.

Smelling?

A

Place: My Office

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: Aly and Marcus Passauer

I grew up with two mums. Recently I found these photos and they made me smile.

They are the most creative, crazy, beautiful, strong, capable women I know. They egg each other on.

They encourage, they inspire, they irritate, they are they!

I dont ring one, without the other yelling in the background.

They spend everyday together.

The level of intimacy they share is inspiring.

Here is my nan and pop and them. (I never met my pop, but he was the most amazing man)

The miracle of the twins though, is Nan and Pop were told they could never have children and they adopted because of this. Then 10 or so years later, and 2 other children, the twins arrived.

God totally uses these two mighty women, with great power.

They are in the process of setting up a soup kitchen for the homeless in their area.

They are amazing.

Who is your partner in crime?

Who is your go to person?

Who do you do life with?

Who strengthens you in the times of sadness?

My mum and eileen are each others who.

A

Place: My Office

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: annie on the phone

My lovely green tea cupper who lives on the sunny side of Australia, has launched a website with her amazing artwork.

Here is her reason for selling her art…

‘In case you want to help get me over to the UK in August and help some needy cute little rwandan kids at the same time… I’m selling my art and will personally deliver if I can raise the funds for the flight… soooo… OLIVE JUICE art is now for sale by the pound!! Woo hoo!

If you’re keen to help out, forward this to your friends that have good taste to buy great art! Maybe your boss needs some for the boardroom before the end of financial year??’

www.olivejuice.com.au/art

NICE!
Amps

Place; My office

Poison: long black

Favourite Things: my sis

I just recieved the latest frankie in the mail. (A cool creative magazine)

And I am in love with their latest poster. The poem on it, totally sums where I am at right now, beautifully.

Can We?

Shall We?

 Please

A