Place: Milkd

Poison: Long Mac

Favourite Things: Sleeping in on a Saturday morning

Last night was a great one. We all celebrated my mate Gav’s 30th birthday in style! The conversation that I loved the most, was a reflection of what Gav’s mates from the City of Swan had too say about his shindig…

They were quite amazed that a 30th birthday could happen without heaps of people totally smashed, great amount of conversation without it being sleezy, and a all round great time, without disrespect.

I am not prude, neither do I condone abuse of anything, being my body, my friends, my reputation or life. I totally believe that life should be celebrated in style, and I believe the priveleges we have are so special so why waste them by being off the planet, when you were born to live on it with style!

Anyway- I am not judging anyone here, my past is spray painted with much blackness, however I love it when people are inspired to have great conversations, great nights and great celebrations in style.

So here are a couple of photos from miss elly’s wedding, because she did her engagement and life well! I today toast and celebrate Mr and Mrs Vance, arrived back today from their honeymoon in Maritius. Good on you guys for doing it well… It is so not a simple task.

I love ya and so miss living with you Miss Elly!

Forever

A

Place: Kyms House

Posion:Water

Favourite Things: Necklace from Hannah

Well, I had a sad occasion this week, I took my granma to the doctors because she has been loosing her eyesight for quite a while and last Saturday, she picked up the newspaper to read it and she couldn’t read anymore.

So I sat with her on Monday, (its taken me all week to have enough couarge to write about it because it saddens me so much) in a doctors office, praying that he would say a quick operation and all would be well. Sitting and hearing him say ‘Mrs Powell, there is nothing we can do to help you, You can’t read anymore, you are now going blind, was so defining!’

See my granma is one of the most creative and beautiful people I know. She has always inspired me from a very young age. A immaculate dressmaker, a professional knitter and anything beautiful or creative she was so proficient with.

Being over 80, she fills most of her time these days making beautiful teddies, scarfs, baby clothes, rugs, anything she can use her hands for, to give away to others. But no more!

This post is so hard to write because I cant imagine what it would be like to not be able to see anymore.

My granma is such a generous lady, she brought me a present to the doctors appointment for no reason at all. But I sat there so breathtaken at the thought of her not being able to create like she did before.

I have spent this week looking through different coloured lenses. Every flower I see jumps out and begs that I study it, whilst driving I have been so inspired by our river. I have been reading more because that was one thing that as a tear rolled down my gran’s cheek she whispered ‘Manda, I can’t read or do my crossword puzzles anymore.’

It is so unfair when the winds of time take away the simplest of lifes treasures. I sat in the waiting room surrounded by trashy magazines, promising to myself I wouldn’t take reading for granted anymore. Now as I read out her bills and letters from her friends, it is an amazing privelege to see more of her breathtaking life.

As you watch the footy grand final tomorrow (go the eagles!) I won’t be able to stop thinking about my mad keen footy supporter granma, sitting in Rockingham, in her flat, listening to the football grand final on the wireless, as she can’t see the television anymore.

Wow, life is pretty strange hey?

Stunned…

A

Place:My Office

Poison:Sprite Zero

Favourite Things: My Cowboy boots

 

 

This morning I was having a ‘woe is me’ moment driving to work. I was thinking ‘This traffic sucks! I am on my way to work, the sun is shining and I want to be outside playing!’

Then from out of nowhere a thought popped into my head. (Yes it is very random so go with me…)

‘I am actually really blessed, because I have the freedom to wear my cowboy boots to work!’

They are very special too me. I brought them a couple of months ago in Dubai, with one of my favourite people Claudine, I searched for a pair for months before I brought them.

How strange is that thought? But it has made me smile my whole day through. See I work in an office where I have permission to be creative, to express myself, but am continually challenged to grow in creativity, leadership and event management.

How many people are in jobs that they hate? How many people are in countries and places that they hate?

Perspective hey? Although getting up and going to work everyday may not be your cup of tea, know that there is always someone worse off than you.

Today I reminded myself how privileged I am to work in an office with people who are living beyond themselves, who allow me to express myself and use creativity to try and make the world a better place.

And that, Amanda Powell, is a privelege! (self talk is hilarious!!!)

Anyway, a random, slight, perky thought. What priveleges do you have that make your day so much better than you actually thought it was…

Mine- cream cowboy boots in the office!

Yeeehaaa…

 A

Place: Milkd

Posion: Long Black

Favourite Things: this cafe

What I love about milkd is…

1) the Coffee

2) the little hiding place out the back with minimal decoration, an air conditioner and brown striped couch seats

3) The staff, esp the owner Lorenna, who is such a generous person, the cafe is not about profit, its totally about people.

4) That I can wear my trackies after a workout or my suit after a day at work and forget where I was before I came here.

5) How could I forget the wireless internet connection.

6) That it is five minutes from my house and open everyday

7) Breadless breakfast!

Did I already say how nice the staff were (no Im not getting paid to do this)

9) The homemade jam, homemade soup, the homemade menu.

10) The cupcakes and mars bar slice

11) The street is unknown in the coffee/social/ shopping landscape of WA

12) The fact it is always full in the morning and quiet in the afternoons, so you can pick which times you go depending on how you feel and who you want to see

13) Its a place where lots of my friends come so if I want to I can always find someone to have a coffee with…

14) The Antique store next door

15) The french upholstry and french clothing store on the other side

16) No worries about parking

17) Consistent Coffee

18) The green paint on the wall

19) The red door

20) The logo on the takeaway cups

21) More than one newspaper

22) The coffee’s are table served

23) Polished concrete floor

24) Little milk bottles as the salt shakers

25) The chef is wearing a constable care tshirt!

26) They have a dog bowl outside with water for the people with dogs (even though Im not into dogs, nice touch)

27) New Norcia Bread

28) The old dudes sitting on the window ledge and the way they cackle and tell dirty jokes

29) The guys next to me complaining because of the contents of their museli ( get a life boys!)

30) That it is the starting place of my 30th birthday and we will be having coffee martini’s, champagne, cupcakes and coffee! Watch out, love it…If you read this list right to the end you so deserve to come!

 

Place: Office

Poison: Diet coke

Favourite Things: Hand Cream

Okay, have just had the coolest arvo with Polly, Bonnie, Rolle, Leah, Rose and myself…We went to the fashion festival in the city and then Rose and I went to the art gallery and saw the exhibition ‘Art in Bloom’

Seriously it happens for three days only every spring, and it is out of control! Basically most pieces of Art, are reinvented with sculptures of flowers. UNBELIVABLE.

Next year you have to go, its amazing.

Jealous?

Should be…

A

Place: Milkd

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: Scarf from Sydney

I heard someone say recently that the origin of the word inspire is ’breath life into’.

This thought made me stop in my tracks, because there are real moments of inspiration when I do feel like the very breath of life has been excited within me.

When we are sick and are short of breath, that feeling of hopelessness, can be all consuming. When we are surrounded by people who are sick, we can begin to breath short breaths and take on the symptoms or the depression of their sickness due to proximity.

Inspiration, is digging deep and finding the true essence of life and the breath of an amazing creator, who wants us all to live a life in deeper conversation with him.

Having defining moments, thinking moments, creative moments, crazy moments, spontaneous moments, should not be once a year occurances. I so believe that there is inspiration in the everyday, you just have to learn how to look for it!

No matter what your lot in life is right now, there is inspiration to be found. Those moments that you cannot manufacture, but moments that you can create a fertile landscape for them to grow.

When was the last time you did something for the first time? When was the last time you went out of your compfort zone because you put yourself there? When was the last time you made steps towards seeing some of your life visions and dreams realised?

That is the land of inspiration. They are the destinations where that breath taken glance at a bigger life can be found.

Breathe deep, there is inpiration to be found, you just have to learn where to look for it!

Inspired!
A

Place: Farrell’s 

Poison: Long Black 

Favourite Things: My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers 

I have been preparing this afternoon to Host the service at Church for the first time tonight. So basically what happens, is the host get’s up and introduces the different segments of what is happening. Am a little petrified actually. 

One part of the service that the Host does is encourages the congregation to give of their finances. This part of contemporary church services has been given such a bad rep in our times from the media.  However if the critics understood the heart of the church in matters financial they would realise that it is not as sinister as the public perception of the church is. 

I give into the local church, overseas aid agencies and volunteer organisations, because I want too, not because some one tells me that I should. 

I want to live a life bigger than myself, because selfish ambition is such a small way to live my life. I don’t need all the money that I earn, and I have no problem giving it away to people who will use it in anyway they see fit to make the world a better place. 

At all the weddings that I have gone to this year, I don’t give people presents because I have too, I give presents because I want to bless the newly weds in their new start in life.

When I am out at coffee with the GTCC, I don’t pay for their coffee’s because they brought my last one and I really should repay the favour, I do it because I want to celebrate the everyday with them and for me that is done best over coffee. That’s the best way I think $3 bucks can be spent at that point in time. 

So generosity for me is not about giving into institutions because someone up the front of the organisation says that I have too. I choose to give of my finances, time and my resources to see the church expand and grow and affect many more lives that I alone couldn’t even begin to reach. 

Give because you want to, not because you have too. The way it expands the rest of your world will completely spin you out. 

Reachin out… 

A 

Place: Kym’s Office

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: Kym Rolle and her flowers…

We are ready to escape and drive the big, old, open, country road all the way to Rockingham. Tonight is a very important night indeed, as the Dockers are playing Sydney and I am hoping the South of Perth erupts in laughter and cheers, in response to a big win from the boys…

I have never been a huge sporting type of girl, but the Dockers and Eagles fever has taken over and I am ready for some family style lovin, coupled with Dockers success.

When things get a little stressful, when life is a little overwhelming, thats when family is so important. The drive to Rockingham, with my ipod and my bestest buddy Kym is going to be fab! Even better will be the BBQ, my uncles and aunts running around being crazy, neices and nephews, and mates all in the same room together.

Its amazing what a night away can do, the perspective is brings, the freshness it encourages is the best.

Run away with your nearest and dearest. Be random, be spontaneous, be free…

Life was meant to be lived, not stressed.

Be free, young fairies…

lovin

A

Place: Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Events girls in background

 

On nights like this, what every women wants: ‘pajama’s, white wine, candle, a man and a jigsaw puzzle.’ One that’s not too difficult, but not a childs dinsey puzzle either. Something where your mind can engage in random thoughts and refresh after a big event managment driven kind of week.

Dust off your old box of puzzles or go to the local op shop…They are so cheap. Pop them on a hard bench or table top, and whenever you have a spare moment pop in a few pieces.

At last year’s rise conference, we had thousands of people through our doors, but the most memorable part of the foyer action for me was the jigsaw puzzle. People put it together over the days and nights of the conference. It was quirky, fun and so very daggy all in one. I loved it.

I could get all super-spiritual on you now, and write about; all of us and how we fit into the puzzle… but its not that intense sort of arvo!

Its just a jigsaw puzzle sort of day!Go on try it…

Puzzled?

A

Ps- watch out they are addictive

Place: Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Hertime Post its!

The last few days have been completely manic! In the midst of all the pressure, this morning I went to a breakfast with leaders of the city, Tim Costello the speaker, to launch the ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign in Perth.

This campaign has been around the world and has made such a difference, but it wasn’t until I was on a panel at the Parachute Music Festival in January, that I truly contemplated this thought.

Can we, this generation truly make poverty history. With the revolutionary sounds crying through the television about the political coo in Thailand, I am so impacted by the faces of those children who smile at me from the slums of Khlong Toei Bangkok.

Bono says ‘It is not right that 30,000 kids die every day because of a 20cent per child immunisation scheme!’

I say ‘It is not right that one child die, because of lack!’

I truly am not sure that I, Amanda-marie Powell can make poverty history. But together we all can make a difference.

Tonight our team event managed the Public memorial Service for Peter Brock, and the tributes, songs and words were powerful. The hearts cry of Peter Brocks life was ‘Live your dreams’

I wonder right now what dreams remain unlived in the hearts of each of the children I encountered in the slums through lack. Not just lack of finance, lack of permission, lack of education, lack of nutrition, lack of courage.

From a young age I have always said I wanted my life, (no matter what I did with it) to inspire others to live the life of their dreams. I want to empower others, I want to make a difference and live large.

Creativity and Inspiration is just not for our own self stimulated need to achieve, for me it is all about realeasing others…

Together we can make poverty history.

Forever

A