The Thursday distraction

It's been a while since I posted a 'distraction' post hasn't it?

I know I should really be posting these for a Friday afternoon, because I sure know how I love link-heavy blogs come the end of the week.

How about you bookmark me and come back when you need to. I'll be here. I will always be here to distract you... and inspire and entertain you. (woops, I might have copied a bit of my own wedding vows there)

First up, I just loved reading this piece on living in New York City by Cup of Jo. It's both hillerious and helps with the NYC envy all of us not living in NYC have.

I adore this colorful blog 'Capture the Colour' by Text Sketches. She's challenged me to do something similar and have I've been meaning to post my own version soon! You should do it too and tell me all about it!

My blog-crush the Everywhereist share her ever applicable blog writing wisdom having just posted her 1000th blog post. Clever one that girl.

A Beautiful Mess recently talked about doing the 4 simple goals project. And I'm such ABM groupie, I'll do what ever they suggest I do. (Just like I did the 30 selfie challenge and am still working on my very own DIY braided rug).
Here are my four simple goals:

I've tried to find fairies in this magical post by my pal Willful/Joyful, she camped in what looks like an enchanted forest and I want to go there now!

This lovely post on Gratitude by Tulips and Flight suits is inspiring. I want to be more intentional about finding opportunities to love on people, and help.

The adorable Owl Eccentric shares a Cher make up tutorial. Which has since made me wonder if should go as Katniss meets Cher for the upcoming Halloween party.

We finally went on a corn-maze adventure. Another solid tick off the 'things I need to do in America' list. My favorite fellow foreign bride Chestnut Mocha posted about it.

Also, my new hair cut that's not so new anymore. Why can't my hair always look like this? Why?

That's it for now x

The weekend distraction

Today I bring you the weekend distraction.

I have these plans on how to become a better blogger and take things a little more seriously around here. One of those ideals would is to be more stable with this "distraction" deal I've go going on.

Other ideals of how to become a better blogger are:

-Getting a real pretty design, with social media buttons and 'about me' sections. (Oh the dream)
-Start a series or two.
-Do outfit posts... or do I? Should I? Can I get over the pose in public trauma?
-Get a fig leaf tree, and have it in every single photo I take of our apartment.
-Go pick fruit, then take a million pictures of me holding said fruit with two hands. (Also, rock an amazing outfit at the same time... moccasins featured)
-Only ever drink out of a mason jar with stripped paper straws.

...Okay I'm getting silly, here with some fascinating links that will change your world:

Willful/Joyful was mean enough to get me hooked on Wildflower photography's blog. Mean mean girl that willful one... Anyway, it's definitely my blog of the week. I spent an unspeakable amount of time reading just about anything Joy wrote and got totally lost in her amazing photography. See this cute 4 min video of her family (of 6!!) traveling America with the a vintage trailer.
It's got me dreaming all crazy kinds of traveling dreams, it will do the same for you.

Recipe recommendation for the week: Middle Eastern Sliders.
I've been think about this all week. 

This is not your average travel tip post, but it makes me want to road trip California more than ever.

 Text Sketches talks about the Drakensberg! The very place that taught me that I will forever be a mountain soul. Some people are ocean, some are wild bush. But mountains... sigh, they do things to me. Also, her post is going to make you want to go there now. 

Conversations with my two year old. Part 5. Can't get enough of this.

Still going strong on the 30 Day Self portrait challenge, I'm learning about my face, editing and how to better take iphone snaps of other people. On the other side, I'm getting a little tired of my mug. And so should you! Follow me here. (ends shameless plug)

This is beautiful and inspirational to do something (anything), got me a little teary, so be warned.

I've never been quoted before.

I'll take this leather wallet, and this tote thank you very much.

Love this song! 'we went wild' . Perfect weekend tune.

Best of weekends to you friends. x

The Thursday distraction

Lately, I've been particularly easy to lead astray down the never ending path of distraction. Is it a combination of working from home and far off deadlines and the call of hot sexy weather outside? I'm not sure. What I do know is this; I've not felt this inspired to create in a while, so I'm going to go with that. I have dreams of getting a real grown up design here on Lanlettie (like dem real blogger ladies), studying community college courses, spending the day with my camera in Manito park, scrap booking(??!!?) or life journaling as the cool girls call it these days.  My thoughts seem more scattered and more far off than usual but it's as if the silent pull of where these thoughts go are creatively ordering themselves into a line... or a sentence. The kind of sentence that is easy to understand, a command to the next new, if that makes sense?

On that note, here are some of my distractors:  (firefox says that's not a word)

I love this post on African blog, Bright Continent, I like just about every post on that site, here 'The Others'. My imagination went wild.

Next time you need to be fancy and impressive as the entertainment diva you are, try making this homemade Roasted Tomato and Almond Dip. It's so easy and delicious!

I want most of these posters! Especially the Moonrise Kingdom ones.

I started having day dreams of us owning a cute little vintage trailer since our weekend camping trip. This post on a Beautiful Mess did not help such longings. I think we should buy this one and make it pretty.  Too many reasons why I'm thinking about it so much: I grew up camping in caravans with my family, I love the creative challenge of making something old into something new and pretty, we love camping, Amanda got me started on Craigslist. Pinterest search function.... dramatic sigh.

Agreed!

Still loving the 'Motherhood around the world' feature on Cup of Jo. This week is about parenting in Japan.  I love this series because it's got me wondering about what I'll find different once the babies show up.  Being raised the good ol fashioned Afrikaans way I wonder if I'll think American ways are weird. I guess I think that already...

Does floral art make you as happy as it does me? If so, go here now.

I leave you with this thought.

  Now let's all be ridiculously productive!

The Tuesday Distraction

See, told I'll be back and here I am. Slightly tripping on cold meds still, but hey, let's see where that takes us.

Here are a few things that have caught my attention lately, for your distraction satisfaction:

Oh, first, remember how I said making this lemon drizzle cake was a priority? Of course you do. Anyway, I made it and it was amazing, might be one of my favorite recipes to date. Try it!

This piece on 10 surprising things about parenting in Norway is fascinating. Even if parenting isn't your jam right now it's still interesting to be offered this peek into 'the Norwegian way'.

The Everywhereist writes a totally unhelpful guide to the Eiffel tower. Confusing your cliche landmark photo poses made me laugh out loud.

The trailer for 'Long walk to Freedom'. Even the 1 minute trailer made me teary, can't wait to watch the movie. Have you read the book?

Speaking of, Mandela day is coming up and I'm wondering what I can do in Spokane this Thursday for 67 minutes. Any suggestions?

These bathing suites are on the want list.

Appreciating the discovery of this encouraging and uplifting blog.

Totally loved this post by Chestnut Mocha on being a foreigner in a smaller town USA. We have so much in common it's crazy so I found her piece especially easy to relate to.

The crafty housewife in me is itching to make this Hexagon Patchwork Quilt.

I'm not a fan of the 'selfie', even the word 'selfie' makes me cringe but I like the reasoning behind the 30 Day self portrait challenge as posted by those lovely Beautiful mess girls. I'm going to give it a try, you can follow and laugh at me @lanlettie

I love Text Sketches' posts on fantastic places to visit in Southern Africa. This post on Knysna made me a little heartsick for my beautiful country, also spent part of our honeymoon there which makes this post extra lovely to look at.

Totally agree with Willful/Joyful on this garden philosophy.


Based on how many attempts it just took me to spell philosophy correct I think it's time to call it a day and go overdose on Vit C. Have the best of days friends

The Friday Distraction

I say Friday even though I'm posting this Thursday. Bookmark me, and come waste your Friday afternoon hours with these links, I invite you.

Also, talking about Friday makes me feel like it's the weekend already, and I'm needing to feel that round about now. (this week is so OVER)

These things:

Making this lemon zest cake is a priority.

Lately I've fallen in love with the Marie Antionette soundtrack all over again. It's amazing, classic one minute, indie rock the next.

Really enjoyed this post by my friend Total TamNation, I think a few 20somethings will find this oh so very easy to relate to.

Love this quote on 'wonder'. 

Soooo, I'm kind of famous. As you'll see here on this website.  I'm so embarrassed, or I should just say that right? I'm actually really amused, my first paid gig in the USA.

Speaking of my fine accomplishments, here my first published article in a while. It's about a start up craft distillery in Delaware. (See page 20-21)

I want this dress!

I adore Rachel from Smile and Wave's home, see it here on Apartment Therapy (I wish I never discovered this website)

a Beautiful post on tree planting in Mozambique.

Lastly, prepare to waste an embarrassing amount of time on 'Man Men with things drawn on them', only cool if you're a Mad Men groupie.

We have dreams of another camping trip this weekend, if nothing else we hope to find a lake to go splash around in like the locals do. Rumor has it temperatures will reach into the triple digits.

Need some distraction?

Last weekend we spent 3 glorious days in magnificent Yellowstone, I want to tell you all kinds of things about it. In the meantime, I'll share some links I've enjoyed these past few days. You enjoy that while I come to terms with the fact that it's too late to for us to become park rangers when we grow up.



Photos of children from around the world with their most Prized Possessions.

My favorite, The Everywhereist, asks if it's selfish to blog about travel when things are shitty in the world.

Just everything about Bright Continent.

Dreaming about a kitchen like this.

Convos with my 2 year old. I know you've probably seen it, but have you seen part 2?

Oceans (where feet my fail) is still playing on repeat around here.

I'm still working on my DIY braided rug. I love braiding so much I might make the biggest rug ever.


That's all for now, I'll be back with stories of a place where the stones are of yellow orientation.