Fancy Folk - Kyla Is Inspired

This week's Fancy Folk is Kyla from Kyla Is Inspired. Her blog is full of pretty things, fashion posts, design, illustration and current loves that keep her inspired. She also happens to have the most delightful smile on the internet! 

What is on your 2013 agenda?

Hopefully, I'll have my job situation figured out by the end of the year!! I'm in a weird stage with that right now. I'm also hoping to move to a loft apartment by August, and have that decorated by the end of the year.

Your perfect day is..

My perfect day would start at 8am, heading to my favorite bakery for a ginger biscuit & coffee with my best friend. I'd then get out my computer do a little illustrating & blogging until lunch. Lunch would be a picnic with paninis & fresh fruit. I'd go for a small walk around town, popping in and out of shops (just window shopping!) The rest of the afternoon would be spent blogging, and dinner would involve checking out one of Providence's many restaurants. I'd end the night with a glass of wine and tv :) Clearly, this day is not possible with my 9-5 ;)

If you were a cat who would you follow all day in the hope that they would look after you?

Oh boy...I have 2! I'd either follow around Amy Poehler or Aubrey Plaza. 2 hilarious ladies that I'm sure I wouldn't get bored following around!

What is your current obsession?

I'm totally obsessing over bar carts. Another goal of mine in the upcoming months is to curate the perfect bar cart for my living room. I'm about halfway there already :)

What is your karaoke song?

I've never done karaoke before!! I know, I know. But if I did, I would probably sing Youth by Foxes. Or Soak up the Sun by Sheryl Crow ;)

>>> To read more about the things that inspire Kyla,

check out her blog.

32 Weeks

Today officially kicked off my 32nd week of my pregnancy. Some days it feels as though I've been pregnant for an eternity, and others it feels like it has gone by so quickly. Especially the last two weeks. I started to get worried around the 30 week mark because I felt so unorganised. However, in these past two weeks Luke & I have sorted out the bigger baby items, my favourite being a wooden rocking chair. As well as a new car. And we also organised a new place to live! Moving is generally a stressful event, and we have left it up until the last possible minute before it would be just down right ridiculous to do so. I feel incredibly lucky that I have had a fantastic pregnancy so far. I've had custom illustrations, invitation designs & a six day working week to keep me busy for the most part. So the small discomforts of heart burn, the occasional late night leg cramps, swollen feet at the end of the day and general vagueness commonly referred to as 'baby brain' aren't so bad, and when I do complain I try to remind myself of how horrible it actually can be for some ladies. And if finding it difficult to roll over in bed, or get up off the lounge is the biggest struggle of my day, then things aren't so bad!

Start Your Week Off With..

Springtime Detox Bath by Katie's Pencil Box

That One Time I Lost My iPhone by Carmen Mariah

25 Breakfast Recipes We Love by A Beautiful Mess

Living Simply by Sometimes Sweet

Have a great week!

Fancy Folk - Caught On A Whim

It's no secret I have a big blog crush on Erica from Caught On A Whim,

so I'm especially excited that she is this week's fancy folk!

Erica is a snappy crafter with lots of fantastic DIY's on her blog. 

What is on your 2013 agenda?

Lots of crafting for sure! I've got tons of crafty projects spinning around in my head that I can't wait to create. I also want to do some traveling. Going to the beach is mandatory this year. It's been too long since I've had sea salt in my hair.

Your perfect day is..

I'm an early riser (such a weirdo, I know), so I'd get up pretty early to get a start on my day. I'd make a pot of tea and read some magazines while curled up on my couch with my sleepy pups. Then, it's time for action... I'd take my pups out for a walk, come back for a hearty waffle breakfast and off to the craft store I'd go to get some crafty goodies. I'd spend the afternoon crafting while my husband plays guitar. Maybe we'd even be able to squeeze in an afternoon hike. At night, we'd finish up by watching a movie and eating popcorn. Gosh, why can't every day be like that??!!  ;) 

If you were a cat who would you follow all day in the hope that they would look after you?

Meredith of One Sheepish Girl is a pretty cool cat herself. She is so genuine and creative. I always find inspiration in her blog posts. Maybe she'll take me in??

What is your current obsession?

Sewing! I just got a sewing machine for Christmas and am teaching myself to sew. I can't wait to start making myself custom clothing.

What is your karaoke song?

Oh, goodness, I'm a horrible singer, but that doesn't stop me from singing around the house at the top of my lungs for fun. At least my dogs don't complain much. lol! I'd probably have to choose a cheesy 1980s song.  They don't make music like they used to.  ;)

>>> To read more about Erica,

swing by her blog and say hello!

What We Did Instead Of Packing

Luke & I have two days off together this week, so yesterday we spent our first day together doing lovely things. Rather than pack up our house for our move next week, we slept in. And went out for breakfast and sat in the sun. We looked through a couple of op shops in search of a round coffee table & decorative delights for our new house. We bought some colourful plates and things for my hospital bag. I found the most delightful Nanna cardigan that I cannot wait to wear all winter. We shared a spinach pastry at the shops and visited my parents. While Luke made lentil wraps for dinner, he set up a foot spa for my swollen feet and gave me a foot massage afterwards. We watched How I Met Your Mother and ate Easter Eggs and then we went to bed. It has been ages since we've been able to spend a day like this together. 

Start Your Week Off With..

My Life List: An Update by Her Library Adventures

Blueberry Bagels by Twigs & Tea

Drawings & Illustrations From Nature by Design By Garlands

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower - Reviewed by I Think I Just Blogged Myself

>>>Some ideas for your life list,

a recipe for delicious blueberry bagels, some illustrations to admire and

a book review incase you're looking for something to read!

Have a great week! 

Fancy Folk - Twigs & Tea

This week's Fancy Folk is Faith, who blogs over at Twigs & Tea.

What is on your 2013 agenda?

To enjoy my last several months in Washington state before I move to Minnesota to start anew. This year got off to kind of a tough start with plans changing abruptly and my hopes being dashed many times. But that's okay, because I've decided that 2013 is the year of change and I need to adapt to it. Some dreams for this year include running in a marathon, becoming a budgeting and money-saving master (I can't use the I'm a poor college student excuse anymore!), become involved in my new community when I move, and to be successful in all things I try.

Your perfect day is..

A lazy day in the summer or going on an outdoor adventure! I love being able to take a whole day for myself, or with my boyfriend, or with my friends doing things I love--- lazing about in the sunshine or conquering mountains. 

If you were a cat who would you follow all day in the hope that they would look after you?

Can I be a dog? I don't really identify with cats... I'd follow my boyfriend around. He knows how to deal with me in all my moods.

What is your current obsession?

Hm, I don't really have an obsession right now. I guess you could call me obsessed about learning more about the food we eat. I've spent a lot of time watching different documentaries on GMOs, food production and politics, and researching how to make certain foods and only buying the good stuff. It's important! I really think people should know more about what we eat everyday and try to make it better.

What is your karaoke song?

AH I love karaoke thanks to my family's obsession with it, or Rock Band (their new obsession) which is basically karaoke but more awesome. Mr. Jones by Counting Crows, Orinoco Flow by Enya (don't ask), gimme shelter by the stones, anything Coldplay, Foo Fighters, blablabla I could go on. Anything really. 

>>>To read more about Faith,

go check out her blog!

(She writes an awesome blog series "know your food")

Stupid Things Customers Say

[source]

One of the entertaining things about working at a cafe, is the constant flow of drivel that comes out of some customers mouthes. Sometimes I find myself thinking how I should be annoyed at what they've said, rather than impressed with just how idiotic they seem to be. During our end of day close sometimes the ladies I work with and myself like to incorporate silly things said during the day into our conversations. Over the weekend a man was a little taken back by the $4 price for a large coffee and claimed that he could 'go up to Coles and get a whole tin of coffee for $1.79 and it would be just as good'. I thought this was going to be the weekend winner, but on Sunday afternoon as I was just about to close the coffee machine down a lady bustled into the cafe hysterically claiming she needed a coffee. She needed a small decaf latte. She was quite infuriating to serve because she choose to stare at me rather than answer questions, and when I charged her out she  challenged the price. When I told her that decaf was 50 cents extra, she picked up her coffees and sassed, 'of course the less you get the more you pay'. So.. I'm pretty sure she doesn't understand that decaf is a different blend and that we don't actually knit pick the caffeine out ourselves. 

After working in hospitality it has really made me think twice about my own dinning experiences. And think about what I ask and say before it leaves my mouth. Because if you give yourself an extra twenty seconds to possibly observe the environment, you may save yourself the hassle of asking stupid questions such as, 'do you guys sell coffee?'. Yes! Yes we do, it is a cafe after all. And, 'do you do takeaway coffees?' as they stand in front of a stack of takeaway cups. After a year and half of working at the cafe, I have heard some pretty silly things, but my most favourite thing that was said recently to one of the other waitresses was by a couple of middle aged women. Sarah seated the ladies and told them it was table service but they chose to come up to the counter anyway after being seated and asked if they could get things off the menu cheaper if they didn't utilise our table service. 

Sometimes there are days where I'll have a handful of people come in throughout the day and say equally silly things that really makes me worry. I would never, ever go into a cafe or an establishment and ask the staff things like 'have you considered how this cafe is contributing to the obesity epidemic? If you put that much food on someones plate, they're going to eat it'. That was last week's gem, and the most concerning thing about the way the conversation played out was the lady who asked me this was deadly serious and genuinely annoyed with how much food came out on her plate because she left the cafe the day before feeling too full and unable to eat her dinner that night. All you can really do is laugh I suppose. 

Start Your Week Off With..

Let's Talk Comments by Brownie Diaries

Things I've Learned Decorating by Maiedae

Managing Busy Changes by JustLove.lyThings

Photographing Food In Public by Of Corgis & Cocktails

Have a neat little week!

*New Feature* Fancy Folk - Adrian Loves Owls

'Fancy Folk' is a new weekly feature on Tastes Like Love that will spotlight a different blogger each week. I love sharing other blogs, and I am a fan of the handful of question type posts so I thought this would be the perfect way to mix the two. And I was lucky enough to have Adrian from Adrian Loves Owls as the first fancy folk to kick off this new feature! 

What is on your 2013 agenda?

I don't have a whole lot of events planned for 2013 as of yet. Something that I'm hoping to do this summer is to attend a Photography Workshop at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. I applied for a scholarship to attend a two-week long workshop. I'll will find out if I have been accepted next month. The anticipation is killing me!!

Your perfect day is..

My perfect day would start with me sleeping in until about 10:00AM, then heading to vegan brunch with my husband Jayare and our son Damien at Lo-Fi Coffee. Afterwards, We would go antiquing or thrifting. Then we would go on a bike ride together. That evening, we would get together with our friends to play a game of kickball. That would seriously be the most perfect day!

If you were a cat who would you follow all day in the hope that they would look after you?

Haha! That's so funny! I'd follow Kate Gabrielle of Scathingly Brilliant around so that I could admire all of her pretty things in real life!

What is your current obsession?

I am currently obsessed with Flapper Girl Lady Ties. I have a growing collection and they're my go-to accessory!

What is your karaoke song?

I haven't gone karaoking in a really long time! When I used to go, my song of choice was "Like a Prayer" by Madonna.

>>>To read more about Adrian, 

go check out her blog and say hello!

My Monthly Agenda - March

TUNE  /  NEED  /  MEAL  /  READ

It's been a couple of months since I have done one of these posts because I usually think to do them halfway through the month. I've been on such a good run lately remembering to do things and getting organised even though I have an ever present case of baby brain! Aside from getting myself organised for the arrival of our little Lady, these are the other handful of things on my March agenda. 

Until recently I hadn't bought any new cds or music, or had the interest in seeking out new artists because I didn't have enough time. But the last three weeks Luke & I have been getting Thursday's off together and they usually involve a trip to the shops. Unlike me Luke makes the time to find out about new bands and different kinds of music. So last time we were at the shops and he was buying some new cds, rather than stand too close to him and hurry him up I started looking for some cds for myself. I'm so behind I didn't even know Tegan & Sara had a new album out, and completely forgot to check out No Doubt's long awaited reunion release.  So I snapped those up with a best of Elton John for good measure! It has been such a treat to have something new playing on my iTunes when I'm home and has made me pay closer attention to the rotating iPods at work. One album that is on high rotation is Amy Winehouse's 'Back To Black', and the last couple of weeks I've actually started to enjoy her music. I never got into her music because seeing her on the front covers of gossip magazines inebriated and on drugs just wasn't appealing. And for a good year or so that is all anybody wanted to focus on with her. So this month I want to get my own copy of the album, finally.

If you haven't tried the Luxurious Rosehip Body Oil by Kora Organics than I highly recommend that you do! That stuff is bottled magic! My sister bought me some for my birthday last year so I could rub on my growing belly, and it has worked wonders. The past couple of weeks my belly has just popped right out & I don't have any stretch marks to date. I've read a lot of ladies use Bio-Oil on their bellies, and I probably would have too if I hadn't of known about this product. Rosehip oil can improve the appearance of scarring, stretch marks, dry skin, premature ageing and skin tone and is also full of good nutrients. One of these 80 ml bottles lasted me almost three months as I only applied it on my stomach. The product is a little pricey but most definitely worth it. 

Last week in the doctors waiting room I found a handful of really tasty looking meat-free meals in an old copy of Woman's Day, and quinoa fattoush was one of them. I've been wanting to find some really good quinoa dishes to perfect and this recipe is super easy, and the best part about it is Luke wants to try it too so he'll be making it! There is some benefits to being married to a chef! And the last thing on my March agenda is to read a new book. I've barely been able to keep up with reading blogs let alone starting any new books, but I want to change that and make the time for it. I've seen a couple of bloggers post about 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower' and made a mental note to read it. And theres no time like the present, so it's going to be the first book I read on my Kindle. 

Start Your Week Off With..

Home by Sometimes Sweet

Dating & Marriage by His Little Lady

On Our Walls by Little Wild Moose

Let's Talk About Emails by Thriftary on Yellow Bird, Yellow Beard

Have a nice week!