Free Sponsorship

Like Everything In Between , and A Cup Of Subtle Tea , I am offering free sponsorship on Tastes Like Love too!

As my blog is still new and developing, like so many other blogs out there, things like (free) sponsorship are a great way to get out to other bloggers and help fellow blogging folk to do the same. I was especially keen to offer/participate in this button swappin' sponsorshippin' business because Everything In Between & A Cup Of Subtle Tea have been good blogspiration for me over the past couple of weeks. Not to mention their blogs are also entertaining and endearing.

[ My sponsor buttons are 160 x 120 ]

So if you would be interested in free sponsorship on Tastes Like Love, send me an email - laurenemily@y7mail.com - to let me know. If you don't have a sponsor button but would like to participate, I'd be happy to make one for you!

Friday

Friday Luke & I had a sweet little Newcastle adventure. We started our morning quiet late with coffee and omelets outside in the sun.

Then made our way to Newcastle to have coffee with one of our friends Lara. I had been saving that little hat for her since my sister's hen's night months ago. I think she looks pretty boss in it! We had coffees & lime, pepper & sea salt fries. Although I speak to Lara probably every couple of days on the phone, I hadn't seen her in some months. So it was nice to catch up. We were at Eurobar, a cafe we used to haunt on Tuesday evenings together last year.

And after our coffee date, we had to do a couple of things around Newcastle. We swung by Darby Street to have dinner at The Depot because it has the most amazing warm vegetable salad with grilled haloumi and pistachio nuts. (The Depot is candle lit in the evenings, so it wasn't the best setting to whip out my phone for photos.) 
After dinner, we went to see one of my favourite bands, Eskimo Joe. It was the launch of their new album tour, and it was all kinds of amazing! I had the best time. They played all the songs I wanted them too, and it was just a flawless set. Luke isn't particularly into them, but he really enjoyed himself. I can't wait to see them again!

After the gig, we drove back home to the coast. When we got home we had cups of tea and finished our fantastic Friday off with some episodes of Oz!

Sydney

Luke & I went to Sydney yesterday for a little day trip. We have been meaning to go to 'Urban Bites ' for a while now. My cousin used to work there for a couple of years, & recently left to study overseas. We had eggs & coffee before we ventured into the city to visit the Sydney Art Gallery. It's been a couple of years since I last went & it was nice to see some of my favourite pieces, and some new interesting things. It seems sculpture is the current rage, the gallery was packed with interesting, abstract sculpture.

Photo Booth 2

I just wanted to share my second installment of my Photo Booth series I've been working on. These have been perfect vehicle to motivate me with my illustrations. I've been drawing almost everyday for the last two weeks. Hence my lack of blogging. That and season four of Gossip Girl. I've yet to start a third set as I have been working on a much over due drawing for my aunty. We had a deal, she would knit me a jumper, & I would do an illustration of her! It was a pretty sweet deal, she upheld her part & the past two winters I've kept warm. So over due is a little bit of an understatement! But for now, installment two!

Photo booth

I've been working on some photo booth character type illustrations over the weekend. I'm quiet pleased with how this one turned out! I haven't shared many of my femme illustrations on here, however I do endeavor to change this. The girls I draw are all kinds of show offs.

You Am I

Luke spent Wednesday evening in Newcastle, and I crossed another book off my 'must read' list. When he got home Thursday afternoon we decided our evening would be a movie & pizza night. We hired 'Suckerpunch' & 'Red Riding Hood'; was not a fan of 'Suckerpunch'. I was however, a bit smitten with 'Red Riding Hood'. Put that on the dvd wish list! Luke & I watched 'Red Riding Hood' with our hoods on, they were not however red.

And Friday evening we went to see a 'You Am I' gig. I've seen them a handful of times before, but it was Luke's first time. He randomly saw one of his old highschool friends from Gunnedah working doing the sound stuff. It was a pretty neat gig. It's always nice to see Australian bands & having people whip their hurr back and fourth!

Presents

Over the past couple of weeks I have acquired a couple of cute presents from various places around the world from my family. I guess I have pretty defined tastes in treats & every day fancy, as all of the gifts are colourful & bright!

My cousin Kate bought me the Himalayan Felt coin purse, which excites me to no end as I currently have an obsession with felt ball creations. Happiness comes in the form of a felt ball mat . She picked that bad boy up out in the country where I grew up, in Gunnedah. It was definitely a nice surprise!

The four buttons and lady beetles were from my aunty Sharon, who recently went on an around the world type cruise holiday. She brought all of my cousins back some hand crafted goodness from Prague. Mine was in the form of a lady beetle necklace and matching bracelet. They are so fracking adorable! The buttons are also from Prague, they were designed and crafted by a local artist, and intended for my button collection. She knows exactly the things I like!

My sister Ashleigh recently arrived home from her Hawaiian honeymoon, and she didn't return empty handed! She picked me up a cute-as-all-get-out necklace of a bunny xylophonist character! I am so in love with it! And to keep in with the animal theme, she picked up some cute character pegs with cute little 'pick me ups' on them. When I set up a desk, its going to be so adorable with similar assortments.