Ready, Set, GET FIT

I joined the Gym yesterday. Its a womens only gym which is run completley by women so I feel quite comfortable there. I've never ever set foot in a gym in my life until now. I've always been so intimidated but hopefully this one will be different. Its very small and feels more homely and I hope no idiot poser muscle ladies go there. Heres a few pictures to get everyone in the workout mood. Stretch!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/juampibonino/2986054199/

http://birdsofpray.tumblr.com/page/4

http://candy-warhol.tumblr.com/post/187041842/iwantthisshit-urone

http://www.core77.com/gallery/TRANSVERSALE%202009/61.asp?current_image_number=16

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flabbycheeks/2198825854/

ENJOY THE WEEKEND.

The Boy Who Wanted More Cheese

Klaas Van Bommel was a Dutch boy, twelve years old, who lived where cows were plentiful. He was over five feet high, weighed a hundred pounds, and had rosy cheeks. His appetite was always good and his mother declared his stomach had no bottom. His hair was of a color half-way between a carrot and a sweet potato. It was as thick as reeds in a swamp and was cut level, from under one ear to another.

If you want to find out how the rest of the fairytale goes click here... now for a photomontage of my trip to the land of bicycles, clogs and tulips.

Thank you to my darling friends Paul, Nicola and Katy who had a camera which took digital photos.

I hope the huge pictures dont make computers around the globe crash and burn. I thought they looked much better larger than they did smaller.

Familiar Sounds

This little clip has been popping up all over the blogosphere lately. Its great to see that little wee New Zealand is making a stamp on the world in one way or another.
Listening to the sexy husky narrator talk about familiar places like Kingsland and Morningside make me want to pack my bags and head back home. But I know, deep down, I'm not ready to leave London just yet.

Blind Folds and Boys

I suppose you are all wondering how my first blind date experience went. It was fun. and exciting. a way to pass the time. but in no way was he someone I connected with on any real level. We met up at the prearranged meeting point. we awkwardly hugged then went on our hunt for a money machine followed by a comfortable and inviting pub.

All was going well. We had things to talk about as we strolled down the street and strangely I didnt feel awkward at all. As we approached the cash machine I reached for my brown leather purse and to my dismay I realised I had left it in a bag with my newly purchased art supplies at work! Oh my I must have looked like a right damsel in distress playing this guy for all he was worth. He was very understanding though and promised me that the drinks were on him. Oh, I was extremely embarassed!

The rest of the night went well. We chewed the fat. drank the wine and all in all I had a very good time. I just didnt fancy him that way. There were no sparks flying. no passion in our conversation. In short - we weren't on the same level. I dont regret it for a minute though and I hope I can go on another one soon.

After the date I met up with Rose and we went to see the amazing new film from Michael Haneke - The White Ribbon. After drinking a few glasses of wine and not eating I was extremley tired and kept falling asleep! So I missed most of the film and I was utterly disgusted in myself as it was one that I had been waiting to see for weeks. Anyway I do recommend going to see it. Its shot in black and white, in German with English subtitles. I found the cinematography and the acting beautiful the whole film is very unsettling which is what makes it a great film to go and see. Heres some stills from the film. enjoy!

Talk to me Tuesday

I went to Amsterdam and got back last night so I havent had anytime to do an interview this week. So instead i leave you with these images. Cats make everything seem ok.

from weheartit.com my new favourite place for inspiration

Some dinosaurs have sharp teeth

In 3 hours time I shall be getting on a bus to go to the airport to wait for an aeroplane to take me to Amsterdam.

I am flippin excited.
I really really need a break from London.

Before I go and get a few hours rest I want to share with you all the newest creations.additions to the Little Monarch Empire.

Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome my Dinosaurus Neclaceauruses:

They will be going up on the Rokit website in due course and will probably sell for around £15 each but if you fancy buying one then definately contact me directly and I'll give you one for £8. Heck, I'll even throw in free postage within UK. what a bargain!

anyway you can email me at teebarham@gmail.com

I look forward to reading all your lovely comments about my new dinos. much love to you. I heart you all xx

Date with Destiny

I signed up to a dating site a few weeks back and tonight I am going on my first date!

nervous. excited. scared.

Have you ever been on a blind date before?

Talk to Me Tuesday with Koralee

How dare you say your life is not interesting! Im going to ask you marvellous questions which I am sure you will have marvellous answers for.

What is your full name?

My full name is Koralee Marie {minus my last name...I do not want to post it}

How long have you been blogging for? What is the name of your blog and how can we read it?

I started blogging January of this year. My blog is called Bluebird Notes found at http://bluebirdnotes.blogspot.com

What do you blog about?

I love to blog about things I am passionate about ....such as decorating, baking, my family, my life...little bits and pieces of this and that from my corner of the world ...really whatever I feel like that day. I like to inspire and speak from my heart.

Is there any meaning behind the name of your blog?

There is really no meaning behind my Blog's name other than I have always had a love for wee little birds.

Who lives with you in your home? Oh and where abouts on this planet do you reside?

I live with my lovely husband and two of my three daughters. The third daughter just got married this past May and lives only a few minutes away....thank goodness. I live in a lovely west coast city within minutes from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Are you more of a cat person or a dog person? Or do animals freak you out?

Oh I love this question. I have always been a dog person...100%. I grew up with many furry friends. Right now we do not have any dogs in our home just because we are way too busy but we will one day I promise. Our last pet was a lovely black Lab named Rosie who now is retired and living with my Mom and Dad on this huge acreage in the country. I really am a animal lover of all sorts.

Do you like to bake? If so, what was the last thing you baked and do you wear a pretty apron whilst doing it? If you don’t like baking, why not? Did you have an awful experience?

Oh I love to bake...one of my passions. I love to make things look pretty and so the best thing about baking for me is packaging it up with ribbons and lovely gift tags to give to friends and family. I adore Christmas for this very reason. Yes I do have a few pretty aprons. I have started a collection and hope to add to it this Christmas...a few vintage ones would be nice {on my Christmas list}.

I have a strong feeling that you are married? Can we please see a sneaky photograph of you in your wedding dress?

Yes I am so happily married...to my college sweetheart. I am sorry but my wedding photo's are in storage but I do have this photo of my daughter and I at her wedding in May.....hope it will do.

Do you have anything that you like to collect? I seem to go through phases of collecting different things. At the moment it is mugs and greeting cards.

I love to collect. Ever since I was a little girl...it all started with a collection on mini Hotel soap bars I inherited or my Auntie at about age 7. I was hooked. I really think I have collected everything there is to collect over the years. Right now I would say petalware dishes{mostly pink but I am branching out to any colour} and vintage alarm clocks are my obsession....that's today. Tomorrow I will be on to something else.

What is the weather like in your part of the world today? Is the sun filtering through the maple leaves while the bees busily collect honey from the fresh blossoms? Or is it dark and mysterious, the whole sky filled with ominous heavy looking clouds?

Our weather today....well we do live on the West coast of B.C. which is know for it's lush green vegetation so we get oodles of rain. We live in our rain boots and have have multi fashionable umbrellas....I think I have about 15 pretty umbrellas to my name right now {that could be my other collecting obsession}. So yes today it is another gloomy rainy day but boy do we have lovely green lawns and West coast rainforest to die for.


How about chidren do you have any little darlings running around with you?

Back to my children....yes I have 3 daughters ages 20, 18 and 13. No wee little ones but life is pretty busy as my 13 year old dances 12 hours a week.

What do you do besides blogging?
Besides Blogging...which lately seems to take up a lot of my time. I am teacher for grade 5 and grade 1....which keeps me busy enough. In the rest of my spare time I love to create, decorate, hunt for treasure in flea markets and second-hand shops and lately I have been into photography {would love to take some lessons}. I am also in love with my bike..."Maria" and when the weather is good I try to ride her as much as possible.

Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? Where is your favourite place to shop ( I have a feeling I know the answer to this question already...)
Christmas shopping?...I have done a wee bit but now you are making me nervous with this question...yechs I need to get on it. This year I would like to get unique items ...things found on etsy or other on line shops that fellow bloggers have. So many talented people out there I would love to support. I am so addicted to etsy...my mailman has never been so busy! My one shop I love to go to is Anthopologie...we do not have one in the Vancouver area so I usually head off to Seattle to get my fix {only an hour or so away}.


What pattern is on your bed cover? I have two black love birds. It is very sweet.

My bedcover is actually from Ikea...I just got it and love it. It is white with a black paisley pattern and polka dots on it. I have lots of throw pillows all over our king size bed....black and white checks or floral patterns in turquoise and blues hues.

Do you like board games? What was the last game you played?
We are a board game family....we play all the time. Christmas day is just one big board game day...every year I buy a new one for under the tree so we can play all day long. Any ideas what one I should buy this year???? Last board game I played was Apples to Apples.

I like to ask people what their favourite things are. So here we go...

I love birds. I think my favourite is the toucan but I also love the humble sparrow. Do you have a favourite bird?

My favourite bird is the sweet little chickadee...I love how small they are and enjoy watching them in amazement outside my living room window scampering about on my holly bush. I am hoping to snap some photos of them for my Christmas card this year. { I bet you thought I was going to say my favourite was the bluebird! }

Whats your favourite colour?

My favourite colour is robin egg blue....I am in love with that colour and my home is basically all white and black with splashes of that colour everywhere.

Do you have a favourite shade of lipstick? Or if you don’t wear lipstick a favourite item of make up? Or if you don’t wear make up a favourite beauty product?

I do love lipstick and wish with all my heart that I could wear Revlon Classic Red but it just does not work for me so I stick to the more pinkish tones but everyday I wear Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Rhubarb.

What about a favourite fragrance?

My fragrance is by Lollia called "Wish"...I use the eau de parfum and the sheabutter hand cream everyday!

A favourite item of clothing that you never want to take off?
I love wearing tights with boots this season.....usually I stick with black tights but have been known to wear a few of the bright coloured ones for fun.
Enough of the favourites. What was the last book you read?

I adore reading. I just reread The Secret Life of Bees. I have a list a mile long of books I want for Christmas....fiction and non-fiction.

And the last album you listened to. Or song if you don’t listen to albums?
My favourite album right now is Break up by Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson.

Last film you saw? I can’t wait to see fantastic Mr Fox and Where the Wild Things Are!
Last film I saw was Whip it....but I really want to see Precious.

What was the last sweet thing you put in your mouth?
Last thing I put in my mouth...I just finished it! an orange....but I have been living on strawberry juice bars and London Fogs lately.

Thank you Thank you Thank you my sweet heart for taking the time to share a little bit of your wonderful life with us. Hearts hugs and kisses xxx
Thank you so so much ...this was so fun. You really are a dear for thinking of me and I am so honored! xoxoxoKoralee

Want to be a victim of talk to me tuesday? think you've got what it takes? Leave me a comment and we shall speak soon