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the pursuit of pleasure

place: Il Cielo

Poison: Coke Zero

Favourite Things: Free Wifi

Ayana, Jimbarian Bay and motorbiking in the rain, three moments of extravagant atmosphere, three places of pleasure.

I think we all get a little scared of pleasure because we believe that it might take us off track and lead us down a dark alley of despair.

However, I think balanced with reflection and discipline, there is nothing wrong with delight, pleasure, ambience and love. In fact I think we deny ourselves way too much and end up in a place of self doubt, decay and boredom.

I am not encouraging over the top voyeurism and consumerism, but I am encouraging you to let go and have some fun, laughing uncontrollably, ride on a motorbike in the rain once in your life it will be thrilling and completely terrifying at the same time.

On the pursuit of a perfect place for writing and contemplation, I convinced Charl to take me to Jimbarian Bay, an adventure and an afternoon we will never forget. Paying $5 australian to hire a motor bike, we chucked on helmets, said a prayer and launched into an afternoon of high risk, writing and reflecting.

I wanted to go to Ayana, the 6 star resort in Jimbarian Bay and my gosh it did not disappoint. We got quite lost, but just kept asking locals for directions, and by the time we got there, my inspiration meter was running high, we sat out on a cliff face, with a lift that takes you to a bar that overlooks the ocean and seriously I thought we were pretty close to heaven.

From the chapel on the cliff, to the service, the overflowing infinity pool, to the $7 coffee, every creative bone in my body screamed pleasure, ambiance and creative explosion.

Then the rain came. And did it come hard.

Getting home on the motor bike, through the freeway, over the rickety bridges, was the end to the day we never planned. We screamed, I prayed, we laughed, I nearly cried…

Home safely, with many pages filled in my journal, pleased as punch.

Pleasure attained.

Holidays I love you

A

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Coconut oil body scrub.

Place:my office

Poison: water

Favourite things: text messages from my love…

I am working on a homemade Christmas this year….here is a coconut oil body scrub.

Go to an Asian supermarket and find coconut oil, otherwise it’s really expensive.

Buy a few bottles, melt them in boiling hot water.

Put a couple of cups of cooing salt in a bowl, add your favourite essential oil, pour the melted coconut oil over and mix.

Put in some lovely jars and shamwow, a home made Christmas pressie is done.

Try it out, it makes your skin feel lovely!

Much love

A

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Bonbonerie…AHHH!!

Place: My office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Inside Out Magazine

Well today a parcel arrived! It made me dance, run around the office with a cheeky smile and turn up Jason Mraz single ‘Lucky’…

A confession, I hate terrible wedding bonbonerie (can’t spell them either) gifts…So I wrote to a generic Inside Out Magazine email address, asking if they had any of their 10th anniversary tea towels, with Rob Ryan’s print on them left over that I could buy…It was a long shot, but sometimes there is just no harm in asking…

AND!!

They gave me 120 of them…I’m so excited…They are perfect for the vibe I am longing to create for my wedding.

Event Management central is in overdrive…I’m excited!!!

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A new landscape

Place: My Office
Poison: Coke Zero
Favourite Things: My new Ipad

I have been chewing on this quote quite alot over the last few weeks…

‘The real voyage of discovery, lies not in seeking new landscapes, but in seeing with new eyes’

This quote is from Marcel Proust.

What I have been musing on, is the perception of escapism when it comes to inspiration.

If only I could get away to a secluded place, If only I could go on a holiday, if only I didn’t have this responsibility…then maybe I could find that place of peace/ inspiration.

However, I am discovering that inspiration can be found in the mundane, its just asking for new eyes to change your perception.

For example a hugh pile of paperwork…

As I look at the paper work, its like- Ahhhhhh no way, I just need to escape it, can’t wait to get the clutter out of my desk, cupboard or pile….

Yet those times I seek and search through paper work, I always discover a gold mine, of reciepts that remind me of that lovely date we had, a card from a friend with words that make me smile, a photo that evokes a deep memory.

Seeing the pile of extra papers, suddenly becomes a place of inspiration and delight.

Seek and ask for new eyes, wherever you find yourself my creative friend.

Inspiration is there to be found, we just need to look for it…

A