Place: Qantas club

Poison: Diet Coke

Favourite Things: Hannah beauty on the phone!

Okay, Im slightly addicted…my name is Amanda, and I am addicted to facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=617221549

Its all the rave at the moment, the new msn, the new blogville, the new my space.

Check it out. Very creative. Very people focused. Even found people from my school on it. How cool.

A

Place: Milkd

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Rainy days that seem to promise summer will be here soon…

(the view out of my hotel window in Queenstown!)

Well I have had a delightful day full of not much. I stayed at mums last night and am in perth to start my few days of annual leave.

With all the travelling it feels a little indulgent to be taking extra time off, but it was booked so long ago and counting the amount of hours I am sleeping its obvious my body is needing it.

I had lunch with the beautiful Michaela today, and she told me many stories about Japan, and whats been happening since she has lived there for the last year and a half.

Also it is lovely Justice and also Sarah (Bain’s) birthday today. So a dinner happening in Sydney right now, is where my heart it. I wish I could be there to hug you all.

This all got me thinking about CARE packages. The amazing girls in my department, have been collecting little but lovely items for a HUGE care package that I got given today. They wanted me to rest up on my time off and feel the love and that I did.

Sending or giving a package with thoughtful bits and bobs, that only means something to the reciever and givers, is one thing I do to keep the flame burning brightly for my close friends in Australia and overseas.

To get the favour returned to me, completely unexpectedly was so thoughtful, rare and delightful.

Thanks events girls, I truly am priveleged to do my everyday with such quality people.

Share the love in your world and it will always grow and return back to you, even in the most unexpected ways.

Content and rested!
A

Place: Milkd

Poison: Long Macciato

Favourite Things: My own bed!

I came home this weekend for a couple of amazing weddings and also it was Elly and Ben’s first year anniversary of being married. (a year ago I was a bridesmaid! how time flies)

(one of my staff, the beautiful simone, marries lance!)

(how beautiful does she look!)

At times like this, when you have been away from home and travelling through another country it brings things back home, what life is truly about.

I found a brochure at the Auckland airport with this quote in Maori…

‘Ki Mai koe ki a au,

he aha te mea nui tenei ao:

He tangatat, he tangata, he tangata’

Translated it says this…

“If you should ask me what is the greatest thing in the world,

The answer would be:

It is people, it is people, it is people”

Last night before I fell asleep, I was ready a book of the bible called ecclesiates and throughout the whole book it kept repeating the phrase…It is all smoke…Life is smoke…one breath and its gone.

The writer of this book, was refering to the collection of material goods, success, gold, clothes, jobs, titles and position. He was making the point that it is all like smoke, in comparison to what really matters in this world.

So as I drive down to visit my family, with whom I miss so terribly. I am reminded…

What is the greatest thing in the world:

It is people, It is people, It is People.

Yes!

A

Place: Qantas Club

Poison: Cappucino

Favourite Things: Free Wireless

I have strruggled this whole trip to access the internet. Its so funny because you take it for granted when you are at a desk every day.

This internet fast has encouraged me to cruise the local New Zealand publications more and especially I have loved all the NZ magazines. (not the cleo, cosmo, womans day gossip trains) The architecture, the house and homes, the notebook, creative types.

Yes I am one of those annoying types, who secretly tear out pages from the magazine when no-one is looking. Most of the time they are my publications, but sometimes when I am 1% naughty I rip them out of pages from cafes.

The buildings, the gardens, the fashion, the creativity in Auckland, NZ is breathtaking. I am so lucky that I am addicted to my family, if not I would be packing up my life and shipping it to this Island of the long white cloud.

My little heart shaped notebook has gotten a beating this week, as I have glued, ripped, written and scratched a plethora of new ideas for life, work and my new publications.

My encouragement, is any chance you get, if you see a great idea. Use your phone camera to take a picture, or rip out the little quote like I did on the airbus today or go for broke rip out a whole page.

The creative inspiration that rolls from this act of naughtiness will totally over ride your feelings of guilt.

Live in the moment of creative inspiration, it turns a boring suduko crossword into a colourful magnet of inspiration.

naughtily

A

Place: Hyatt Auckland

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: Sleep ins… 

Well, I haven’t kept up my promise yet again, with very good reasons, I have been in the sticks! And good coffee is not possible in Pakiri, let alone Wireless acess to the internet. Despite this, I have had the most amazing few days. Maybe the lack of internet and the increase of fresh air, is really what this inspiration bunny needed.

We went horse riding for a couple of days and it was absolutely breathtaking. This was something that I did for the first time. I can honestly say when you do something for the first time, it does unlock a whole new world and openness to new ideas and life expressions.

I have had more ideas in the last few days than this whole year.

Horses are so strong, fit and stubborn. There are so many different analogies that flowed through my head. Especially when I flew off the horse as we rounded a rough corner.

The big thing that kept beating through my head, get back on the horse, get back on the horse. And as humbling as it was, that I did.

With a saddle sore, B-hind…Stretched arms as Missy was intent of battling her bit with me, I actually managed to stay on…

Nice

Do something you have never done before. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

It is exhilerating when you finish, even if you can hardly walk after!

Lovin

A