The Holidays - catch up

I know its pretty late but Merry Christmas and Happy 2011 people!

I had a lovely Christmas, much better than I thought (maybe it was the low expectations) as I was feeling homesick imagining the tree, food, coziness and family at home in the SNOW (jealous) but it was good, a different kind of good, the low point was discovering our 'Christmas' dinner out didn't include the stuffing, roast potatoes or veg (the best bits!) as I was utterly looking forward to that BUT the best bit was finding out I'm going to Osaka, Japan in about 2 weeks !

To say I am excited is a major understatement. I'm worried I'm setting myself up for disappointment actually because I am THAT excited ! So I've got this big shopping list of things I NEED as there may be snow (EEEee!) and I didn't even ship a single coat here (mistake!).

And New Year Resolutions! I'm not the type to really do these as I think they are made to be broken! but but but I'm going to make myself go to bed early, goodbye 2am bedtimes, hello full productive mornings where I don't feel asleep and want to die.

Littleclouds wise, I've listed a bunch of new stuff over the last week or 2 with a few more yet to be photographed and listed but I'm going to start winding down within the next month or 2 to prepare for the big move of returning to the UK ! Obviously I want to ship as little as possible home and the shop will be shut for quite a while during the transition as I try to find my feet and settle but hopefully not as long as last time (2-3 months eek!).

I also received the most exciting emails regarding my work just before Christmas which can't really be revealed until Autumn next year but I admit to jumping up and down a wee bit to this one as I think its my best achievement to date by far but hopefully something between now and then will trump it heh!

♥ Here's hoping that 2011 will bring us all peace, happiness and love to us all ♥

The Woof and Meow guide to Hong Kong

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this but a while ago I did a ickle drawing for a book in Hong Kong, its a guide to Hong Kong for pet owners that can be purchased here.

Its a bit random for me as I don't really seek out illustration work really but it came along so why not! And of all places it presented itself to me from my Facebook feed !

Thankful

Just one of the few beautiful cards from Saplingpress

This year we had thanksgiving dinner for the first time.

Mostly for the food (nom!) but then the 'other half' is actually American born so you could say we were going back to his roots.......hmm nope it was literally just for the stuffing !

Anyway I'm really glad, its something I'd like to do every year actually now given the chance.

Forgetting the religious context, I think its an important idea to remind yourself of the things you are thankful for in order to really appreciate them.

Its so easy to forget how lucky we are (figuratively speaking!) and very very easy to get bogged down by the small potatoes in life and just feeling like the grass is greener on the other side so I dedicate this post to the things I am thankful for.

In no particular order and not exclusive (just what I'm feelin' in the moment!)

Health - I'm quite fortunate to be one of those people who isn't ill much of the time, I haven't been to the doctor in 2 years *touch wood*

Wealth - I'm actually very skint a lot of the time but relatively speaking I know I'm pretty well off and its something I've become quite aware of since moving to Hong Kong actually.

And I'm also luckily / happily one of those people who don't feel the urgency for the latest and greatest so that helps a lot (thank you stingy parents!)

Friends and family - My family aren't an open book with one another, nor a completely closed one. We're more like the coffee table magazine that is occasionally flicked through. You know its there ready for you when you need it essentially. Thats probably a weird analogy (a habit of mine!) but that really makes sense to me !

Anyway, there are other things but these are at the core of it all so enough for now, what are the things you are thankful for? Have a think and really feeeeeel it, it makes you look out the window in a much brighter way which is nice.

Seven Things....

'Seven little things' by elizabethtaylor

I've been tagged by Emily to reveal 7 things about myself (you can see the last 7 here!)

I actually quite like doing these things, quite narcissistic of me but my excuse is in person, I can be quite private about things and don't tell people stuff unless I'm asked so now I've been asked well....

1) I'm a gemini. I'm not really into astrology, I don't read my horoscope because I'm not sure I believe in the possibility of being alike to millions of others based on my birth date BUT I do share the 'gemini traits' of dual personality.

That probably sounds scary and erratic, I am not a crazy cat lady (maybe dog lady...) but I do feel like I'm trying to combine the thoughts and wants of 2 people sometimes which leads to lots of indecision and thinking and debating which for an impatient person can be a tad frustrating.

The significant other in my life (not Noodles although he is close) is also a gemini and so is one of my best friends....now that could be coincidence or is it? dum dum dummmmm !

2) I love love love dogs. I used to ask my dad like everyday for a dog but being a commitment phobe I held off adopting until recently and now I truly understand what people meant when they say their dog is a member of their family.

3) I rarely drink alcohol. I think its nearly been a year since I've touched any now that I think about it. There isn't any reason to it other than the fact I think it tastes mostly rank and that it is quite costly for the drinks I do like (spirits) which are pretty much 85% pop so I just get 100 pop instead.

I'd love to enjoy the taste of beer or wine, the IDEA of it is really nice but it tastes so bad !

Actually, I really like pear cider that IKEA makes but the IKEAs here only sell the non alcohol version for some reason. Maybe I just need to try more wine.

4) Twins and triplets are meant to run in my family. This prospect absolutely terrifies me.

5) I don't / can't wear heels. This makes me sadface a lot because being a shorty, heels would compensate a lot but they are so uncomfortable, I don't know how others do it. And asides from the comfort factor, they are really difficult to walk in without looking like a toddler and there is nothing less sexy than a girl who is waddling along like a toddler in discomfort.

6) I'm an atheist. I would like to believe in the idea of there being a god, a greater being and there being 'a plan' for us all and even a heaven but I just don't. I would rather believe in Santa and the Easter bunny than believe in a god that doesn't allow good people into his heaven simply for not being a member of his 'team'.

7) When I was little I wanted to be a 'pet doctor' but I was quite rubbish academically. Growing up, I mostly followed the artistic, creative path but knew I didn't want to be an artist, I found the exhibiting side of it too stressful and a bit too laardeedar if you know what I mean.

Through Uni I was gearing myself up for graphic design and illustration but in all honestly I don't think I'm any good at either.

I still don't really know what I am or what I want to be (but most people don't either I think so its okay right?) I just know I want to stay creative and not sit 9-5, 5 days a week doing a job I find unfulfilling for what feels like the rest of my life.

In conclusion, I still think being a 'pet doctor' must be the best job in the world!

Right to carry this on, I am tagging Lucy from Peas and Needles and Louise from SuperDuper because they are aces and talented folk but anyone reading is welcome to do this too, just remember to let me know so I can read it :D

I broke my heart shape mirror :(

and couldn't bare to throw it away so I after some trial and error made it into something useful.