Finding Abell

Leaving

2009-10-31T21:26:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a..

'unknownamountoftime' holiday

so I wont be posting for, well,
an unknown amount of time..
but If I had to guess,
lets call it two weeks.

Dont miss me too much!

Before I offically stop posting
here is a lovely read for you all to enjoy
while I'm holidayingawaysomewhere

101 Great Ways to Pack Meaning into a Lifetime

On relating to others

1 let love rule
2 share your talents and gifts
3 be generous with genuine smiles
4 express kindness every chance you get
5 treasure your loved ones
6 befriend someone you’re not fond of
7 understand someone who’s misunderstood
8 find common ground with someone you perceive to be different from you
9 find the good in others
10 bond often with laughter
11 remember the power of sharing great wine and food with others
12 forgive the seemingly unforgivable
13 help those in need
14 ask for help when you need it
15 defend those who can’t defend themselves
16 interpret coldness in others as sadness
17 and attempt to bring those people a little warmth
18 pay attention to the quiet/boisterous ones
19 and distill the simple truth in their message
20 engage someone who seems disinterested
21 and encourage her/him to discover her/his fire in the belly
22 curb the attitude
23 pump up the patience
24 practice humility
25 reciprocate negativity with positivity
26 realize that you’re part of a continuum
27 remember that your actions (or inaction) impact others

On philosophy and learning

28 seek truth (ask a lot of questions)
29 make mistakes
30 take a stand on the issues
31 dare to be right
32 dare to be wrong
33 dare to be an activist for a cause you’re passionate about
34 be a leader (see Justin Dixon’s ideas on What Makes a Great Leader)
35 lead by example
36 find someone you’re philosophically diametrically opposed with
37 and meet them halfway
38 read a lot; write a lot
39 teach others what you’ve learned (and be open to learning while you teach)
40 open yourself to wisdom from unlikely places
41 write or talk to people you admire
42 emulate someone you admire
43 and when you find yourself in a situation where you’re unsure, ask “what would _______ do?”
44 broaden your horizon and put things in perspective
45 find the lesson in an undesirable experience or situation
46 deflect negativity with indifference (if not with positivity)
47 remind yourself often that you don’t have to believe what others believe; even those you admire

On being true to oneself
(or keeping that connection to your core)

48 count your blessings
49 know your power and don’t underestimate it
50 write a mission statement
51 and live it (and revise it accordingly as you evolve)
52 don’t neglect good health (see Anastasiya’s list of 101 Healthy Habits that Anyone Can Follow)
53 listen to the song in your heart (and don’t be afraid to sing it and dance to it)
54 recognize the noise and tune it out
55 say what you mean and mean what you say (see Karlil’s thoughts on improving body anguage)
56 open your mind (see Steven Aitchison’s list of 100 Ways to Develop Your Mind)
57 open your heart and let the light in
58 eliminate hypocrisy by looking at yourself before judging others
59 give yourself a break (go on retreats, getaways, vacations, or at least take a lunch break)
60 know that life isn’t always about productivity
61 so let go of guilt and do nothing once in a while
62 feel every emotion fully (as opposed to repressing it) then let it pass
63 understand that impulses can be controlled so control those
you have that may be negative (we all have them)
64 seek and maintain balance without compromising passion
65 make a decision (don’t let others decide for you)
66 nurture your spirituality

On relating to material or non-essential things

67 give a portion of your money away to a cause you believe in (for ideas, visit Global Giving)
68 savor the good feeling that comes from this generous act
69 give a treasured object away
70 and embrace the power of letting go
71 throw out the literal and proverbial garbage
72 make space for meaningful things
73 remember others who don’t have the basics
74 and think twice before buying things just because you can (read Leo Babauta’s ideas on the true cost of stuff)
75 appreciate the luxuries you have
76 pass on possessions you’ve outgrown that are useful to others
77 know that your identity is separate from your material possessions

On adventures

78 go on adventures
79 be bold with your adventures
80 dream big
81 and take baby steps to realize them
82 visit another country as often as you can (read this piece by Chris Guillebeau for cautionary tips)
83 and feast your senses in its culture
84 dine on various cuisines
85 step out of your comfort zone (take risks, let yourself be challenged)

On art

86 pay attention to aesthetics
87 and let beauty bathe your senses
88 Experience all forms of art
89 and allow yourself to be transported by its power
90 once in a while, view things through an artist’s lens
91 and let your imagination roam free
92 express your inner artist (by drawing, painting, sculpting…)
93 and revel in your power to create

On paid and unpaid work

94 love what you do
95 do what you love
96 do something you’d do anyway without getting paid
97 give what you do your best effort (read Jeffrey Tang’s 10 Excuses I’ve Used Up This Month)
98 value your time and energy

On relating to the planet and the universe

99 notice and appreciate the infinite beauty of nature (read Fr. Michael’s piece Have You Noticed?)
100 think about the future generations and what the world
will be like for them because of how you treat the planet now
101 remember the universal laws when you’ve done everything you can

Ro&Chan - Backstage

2009-10-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Like Crabs

2009-10-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

I love computer viruses

especially when they suddenly appear
out of no where, complete with random
pop-ups of hardcore porn making
your computer cry in shame

I've missed my blog

LET THE UPDATES BEGIN!

Louie

2009-10-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE

Backing

2009-10-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

A whole lot of pictures I've been
meaning to post to for ages.

Enjoy!

DitaForBazaar

2009-10-14T17:54:00.000-07:00

MoareModels

2009-10-14T17:45:00.000-07:00

EmmaClare

2009-10-11T20:44:00.001-07:00

OhMyGod

2009-10-11T02:58:00.000-07:00

Lemon Drop Rainbow Cupcakes

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
3 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest (about 3 medium lemons)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup crushed lemon drops

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line standard cupcake tins with liners.

Whisk flour, baking powder and salt together; set aside.

With an electric mixer on medium-high, cream the butter and sugar
(using the paddle attachment) until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each one.
Scrape down the sides of bowl if needed. Beat in the lemon zest and vanilla extract.
Combine the buttermilk and lemon juice in small bowl or measuring cup.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating
with two additions of the buttermilk/lemon juice mixture.
Beat until just barely combined after each addition

Gently fold in the crushed lemon drops.
To avoid the batter getting too stiff, try not to overmix when adding the lemon drops.
It will be mixed even more when you add the colors

Divide the batter into 1 cup increments and put into 5 separate small bowls (if doing 5 colors).
Gradually add food coloring to each bowl, until you get to your desired colors.
Stir gently to make sure there aren’t any remaining streaks of color.

To measure the coloring I dipped a toothpick about 3/4″ into each jar of color
(with the exception of the green, see below),
swirled it through the batter and mixed throughly.

Here are the colors and amount of coloring
I used from the bottom of the cupcake to the top:

• Orange – Wilton Creamy Peach – 1 toothpick plus a tiny bit more.
• Yellow – Wilton Buttercup Yellow – 1 toothpick
• Green – AmeriColor Avacado – 5 drops
• Blue – Wilton Cornflower Blue – 2-3 toothpicks
• Violet – Wilton Violet – 1 toothpick

Put 1 teaspoon (slightly heaped) batter of your first color in each of the cupcake cups.
I gently smoothed out only the first color, just to get an even bottom.
Repeat with the other colors

Bake at 325°F for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool completely on a wire rack. Decorate!

Marshmallow Frosting

8 large egg whites
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

In a heatproof bowl of an electric mixer, place egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar.
Set over a saucepan of simmering water.
Whisk the mixture constantly until the egg whites are warm to the touch
and the sugar is dissolved, 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer the bowl to electric mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment.
Starting on low speed, gradually increasing to high,
beat until the mixture is stiff and glossy peaks form (5 to 7 minutes).
Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.

Use immediately, as the marshmallow frosting will continue to stiffen.

Makes enough for 2 dozen cupcakes

BackStageWithChanel

2009-10-11T02:07:00.000-07:00

LilyGlam

2009-10-11T02:02:00.000-07:00

ObsessingOverBraids

2009-10-08T22:20:00.000-07:00

I'mapastrychef

2009-10-08T02:22:00.000-07:00

Witttney

2009-10-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

I kind of love Whitney Port

Shes so cute

SnapsFromMilan

2009-10-05T02:37:00.000-07:00

CrispShirts&LoveForGio

2009-10-03T21:58:00.000-07:00

I wish that I saw more women dressed like this.
You know, camel-toes and suffocating g-strings
hanging over jeans does get a little old.
Why dont women dress like this?!
It's so smart, clever and crisp. I love it

Quite simply put
I love this woman, I love every
single thing she wears and
she can do no wrong in my eyes

and of course
another fine example of a smart look.
Fantastic colour combination and
it just proves that shirts and trousers
are quite the opposite of boring

Cravatsarethenewblack

2009-10-02T00:08:00.000-07:00

Oh, my god

I know whats taking up the number one

position on my new shopping list!

I would marry Matt Present, I would marry him and gladly bare his spawn. Every night, in bed, we'd feed each other
homemade-strawberry-balsamic ice cream from gold diamond incrusted spoons. In between mouthfuls of creamy deliciousness, he'll read me recipe describitons from Nigella's 'How to eat' and repeat the degustation menu of Jaques Reymond. Then we'd make love for hours while watching re-runs of the first MasterChef series and Jaime at Home

ohhh Matthew

IJustWantToSwimInIt

2009-10-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

RimmedGlasses

2009-09-30T06:54:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love this
Effortless

Dear Diary

2009-09-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

IshouldbesoLucky

2009-09-29T03:18:00.000-07:00

I think MM should be every girl's 'bodyrolemodel'

I wouldn't recommend copying anything else she did
You know, with the whole, 'drug..
sleeping pill and killing herself' thing

But her body!

I'd be so lucky to
have a rack like that.

CutiePie

2009-09-28T04:37:00.000-07:00

I love this
shes so cute

god I wish I still had long hair

Legs11

2009-09-27T04:39:00.000-07:00

I really love how flattering the outfit it is on her frame.
I think thats the only reason I love it so much,
she's showing the perfect amount of skin
and even though that skirt is barely a skirt,
her legs (and those heels) make it work.

Maurie&EveBoots

2009-09-26T23:17:00.000-07:00

BackstageWithWang

2009-09-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

(viasushi)

It's things like these that make me
regret cutting all my hair off

CELEBRATION!

2009-09-23T22:24:00.001-07:00

Why yes WhoWhatWear, Jade Nails are amazing!

Which reminds me of some great news I've been meaning to share

I finally found the perfect
Lime match that cost less than $10.
I'm wearing it right now,
it's beyond exciting and if your from Australia
you can pick it up from Sportsgirl
for only $8 (The shade is called 'Apple')

RedHot

2009-09-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

Cant Get Enough Of Red

ErdemChloeLuca

2009-09-23T03:27:00.000-07:00

Nude Lips Girly Lashes

Barely There Sun Kissed

Big Curls All Natural

BeautyBeforeUs

2009-09-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

SafetyPin

2009-09-21T03:17:00.000-07:00

It's offical

I will now try my hand at crafting
a copy of this amazing artical of fantastic.
I'm also quite fond of this little ladies nail polish and lipstick

Lets thank AUS style

(really great fashion blog, worth book marking)

for displaying these photos on her blog
and sharing such a lovely DIY idea with the world.

Light Shades

2009-09-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

DUJUAN

2009-09-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

LimeCrime

2009-09-17T23:38:00.000-07:00

Alexa, I need this nailpolish

Seriously, It's haunting my dreams at night.

Aussie Blog Love

2009-09-17T02:55:00.000-07:00

cutestgirlalive

Boots and Fro

2009-09-16T21:39:00.000-07:00

Caca

2009-09-15T21:31:00.001-07:00

haha, oh my.

OhDrew

2009-09-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

I don't know how I feel about this. Her hair and make up do nothing for me, but I love that dress and though the shoes arnt anything special, there still pretty cute. Adding the fact that I just cant bring myself to hate Drew. You know what?! I think if she was Agyness Deyn, this would be a spectacular hot mess. Its not a total loss! Nothing to write home about, but Juno seems clean, nice hair, make-up is fine and I think thats something to be grateful for.

CuteClutch

2009-09-14T03:41:00.000-07:00

Marc&Luella

BagsBags

2009-09-14T03:24:00.000-07:00

YSL&AlexMcQ

Gio

2009-09-14T00:53:00.000-07:00

RandomStreetLove

2009-09-13T03:21:00.000-07:00

beauty-quirky-stylish-cosy

MillaJovz

2009-09-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Melbourne Fashion

2009-09-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

Doctor Martin

2009-09-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

A Little Green Sweetie

2009-09-12T03:34:00.000-07:00

Match-Strawberry-Cupcakes

Random Blog Love

2009-09-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

(fashiontoast)

Vera Vera

2009-09-11T23:30:00.001-07:00

Shes Got It, Oh Baby Shes Got It

2009-09-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary

2009-09-10T23:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary,

When ever you wake
Which ever path you take
Let my Love be with you

Love
Abell
xox

In Love With Collette Dinnigan

2009-09-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

(vogue)

SweetSuccess

2009-09-10T19:48:00.001-07:00

Caramel Apples

•1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
•1 (8-oz.) package toffee bits
•3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
•1/2 cup granulated sugar
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Stir these together in a saucepan over medium heat until blended and allow to cool. Dip apples that have been fitted with a stick as shown above (or pears work nicely too) and set aside until the dip sets up. Extra great with a sprinkling of chopped nuts.

Makes enough for about 6 large apples

Jewel

2009-09-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

I dont think I could love a human child
as much as I love these

We Were Born In The 80's

2009-09-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

The Laps

2009-09-10T00:03:00.000-07:00

Only the cool kids bike

2009-09-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

DeppMoss

2009-09-09T00:57:00.000-07:00

ShoePorn

2009-09-08T22:54:00.000-07:00

(I want these so badly)

(jak&jill)

Golden Locks

2009-09-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

I need this hair

I Love You Tilda

2009-09-08T17:22:00.001-07:00

Looking for something else?

2009-09-08T03:29:00.000-07:00

(somethingelse)

The Wanganator

2009-09-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

(shopbob)

prettypretty

2009-09-07T03:33:00.000-07:00

If I could wear one thing right now..

Minus the beanie, maybe the socks aswell.