I daydream constantly about a house.  We own a townhouse and when we purchased it it was exactly what we needed and wanted, but three years on I’m dreaming of a house.   Something with a white picket fence and a porch perhaps…

Image source: Pinterest

It is my greatest pleasure to have Amanda from Calico & Co guest blogging today.   While Amanda and I have only ever met in cyberspace we often joke that we were separated at birth.  It’s not often you find someone born in a different decade that you can share so many crazy idiosyncrasies with, but Amanda and I do just that.

Amanda was the first person I ever asked to be a guest blogger here, and that’s a huge thing for me.  It’s like letting someone into your house and letting them rearrange.  Amanda has brought a wonderful sense of sublime awesome with her. I found myself reading the list and going “me too!” or “oh yeah!”.  It just went to prove yet again how much we do share in common.

So without further ado, please welcome Amanda to the house of gnome.

*round of applause*

Hi Gnomeangel readers! I am so excited to be writing to you today! I feel so honoured that Ms Gnomeangel asked me to be her very first Guest Blogger, and was thrilled when she requested that share the top 10 things I am crushing on at the moment.

+

10. 500 Pencils
The last crush I am going to share with you today is another big one for me. It’s the 500 Pencils program. The deal is you subscribe for a monthly fee and each month you are sent 25 gorgeous coloured pencils until you eventually receive 500 of them! Not only would it be a very inspiring event each month, but there are some amazing ideas for displaying the pencils, so they become art in themselves! I can’t wait to sign up one day!!

So, there you have it! The Top 10 Things I am crushing on right now! I hope you have discovered something great, and maybe even learnt a little something about me along the way! Keep reading Gnomeangel for some great daily fun and inspiration, and you are always welcome over at my blog Calico & Co if you ever feel like dropping by! Have a great day!

I just had to share.  I was happily working away on my school work in the dining room turned study and I could hear someone snoring.  I assumed it was one of the dogs.  However when I got up to investigate how HUBBY could be watching television with the loud rumble of dog snore I found this.

Turns out it was HUBBY who was snoring and he’d fallen asleep on the beagle.  She really is man’s best friend; laying still and supporting his sleeping head.  It’s just so cute.

Today’s Friday Fancy is inspired by an accessory every woman should have; a crown.  Even if it’s just to wear while doing the chores.  All of these wonderful items can be purchased on Etsy.

a.  Burlesque Queen of Hearts Crown b.  Keep Calm & Carry On Pendant c.  Royalty Crown Ring d.  Crown No. 12 Pillow e.  Medieval Sterling Silver Pendant f.  Queen of Hearts Print g.  Ye Royal Wall Hook h.  Crown Cufflinks i.  Pink Princess Crown Cookie Cutter

Image source: Dave Coote Design

I was just cruising through the blogs that I love when I came across Dave Coote Design on Design*Sponge.  I’ve been browsing real estate sites for the past few weeks and now I’m browsing them to see if I can get a place with space for putting in my own writer’s cabin.  Only instead of using it to write my manifesto I’d be filling it with craft and sewing supplies.  Oh, and a nice little nook to spend time reading.

To add to the design brilliance Dave Coote and his wife have opened an online store; Pale and Interesting.  So once I’ve found my house and built my cabin I’ll be able to furnish it with wonderful items found on Pale and Interesting.

Today’s activity in 31 Days to Build a Better Blog is to think about lists as posts.  I’ve been partial to a few list posts in my time, but I’ve not giving much thought to writing them.  So today I put my head to work and tried to come up with a list post.

I actually surprised myself and came up with a few different list ideas, but I’ve decided to stick with a simple one for today and post a few different list posts over the coming weeks.

In an attempt to let you know a little more useless information about me I thought I would give you….

1. Twitter – I don’t know how people lived without Twitter.  I am addicted.  Totally.  I love all the interaction that you can have without leaving the comfort of your home, and even if you have to leave your home you can take Twitter with you.
2. Etsy – The next evolution from eBay.  I adore Etsy.  I could spend hours just window shopping on the Etsy site.
3. Apple Products – My iPhone never leaves my hand.  My iPod is essential to making my day complete.  My Macbook Pro is my lifeline to the world I love.  I am totally an Apple disciple.
4. Books – I’m a mad reader.  I can’t get enough of books.  I would love to live in a library.  There’s something wonderful about books lined up on a bookshelf.
5. Teddy Bear – My Teddy Bear was a gift from my HUBBY on our first Valentine’s Day together.  I love my teddy bear.  I travel with my teddy, and the couple of times I’ve been in hospital my teddy has come with me.  I tell Ted all my secrets and when I’m really upset and just feeling low Ted is always there for me.  Every girl should have a teddy!
6. Television – I love television.  Only I don’t love watching television the conventional way.  Now it’s all about watching television while watching Twitter.  Or it’s about watching television shows in one big hit from DVD.  There are some really great shows being produced at the moment.  I feel like television is going trough a renaissance of sorts.  Love it!
7. Camera – I love my camera, I just don’t use it as much as I would like.  I love getting a good shot.  I love seeing life through the lens.  I love spending time with the men in my life talking about the shots and comparing what we’ve captured.  Always a great source of enjoyment.
8. HUBBY – Obviously this list isn’t in order of importance… I just didn’t want to put him at the top and then have to live with the gloating.  He’s my best friend and the person I want to rush home to and tell him about everything.  I adore him and would be lost without him.  He’s the perfect accompaniment to my madness.
9. Chocolate – My eating habits changed a lot after my gastric surgery, but one thing that didn’t was my love of chocolate.  There’s nothing better than a chocolate something.  It’s just amazing.  I can’t get enough!
10. Internet – Seriously, what did people do before the internet?  I would be lost without it.  I have meet so many amazing people through the internet.  I’ve learnt so much about the wonderful world we live in.  My mind has just been blown by the things out there on the internet.  I’ve also managed to spend many many hours doing nothing but surfing the internet.  It’s mind blowing.

As a list post it probably won’t go viral, but I’m sure thinking about some posts in the future that I hope will.  It’s given me a new found respect and possible love for the list!

Today’s a stealth Friday Fancies.  It’s all about ninja’s.  Sometimes I’m sure my HUBBY thinks he’s a ninja and I’m convinced our beagle has some ninja training when it comes to stealing food.  Regardless, these ninja inspired items made me smile and I’m sure would bring enjoyment to anyone lucky enough to receive one as a gift.

1.  Chihi Warrior (Little Ninja) Crane Poster & Chibi Warrior (Little Ninja) Training Poster 2.  Amigurumi Ninja 3.  Ninja Bunnies Tote Bag 4.  I heart ninjas 2pc magnet set.  5.  Customizable Wedding Ninjas Kokeshi Doll Set.

It’s the beginning of another financial year.  It’s also the time of year that I spend going nuts trying to find a years worth of tax related items.  I hate it.  Every year I swear to myself I’m going to be more organised and on top of everything this year, and I never am.  But not this year, this year I’m going to be organised!  So I’ve found a few items that will make boring tax time more stylish and fun.

1.   Proof of Purchase Receipt Book 2.  Tax Deductible Receipt Book 4.  My Receipts Organiser – Three great ways to organise and store receipts.  I hate hording receipts as they never look neat and it plays with my OCD, but these great books would make it so much easier to store them.  Love it!

3.  Ancient Calculator Necklace – Everyone needs to have fun with financial matters and what better way then to accessories with a financial reminder such as this abacus.

5.  Red Bulldog Clips Words 7.  Adhesive Notes Financial – A great way to sort and mark for action your receipts and bills.

6.  Sunny Side Red House Zipper Purse – I keep a zippered purse in the car as a place to store all the fuel and servicing receipts.  It’s an easy and neat place to put them before transferring them into an organiser.

8.  Parker IM Roller Ball Pen – I’m a sucker for a good looking and functional pen.  Parker make a wonderful range and I’m quiet partial to this one in particular.

9.  Ambitious Ceramic Piggy Bank – At the end of everyday HUBBY and I drop our spare coins into piggy banks.  Once they’re full we bank the money, and each time we’re surprised at just how much coin can build up.  This great little money box would be wonderful incentive to store your coin.

I was watching the final episode of Selling Houses Australia for this year and I was captivated by this big bowl of lemons that were put in the kitchen to add some colour and jazz it up a bit.  I don’t know what it is about lemons but they always seem to bring sunshine indoors.  Now that we’re really into winter I could do with some sunshine indoors.  So this weeks Friday Fancy is inspired by lemons.  Enjoy!

1.  Vintage Salt & Pepper Shakers 2.  Lemon Still Life Oil Painting 3.  Dangle Earrings 4. You Are My Sunshine Typography Wall Art 5.  Bright Sunshiney Day 6.  Peakaboo Bunny in Yellow

P.S. Those of you that are in Canberra this weekend, don’t forget that the Handmade Markets are on Saturday 5 June at the Kamberra Wine Company.  I’ll be there, will you?

On Tuesday night I passed my White Star♦ assessment for Roller Derby.  For me, passing my White Star assessment is massive so to celebrate I’ve found some Roller Derby inspired items for today’s fancies.

1.  White Stare Recyclery 2.  Super Derby Roller Skate Teatowels 3.  Roller Derby Hand Stamped Necklace 4.  Whip It Necklace 5.  Roller Derby Skate Tattoo 6.  Roller Derby Words

♦  There are official skill levels in Roller Derby to help maintain safety in the game; they’re called Stars and the white is the first level star.  There’s four levels of Stars at this stage.  The next Star I need to pass is Yellow.  Yellow Star means that I’ll be able to start serious contact and basic scrimmaging.