English Summer Rain

Well this is thoroughly depressing. We are supposed to be hosting Men's Invitation Day today here at Ilkley Golf Club, but due to two days of very heavy rain the course is heavily flooded and it is still raining.  The time sheet was full today with around 140 golfers signed up to play, plus we have two events scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday) and on Monday we are supposed to be hosting an England Golf Captains event for 100. It isn't looking good at the moment.

Yesterday's service was rather chaotic due to the torrential rain interrupting the two visiting parties we had booked in.  Congratulations are due to the gentlemen of Headingley Golf Club and the Spreadeagle Golf Society who braved the conditions to play 18 holes in a constant, wind lashed downpour.

Thanks also to my staff for the day, Rob, Ellie, Callum, Fred and Laura who were all great and responded to our calls for rapidly changing shifts as events changed through the course of the day.

Due to insomnia I've been up since 4.30am, and the river hasn't dropped at all in that time.  Looking out from the clubhouse I can see that large areas of the 1st, 2nd and 18th holes are flooded, and of course this means that the lower lying areas of the course will be a lake this morning.

It looks like a homework day then, I may as well take advantage of the sudden lull to catch up on my A151 work.  Target for the day then; finish the chapter on the history of books, make a start on the history of museums and collections chapter, and then read the rest of the essay Metaphor, Materiality and Interpretation: The Metaphorical Tranformations of Wala Island Canoes, gripping stuff I assure you.

A Suggestion

Pretty much every week I get advertising fliers and letters from various food companies that promise better prices, better products and of of course the current most favoured buzz word of the ad-man, solutions, solutions, solutions.  Well here is a solution I would actually like.

Next week we have a double bank holiday.  Bank holidays are times when many catering businesses and quite busy, Christmas, New Year, May Day, and of course this bank holiday for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  All of the food companies, who spend so much time and effort trying to persuade the catering industry how wonderful they are, will be closed for the bank holidays.  This means that we have to take our deliveries for fresh food for Monday and Tuesday (and perhaps Wednesday if it is food for breakfast/lunch service) on Saturday, or even Friday if it is one of those 'solution' based companies whose solution is not to work on a weekend.

My solution then is for the food supply industry to be more flexible, get their arses into gear and deliver food when we actually need it.  It isn't just a question of freshness, although I gather some butchers are warning customers not to order fresh chicken products as they would fall outside the 5 day safety margin. It is often a question of refrigerated storage, many catering businesses simply do not have enough cold space to carry goods for a busy 4-5 day period.

I'm going to give Lishman's of Ilkley a plug here.  Lishman's will be open on Tuesday, which is vital to me as I have a large order placed with them, which I could not possibly carry in my cold storage over the weekend. So thanks to David for opening, and thanks to Stuart and the team who will be making hundreds of burgers and sausages for me on Tuesday morning, I appreciate the effort, thank you.

The Great Paris Cat Massacre

The penultimate assignment for OU AA100 is to write a reflective piece about your study skills and learning experiences on the course.  This seems a fairly easy essay to write, especially for those of us who had to do a similar piece on the preceding course.  When considering my strengths I had noted that I have a very broad range of interests and very much enjoy reading and writing.  On the weaknesses side I put that partly because of my broad range of interests I have a tendency to get sidetracked when doing research for essays.

A case in point was yesterday when I was supposedly reading up on the history of rail infrastructure and the improvement of pay for the working classes in the rise of Blackpool as a leisure destination.  Everything was going well, I was poring through various scholarly historical journals and then...

Le Monde Illustre, April 1871. During the Siege of Paris (Franco-Prussian War) market stalls did a thriving business in cat, dog and rat meat.

The next article in the journal History Today was titled The Great Paris Cat Massacre. Who wouldn't want to read that ? Blackpool and the social history of Lancashire mill workers was forgotten as I read the exploits of two Paris apprentices, who, angered that their employers looked after their vast array of felines better than they did their humans, eventually held a trial for said cats, accused and found them guilty of witchcraft and then beat them all to death with clubs. It was rather gruesome, especially if you are fond of cats, but also blackly hilarious.



Oh kittens, in our hours of ease
Uncertain toys and full of fleas,
When pain and anguish hang o’er men,
We turn you into sausage then.

Getting Lost in Secondhand Books

Making the time to stop by a used-books store and browsing the titles allow you to make great discoveries! I don't know about you, but I really enjoy putting the discount bin upside down to see what quirky, unique books I can find in there. 

For the Bangkok peeps, you must check this place out. I had been meaning to stop by Dasa Books and finally got around to it yesterday. They also serve coffee, and their space is so cozy to inspire you on future readings! You completely forget you're on busy Sukhumvit Road. 

And so, here are my finds: 

Las Hijas de Juarez, by Teresa Rodriguez

In the mid-1990s, a Cuban-American journalist goes to the Mexican border town to investigate on the numerous murders of young girls in the area. Poignant read, so far.

La Profezia di Celestino, by James Redfield

Originally published in English, I saw online that this book had a great success, even if the author simply published it on his own account. I found the Italian version at the bookshop, which intrigued me. The cover describes it as the tale of a journey, which helps us make sense out of life. By perusing the pages, it doesn't seem as "heavy" as I originally thought. Reminds me of Paolo Coelho. 

What are you currently reading?

Images via ONE / TWO. Edited by Dee & Duke.  

The Devil in the Details: The Novelty of Daily Life

Starting to settle into a new city sometimes makes me forget I am, well, still new to the city. Which means I still have so much to discover, but can get easily caught up in routine activities and let opportunities to make new discoveries pass me by. Travelling has taught me a very important lesson: You should always treat any place you are in like tourists do. And this doesn't mean walking around with a map and fanny pack, and queue up at the most popular attractions. It means you should always stay curious about everything and try to look for opportunities to do something new. When you're a tourist, the novelty of everything keeps your interest level high and allows you to see things locals don't see anymore. 

And so, this weekend I am taking some time to walk around Siam Square, my neighborhood, and see new places.

What about you?

Photos by Dee & Duke. 

8 Steps to Start Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone

Following the presentation of my new project, Break Out of Your Comfort Zone, I started jotting down ideas. Don't forget I would like to hear what you think, what are you are doing to step out of the comfort zone, or what you already did! Use the Contact tab above to message me, no names shall be named if this is what you prefer. Thanks for sharing! 

Here is the basis of my project, the steps to follow to get started. 

1. Identify your habits and what makes up your routine.

These represent the way you do everyday actions, the way you perceive everyday situations. The food you eat. The outfit you pick out. The way you spend your free time.

2. Select which ones of these habits really work.

What are they doing for you on a daily basis? Do they lead to success or fulfillment or do they limit your perception of the world? Don't forget these are the little things, everything counts. 

3. Identify your fears, big and small.

You have big fears, such as heights, or flying, or small spaces. Or changing careers. But there are also small fears that keep us thinking in a box, such as making a fool of ourselves, unknown food, or talking to strangers.

4. List a few of your dreams, big and small.

Big dreams can be travelling to a certain region/country, or starting a business. Small dreams can be having a more enriching social life, purchasing a luxury item you wouldn't normally spend money on, or becoming a better cook. 

5. Remember the resolutions you chose at the beginning of the year?

The ones you listed, or just kept in mind? The ones you most likely are not doing anything about, and it's almost April? Well, select the ones that are most important to you and quantify them to make them achievable. Don't just say you'll get in better shape, think about how often you want to be doing physical activity. Or how much money you want to put aside for a project. 

6. Make a habit of setting intentions.

Intentions represent goals you have, and cover any area of life. Set them per day, week, or month. Or for the year. For example, to be more thankful for the little things on a daily basis, or to increase your calcium intake each week. It can be that small and simple, depending on what you desire. 

7. Plan your time around these intentions.

Make time everyday, or week to get things done towards achieving these intentions. Keep track by writing them down. It helps with the motivation by seeing your progress. 

8. Pick out the actions and do them!

Wear that color you thought you could never pull off, order that strange dish at the restaurant or a new cocktail at the bar, learn how to use a new machine at the gym, try out a new commuting route to fight boredom. Check out the events listings for your city and attend one you would not normally attend. 

So, how's that for inspiration? :)


PS. The photograph is of a lake in the North of the Friuli region, in Italy, close to the Austrian border. These are the natural colors and it represents such as anomaly in the middle of the woods over there. It even hosts a species of fresh-water shrimp. Awesomely weird, right? 


Photo by Dee & Duke. 

Break Out of The Comfort Zone

What a better way to start the week than by feeling inspired? 

So, I have been thinking about a new "project" to take on, while being wildly (yes, wildly) inspired by last week's few days I spent away. Something that would not require too much time, and that would be rewarding. 

I though about what people decide to do and not to do. What makes you want to accomplish something and what gets in your way. How we sometimes put ourselves in a box. The Comfort Zone. 

We often hear that we are our biggest obstacle. While this can sound cheesy, I think it's full of truth. If I think back to the past year, I remember stories of people in my social circle who have accomplished great things by simply deciding to try something new or by thinking outside the box. 

While leaving for Thailand on an almost whim can definitely qualify as rewarding enough, I wish to take on a project to Break Out of The Comfort Zone. And I want to report on others doing this exact thing. So, while I gather ideas, I would LOVE to hear from your stories or ideas or projects that make you break out of the Comfort Zone. 

Drop me a line in the comments below, or use the Contact tab to send me a message. Thanks for sharing, and thanks again for reading! 

Photo by Dee & Duke. 

The Weekend: Spring is Here, Now Go Have a Drink

Oh, hello! I just came back from an impromptu mini-holiday with my parents, who are in town visiting. I took advantage of the opportunity to squeeze in some activities I had meant to do while in Thailand, such as snorkeling and feeding monkeys on the beach. And this has given me inspiration for a post series, which you'll get to discover in the near future! 

So, what are your plans for this first Spring weekend? I sure hope happy hour outside is included, because this is basically what I live for. Without exaggeration. Speaking of sipping on alcoholic beverages, I found this nice tidbit of information on How to Order Mixed Drinks at a Bar, which makes you look knowledgeable, like a Man/Woman-about-town. Trying something new never hurts. 

Cheers! 

Photo by Dee & Duke. 

'The Arts' Are Almost Complete, On To 'Material Culture'

It doesn't seem long since I started the OU module AA100 The Arts Past And Present, but suddenly the end is in sight. I have an essay to hand in next week on the role of the chorus in Greek theatre, then a reflection piece on my studying, and lastly the End of Module Assignment on either pilgrimage as tourism or seaside codes of behaviour.

I have signed up for a summer course in order to keep my fees at the old, or transitional, level as opposed to the two and half times rise in fees that new OU students will have to pay.  It will be another level 1one course for 30 points which will leave me with an awkward 105 points of the 120 I need to pass year one.  Due to the availability of courses I may well have to do 135 points at level one now.

The next module I have chosen is A151 - Making sense of things: an introduction to material culture.  This is
a brand new module so this summer's students will be the first group to study it. It sounds really interesting.

"Book 1: Approaches

The first book emphasises key skills applicable across the humanities, and key concepts which you will apply through the course. You will explore the origins of the ‘idea’ of material culture and approaches to describing, classifying and interpreting objects, drawing on the disciplines of archaeology, history, anthropology and ancient history. The first chapter introduces the key concepts of ‘object biography’ and the ‘life cycle of things’, by considering how late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century museums attempted to order and classify objects from across time and space. Chapter Two develops skills of close observation and description, considering different ways of writing about objects. Chapter Three broadens out to consider ways in which the historic, social and physical (or archaeological) context of objects can aid in interpreting them, focusing on the House of Menander at Pompeii as a case study. The final chapter focuses on classification, with reference to the study of ancient Athenian vases.

Book 2: Contexts

The second book emphasises the critical significance which an understanding of material culture has played in our developing understanding of history. You will look at the way scholars have used the study of objects and their contexts to shed light on a specific period of European history, from about 1200 to 1700. In particular, the focus is on the place of objects in the wider culture of the age and how they illuminate our understanding of religious and intellectual developments during the Reformation and Renaissance. In the first two chapters, you will study the central role that sacred objects played in the everyday lives of Europe’s Catholic population and the extreme reaction to them in Protestant circles, culminating in the mass destruction of much of the material culture of the medieval past during the Reformation. In the final two chapters, you will examine how technical developments in creating objects encouraged new ways of thinking about and understanding the world. This will be through case studies concerned with the origins of the printed book and the preparation of anatomical specimens.

Book 3: Afterlives

The unifying theme of the final book is the afterlives of objects, by which we mean what happens to objects when they acquire new uses or meanings. You will examine what happens to objects when they move from one social and historical context to another, and therefore the changes in the way these objects are understood. You will explore specific questions of power, ‘commodification’, memory and ownership and more general questions of change and transformation. Chapters One and Two examine religious and secular ‘relics’ and their contagious power; what happens when religious objects are transformed by global tourism; and whether tourism diminishes the ‘sacredness’ or ‘authenticity’ of such objects. Chapter Three explores issues of memory and absence with reference to Holocaust museums. In Chapter Four you will consider philosophical issues surrounding the ownership and display of objects. In particular, moral issues that arise in relation to objects removed from their place of origin, and in relation to bodies and parts of bodies collected by museums."

Cooking for the Small Kitchen: Fresh Tomato Cream Penne

I'm sure many of you are in my exact situation: you have little to no space to cook in your small kitchen and do not own much material either. Maybe you are unlucky enough not to have an oven, just like me. In fact, most kitchen in South East Asia do not include them. Heck, I don't even have an actual stove! But this does not stop us from cooking most days of the week. I love my home-cooked meals, be them mine or (especially) the bf's. I've done some research online to see what other people are doing to make the most out of their tiny kitchens. And I found interesting ideas, which inspired me to share some of my recipes or tricks with you. 

1. These pictures are not my best work, but bear with me as this is a learning process! :)

2. I do realize that the plates that came with the apartment are not the prettiest to photograph, but they will do for now. 

INGREDIENTS (for TWO): 

- 200 g of pasta 

- 3 big tomatoes

- Olive oil

- 2 garlic cloves

- 4 tablespoons of fresh cooking cream (or 15%)

- Ground nutmeg

- Salt

- Black peppercorns

- Parmiggiano Reggiano

This first recipe is very, very simple. And only requires a stove, a pot and a pan. I own an individual electric stove, as well as an induction cooker I use mostly to boil water or make stir-fries. I am a definite pasta lover, and this recipe adds just a little touch of special to your basic weekday penne dishes. 

Take a few fresh ripe tomatoes. Bring water to a boil, and put them in. Let them soak in the boiling water for a few minutes and carefully remove. Rinse them under cool water and peel off the skin. You'll see: it will come off like a charm! Them chop them into cubes. Let them simmer in a pan with olive oil and 2 cloves of garlic cut in half. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Taste. If your tomatoes are too acidic, put in a few pinches of sugar and mix. I often have this problem here is Asia, the tomatoes always seem to be way too acid to make a sauce. This little trick will cancel out the acid taste and make everything smoother. Add a few tablespoons of fresh cream (or 15%).  Or don't. I did, just to make something different from the usual.

Bring water to a boil, put in copious amounts of salt (sea salt is always better) and throw the pasta in. Follow the package instructions for the pasta. When ready, drain the pasta well and put it in the pan. Mix it in the sauce until everything is coated evenly. Distribute in the plates. Sprinkle ground nutmeg, more fresh black pepper and fine scales of Parmiggiano Reggiano. That's it! 

Photos by Dee & Duke (unfortunately). 

Devil in the Details: The Little Pleasures

Sometimes, it's all about the little things. Like catching up on some reading, while sipping on your drink of choice in a café. In this case, still discovering the local publications and sipping Thai ice tea with lemon. Yes, Thai ice tea is orange, for some reason. Bookends Café, located in Siam Square, my neighborhood is a nice oasis of peace in a chaotic city. It makes me feel right at home, and indulges my caffeine need. 

This also reminds me I should remember to brew some tea, and let it cool in the fridge with slices of lemon. It's a taste of summer in a glass, and it's enough to make anyone happy. 

Happy weekend! What will you be doing?
I will be spending some time with the parents, who came all the way here on holiday! 

A few suggestions for your reading pleasure: 

Here's What Happens When You Hate Your Job

Designer Rachel Roy's Life Advice to Her Daughters 

How To Set Up a Home Bar

Life as a Concierge at The Stafford Hotel, London (you wouldn't believe the requests guests make!)

3 Ways to Drink Your Way to a More Balanced You (well, this is an interesting point of view)

Photos by Dee & Duke. 

How to Get the Most Out of Your Closet - Part 2

OK, here we are, this is Part 2 of yesterday's post about the Wardrobe Project, where I discuss the process I used to do a simple wardrobe overhaul, therefore saving me time, money, worries and giving me new ideas.

4. By now, I've pulled everything out of my closet and pointed out what I wore most, what I didn't wear and why. I sent some items to be altered by a professional and I took care of the ones that needed minimum work, which I could take care myself. For example, I shortened the straps of a cotton dress that did not fall perfectly. 

5. My next step is a rather fun part: shopping. First, for the missing pieces that would allow me to get more wear out of existing items. For example, I have a pair of blue Ikat shorts which I can't seem to match with many shirts. I keep my eye out for good deals, for unique market finds or for inexpensive accessories that will last and will be worn on many occasions.

6. Then comes shopping for duplicates of the most worn items. Maybe in a different color or pattern, or with a different cut. For example, I want to stock up on more button-down shirts. Especially from Uniqlo! Loooooove Uniqlo. And I definitely need a new pair of shorts. Black. Mid-waist.

7. Afterwards, make sure every single item has its own hanger, so that they don't get lost and skipped over while you're scanning your closet in the morning. Also, if you wish, you could try out new combinations between your existing, modified and new items to have fresh outfit ideas for future occasions. No more wasting time while getting ready! So far, I can say this whole process has helped and has given me fresh ideas. And it didn't cost much, which is always nice!

I really do hope that you find this helpful! Even though, I didn't concentrate on this step in my process, the most important is to get rid of anything you're not using anymore. Make such to donate the items to a worthy charity. This is an exercise I do 1-2 times a year. 


Let me know how your process goes! 


Photo by Dee & Duke. 

How to Get the Most Out of Your Closet - Part 1

I've been reading about wardrobe re-organizing projects around the interwebs and I actually have been doing a project on my own. I would like to share some of my very simple process in the hopes this could inspire others to do the same. Sorting out a full closet (containing clothes for many seasons) will be slightly more tedious, but the reward is worth it: saving time, saving money by avoiding futile purchases, recycling.  Heck, maybe even making some money, if you decide to sell some of your stuff. Also, as a final big "plus", I find that de-cluttering can be very therapeutic and helpful in any aspect of life by making some physical space. I get the feeling it helps clear my mind. 

Wardrobe organizing could seem futile to some. But you'll fast understand the benefits. Considering my current somewhat awkward lifestyle, I had brought the very minimal amount of stuff with me for this move to the other end of the world. I'm one who prefers to pack light and avoid headaches of lugging around heavy suitcases. And so, after a few weeks here, I found myself thinking that I literally had nothing to wear. 

Due to my restricted budget, a shopping spree was out of the question. So I decided to get creative. 

1. First, I pulled out of my closet everything I had. I singled out every piece I wasn't wearing often or wasn't wearing at all. I tried everything on. I put aside everything I would not wear again and could not be modified to fit my needs/tastes better. These items could be donated or sold. Look up charity organizations. Or Ebay.

2. Then, I identified why my forgotten items were not getting enough wear. Does it need to be mended? Tailored? Or maybe I don't own enough complementing pieces that can be worn together. What would these pieces be? I jotted down some ideas and made a list. 

3. I also identified my MVPs, to be able to see patterns of what I wear most, and what are the occasions I wear these clothes to. Daily wear, meetings, nights out with the man friend, partying with friends... In this case, I realized my long-sleeve button-down shirts were on high rotation, due to their ability to protect me from the sun and keep me cool (as much as this is possible, in the Bangkok humid heat). For night time, my simple little black dress gets lots of wear. I took notes, as these are pointers for future buys. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the process, to be posted tomorrow! 

If you would like to check out more elaborated, and very inspiring, projects from other bloggers, do check out the following:

Geneva from A Pair and a Spare and her Wardrobe Rehab

Jess from Makeunder My Life and her Makeunder my Wardrobe

Photo by Dee & Duke. 

How Do You Get Things Done?

Do you use To-Do lists? Are you a compulsive list maker, like me? I've read some content on the web lately regarding getting things done. There are various methods that work for people. I started using the To-Do List app on my Blackberry as soon as I got the phone. But before that, it used to be good ol' pen and paper. My pocket agenda, that is. But I went to see this app I've been hearing about, TeuxDeux (as in "To Do", get it, get it?). I opened an account and tested it. And I am pretty pleased with the result. It can be used on smartphones, or on your web browser. You quickly cross out things by one click, drag them to a different to reorganize your week and modify entries on a whim. I think it's great! 

I know many more apps have been popping out recently to help us better organize our lives. What are you using? 

Photo by Dee & Duke. 

Devil in the Details: DIY Wall Art + Weekend Reads

Have you given some thought to last Wednesday's post about injecting creativity into your life? Cause I know I have! While skimming over my Home inspiration folder (yes, just like mentioned in last week's Ways to Stay Creative - I'm not trying to overly self-promote posts by the way, I write about thoughts that also touches my day-to-day life, and so I end up repeating myself... Sorry. Back to what I was saying...), I re-discovered pictures from Jess Constable's house. She is an inspiring young entrepreneur and I loved her nifty thrifty ideas she had when decorating her Chicago apartment. I mean, the girl made her own wall art! And she's not an artist! 

Create art of your own by using blank canvases. The right picture is just pink duct tape on blank canvas, and the left one is a chevron pattern she copied online, pinned on canvas, painted bronze over it and removed. Easy! And I think it makes for a striking focal point in the room. Check out her tutorial here. 

Aaaaand here are some reads for the weekend: 

The First 5 Things to Do with Your New Camera

Three Keys to Success for Entrepreneurs
10 Google Search Tricks You Might Not Know
What Your Handwriting Says About You

Enjoy!


Photos via. Edited by Dee & Duke. 

The Birthday

Apparently, not all people enjoy their birthdays. Well, I sure do enjoy when it's mine. And especially when it falls on a Sunday! The atmosphere is mellow, nobody is in a hurry, there's plenty of time for a nice brunch. 

The day was filled with brunch at my new favorite neighborhood café The Glass, shopping at Or Tor Kor market here in Bangkok (best place for fruit, veggies, meat and fish in pretty and neat displays), Thai massages and the lovely man friend cooking me his famous seafood pasta. All in all, an amazing birthday.

Check out that HUGE fresh waffle! 

Photos by Dee & Duke. 

How to Inject a Little Creativity into Your Life

By now, you're starting to be acquainted with my post series about my Ways to Stay Creative, which is inspired on methods I actually use to keep up my creativity. I think that most people would like to be creative in their lives, or at least a little more than what they are now. And I'm not talking about becoming an artist, starting a band, or writing a book. There are much simpler ways to add a little inspired vision to their life. And use their imagination. 

1. Identify one/many thing/s that you've been wanting to do for a while, like a side project. Would you like to be a better cook? Or add to your cooking knowledge to be able to whip up fantastic last-minute meals? Or maybe you would like to re-decorate your house. Or just one room. Maybe you would like to make something with your own hands. Or write a short story. Or start a blog! The possibilities are endless, really. 

2. Get inspired. Look up websites or blogs that cater to your needs. I often find myself overwhelmed with the amount of great food, fashion and design blogs that are out there! I bookmark new favorites and subscribe to blogs I want to regularly follow. But that's only one way: inspiration is all around. Books, magazines, the world outside. Yes, remember The World Outside Your Door? Riiight. 

3. Start small. Little by little. I have been following a few blogs on DIY Fashion, where bloggers re-design or modify items of clothing and accessories. Or work on objects that could be used to decorate the house, by adding their personal touch. Well, I decided I wanted to start a few projects of my own. But I am not the best seamstress out there. Nor am I a fashion designer. And so, little by little, I am learning new skills. And most importantly, I'm enjoying myself in the process. 

4. Rethink everyday routine elements. Try new recipes. Make it a point to go out midweek to try out a new spot for drinks/dinner, if you're not already doing that. Change up your breakfast staples. Search for events in your city that could interest you, even though they are outside your comfort zone. Make little changes that keep you on your toes. 

5. Learn a new skill. Take a class. Or register for an online course / seminar. For example, I am teaching myself basic HTML keys. And reading up on SEO and social media techniques. I think it's so interesting, and feels fulfilling.


And just remember that everybody can create something. Really. So... this is a great start to my day! Thanks for reading, and I would LOVE to know if this inspired to do something creative this week. Tell me about your projects. Or the little things. Cheers!


Image by Dee & Duke. 

Ways to Stay Creative [TWO] - Take a Break

... And make yourself a coffee! Genius print poster below for some "recipes", by Plaid. I know it's difficult to read, but if you try to download and zoom in, it's actually pretty helpful and a great way to mix things up - in the AM or in the PM.

Image via. 

New Direction

I have been working on a somewhat new direction for Dee & Duke. Of course, I will keep posting about Travel, Food, Fashion and Design, because at the end of the day, this is what inspires me. What I want really is for this website to provide my delightful readers with inspiration for the everyday life. I love reading blogs that  inject a bit of sunshine into my mornings and give me new ideas. Or give me that little push for me to think up new ideas. And so, here it is. I even have a brand new header design!

Igniting the spark of inspiration for everyday life.

Hope you all enjoy the content, and let me know of any idea you might get! Thanks for reading. :)


Photo via. 

Be My Valentine

Nothing very original, but... Happy Valentine's Day. May you spend quality time with loved one/s, be it family, significant other, friends, or pup. Easy always does it.

Image via.