A gift is a gift is a gift...

Gifts.  Presents. We all like getting them.  Most of us like giving them.

(Photo by Oliver Schwarzwald)

There are whole seasons of life dedicated to them.

They can make your life a little sunshinier, a little red rosier.  They let you know that someone is thinking about you, that someone cares.  They can help you through tough times, or make good times happier!

But sometimes when you're given a gift, it's hard not to "look the gift horse in the mouth". When you can honestly say, I don't deserve this gift.

Life sometimes hands out hard gifts.  And whether we expect it or not these hard gifts can often be the most rewarding, and can completely change our lives for the better, not the worst (as we might at first think).

Here's a couple of examples of this I've come across lately.



The story of Stacey Kramer, a smart lady who travelled the world helping to create names and brands for growing companies.  Then in 2009 she was given a gift in the guise of a terrifying diagnosis.

And the story of Chad Mureta.  A guy who had a terrible car crash, which nearly claimed his life, but instead set him on the path to a new career.  Going from working 70 hours a week in real estate, to running his business from his phone in less than 5 hours per week.

More about Chad >>

Not everyone comes through the other side of such a gift so well...but then, why should we not?  It's all about attitude, and taking what you can from every experience.  Good or bad.

"The next time you face something that's unexpected, unwanted and uncertain, consider that it just might be a gift." Stacey Kramer

Jones xx

A credo for making it happen

Love love loving the wisdom of these words...

"Every day, today, now, do a little more of what you really want to be doing, and do a little less of what you don't want to do, until your ideal becomes what's real." (Danielle La Porte)

Watch this!



Find much more at www.daniellelaporte.com

Night, Jones xx

March is all about...

So Feb was about being fab and fit, trying to do some exercise every day.  It started off well, but did kind of peeter off towards the end.

But that's ok, cause fitness is one of those habits that will continue on for the rest of the year.  So some exercise continues every day in March.

In March we're also throwing in some throwing out!  Every day we'll be throwing out one item from our ludicrously over crammed house.  Whatever it is, one item a day...wondering whether a house with 31x2 less things in it will look any different, but I guess it depends on the things.

In the meantime, this fun run made us think that if ever there was going to be anything that could convince us to run 5k it would be this!

What do you reckon!  Looks FUN!!



Find out more at http://thecolorrun.com/

Hope March is off to a great start....

Tomas & Jones xx

Cute for today...

Did we make it...I think we might just scrape in before it's too late, and wish you all (had) a happy Valentine's day.

And because they're so darn cute here's 2 little things we'd like to share with you in V Day's last remaining minutes...

Priscilla Ahn and Charlie Wadhams have released an album of love duets...& you can download it from their site (ohsweethearts.com) for free.

Here's a taste:



Did you catch Google's doodle for today?  I mostly miss them cos I use the search box in my browser, but was happy to have seen this one:



Hope today was a sweet one for you, and tomorrow, and the next day and the next one after that, and the day after, and...

Tomas & Jones xx

Here comes the bride!

Weddings are a bit of a theme here at T&J at the moment.

Lovely friends Bec & Dean tied the knot in a beautiful, perfectly themed vintage wedding the weekend before last (congratulations to the bride and groom); and Tomas is off to see a wedding celebrant about a job tomorrow. (You may say that two things do not a theme make, but it's my blog and I'll exaggerate to make a point if I want to!)

So then, it should come as no surprise that BHLDN is a hit! Anthropologie's wedding arm is so on the money it hurts!

(BHLDN's Pleated Fantasy Gown)

If and when I am in the market for all things wedding this is the very first stop on my list!

But even before then they have plenty to keep me happy.

For instance:

(Party-Ready, by BHLDN from BHLDN on Vimeo.)

But a girl doesn't have to have a wedding pending to fall in love with these lovelies:

(BHLDN's New Gowns from BHLDN on Vimeo.)

And "next time" T&J are in Houston this is on the list of must visit shops:

(BHLDN + Houston from BHLDN on Vimeo.)

Enjoy the eye candy, then pop over to BHLDN to explore the beauty that awaits :)

Sweet dreams are made of this!

T&J xx

Seasons Wishes

Wishing you a very happy Christmas...

29 ways to be more creative this weekend...

Here in Melbourne lots of people take Monday off to team up with the Melbourne Cup holiday Tuesday, and make a lovely long weekend. (That's what we're doing!)

But even if you're weekend's just the normal length, there's no reason not to get started on a couple of the things below, to help keep the creativity flowing.

29 Ways to stay Creative (from To-Fu)

(Found on CreativeBits)

Have a creatively lovely weekend, whatever you get up to!!

Tomas & Jones xx