Things I spotted that made me exclaim ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ or ‘I need one of those’ or something along those lines…
Transparent toaster, via Kancept.
Braille Rubik’s cube, via Yanko Design.
Magazine house, via Terry Ferguson.
Eraser and brush, via Geeky Gadgets.
In-ground trampoline.
Guitar plec punch, via Cool Material.
Parmesan pencils, via Oh Gizmo.
The play-more notebook, via Likecool.
Graffiti cocktail shaker, via Kikkerland.
Easy-read clock, via E-minor.
So, I’ve managed to overcome my dentophobia. It’s a word. If I’m honest, I haven’t really been afraid of the dentist for a long time. My childhood dentist was a sadist and my 8-year-old brain rationalised that every dentist must be the same (why would anyone voluntarily become a dentist?). I was so happy to be proved wrong 11 years later when I found Dr. Bernard.
There’s not much to say about my check-up, except that writing this post got me thinking about all the other things I’m afraid of. Those phobias I haven’t yet managed to overcome. I know I like to act tough, but the truth is… well, here it is: a complete list of my phobias, in order of the terror they inflict on my life (high to low):
Hemaphobia: a fear of blood. Well,not really. This was the closest phobia I could find to what I really fear, which I would sum up as thinking about or confronting any internal workings of the human body. I can’t talk about, listen to or especially see anything to do with blood, veins, arteries, cells, tissues… even typing these words makes me weak. I will invariably faint when getting injections or giving blood samples. I once fainted at the Optician (They put dye in my eye! In my eye!) and at the aforementioned Dentist’s surgery, where I was scolded for ‘making a fuss’ - Sorry, I’ll try to better control my involuntary bodily reflexes in future!
Felinophobia: a fear of cats. If there was a specific phobia for the fear of the skinny, mangy alley cats around here, this would be at the top of my list. This is not one that many people can relate to; they assume I’m exaggerating it or being dramatic. There is a difference between ‘being more of a dog person’ and feeling repeatedly terrorised by these disgusting creatures.
Musophobia: a fear of mice and/or rats. Or in my case, both and anything that resembles them. Gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs. Shiver.
Ornithophobia: a fear of birds (specifically, pigeons). I know where this one comes from. Maybe my Mam will remember that on our first trip to Paris, we sat down on a bench somewhere near Notre Dame for a few minutes. Two nearby men were feeding pigeons from their hands and the wing-flapping commotion made me a little jumpy. They must have noticed and been amused by my reaction because they began not-so-discreetly throwing seed over in our direction, causing a flurry of pigeons around us. It was so traumatic.
Finally, a fear of horror films, which I’ve discovered there is no medical term for. This is still a legit phobia. It may seem like an obvious one (you’re supposed to be afraid, duh), but I’m so afraid. Unnaturally afraid. The last one I watched was The Strangers and I almost cried during it (almost) and couldn’t sleep properly for nights afterwards.
What are you afraid of?
€5 has been donated to UNICEF Ireland for the completion of this ‘thing’. Click here if you too would like to donate online.
I love how the history of media can often tell you so much more about an era than any history book. I know the books I studied in school had no mention of this campaign from World War II:
My favourite has to be the “Don’t be HER pin up boy” one. Don’t you love how the lady’s dress is emblazoned with a warning of her particular disease? If only it were that easy.
Images via E Minor
Negombo, Sri Lanka. November 5, 2011.
The sun rises a couple of minutes before 6 a.m.
I know because I was there. We arrived at that perfect time of day that I’m never awake to see under normal circumstances, just before the world wakes up. Breathing in cool misty air and surrounded by a hundred thousand jungle sounds, I silently vowed to be up and outside at that time more often and to know what Irish air felt like at that time of day. Of course, that will never happen, but I believed myself when I was there, in the moment.
€5 has been donated to UNICEF Ireland for the completion of this ‘thing’. Click here if you too would like to donate online.
It’s true, I do. To me, there are few things better in this life than a good old pie chart, or the odd Venn diagram to spice things up.
Even if you don’t love charts, you should still check out the I Love Charts website. Why? Because it’s funny and pokes harmless fun at people like me.
Here are some of my favourites:
When I was writing my Day Zero list, I included this thing imagining it would encourage me to make a trip to a beach in Ireland when it was not typical ‘beach weather’. I imagined wrapping up warm, bringing a flask of something hot and going for an invigorating Winter walk.
It’s funny how things change. Since I’ve settled into life in the desert, going to the beach in November is hardly a thing at all. Last November, I went to the beach quite a bit and while it wasn’t how I imagined, I still happily checked it off my list.
€5 has been donated to UNICEF Ireland for the completion of this ‘thing’. Click here if you too would like to donate online.
You know how much I love lists- so naturally I made this a ‘top ten’. These are the movies I go to when I need a hug, but the people who love me are not there at that exact moment.
10. The Pursuit of Happyness
Yes, the majority of this movie is frustration, heartache and suffering. But at its core is real life evidence that if we are prepared to work (really) hard, education is a ticket out. I think that’s a good message. And Christopher (Will Smith’s son in the film, and in real life) is just. too. cute.
9. Stranger than Fiction
I adored this film for everything it was not. Nothing about it is cookie-cutter cinema. It is definitely not is a typical Will Ferrell movie- he keeps his pants on and actually acts. It is funny and subtly romantic without ever bordering on cheesy, and the relationship between Harold and Ana (Maggie Gyllenhaal) will make you believe in real love between ordinary people (my favourite scene is when he brings her flours- she is a baker!).
8. The Holiday
Ingredients for a feel-good movie: Cameron Diaz, Idyllic setting(s), Christmas, Snow, Falling in love, The comic genius that is Jack Black, An endearing old man, The nice guys finishing first…
Cheeeeeeeck.
7. 500 Days of Summer
One of my favourite films of all time, feel-good or otherwise. It’s weird how it is not always the happiest endings that make us feel good. This is a romantic comedy, but with all the hurt and anger, just like in real life.
6. There’s Something About Mary
There is something about Mary, isn’t there? I don’t think I have met anyone who doesn’t like this movie. Even if I am in a really bad humour, I can’t help but laugh at the ‘7 minutes abs’ sketch (do you remember?)
5. When Harry Met Sally
This is the original romantic comedy. I find it weird how this was released when I was 3 years’ old, but translates perfectly to the little differences between men and women and the complex tangle of emotions we feel in relationships today.
4. Pretty Woman
You are sitting at home on a weeknight and you realise Pretty Woman is on TV. So you make yourself a cup of tea, put on a white bathrobe and watch it for the umpteenth time. No one plans it, but for some reason that is the most natural thing in the world to do. A prostitute rescued from the streets by Richard Gere may not seem like the classic fairy tale, but somehow this is Disney for adults.
3. Chocolat
Chocolat is magical. That’s all I’m saying. Watch it please. Oh, and you’ve got to make yourself a steamy cup of hot chocolate first. Is that a given? Get the good stuff- the kind that is like little chocolate buttons that you stir into hot milk (I brought some back to Abu Dhabi from here). You’ll thank me for it later.
2. Love, Actually
The first time I seen this movie in the cinema, I wanted to stay for the later showing and watch it all over again. My date wouldn’t accommodate me. Huff. I’ve made up for it by watching it at least once a year since then, usually in the first week of December. Last year, watching this about a week before I flew home for Christmas, I can’t explain how excited the airport arrivals scene made me!
1. Forrest Gump
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know which one you’re gonna get” – possibly the most over-quoted line of all time, and essentially flawed in that most boxes of chocolates come with one of those little cards inside the box telling you exactly what you get. Other than that, I reckon this movie is close to perfect. Everyone has seen it, but you need to see it again. There is so much you’ve missed, trust me. Told as a simple and unpretentious story, the most important of life’s lessons can be found right in this one film.
What movies make you feel like everything is okay in the world?
I’m doing another one of these posts, in place of my monthly ‘Things to be Happy About’ post. Because the last one was so well received. And because its January, and don’t you hate those people who remind you of how good you really have it, when you are trying to wallow in the January blues? I don’t want to be one of those people. So instead, here are some more of my pet peeves:
Drivers who neglect to use their indicator; maps not folded back up correctly; couples who own a dog together and refer to each other as Mummy and Daddy (actually any couples doing this); people who sit next to you on the bus when there are other seats available; when people wear shoes they can’t walk in; alcohol pushers; crumbs in the butter dish; celebrities claiming to be environmentalists; when the ice-cream drips out of the bottom of the cone; when you open the DVD case and the wrong movie is inside; when something you’ve been into for ages becomes ‘popular’; having to use more than one remote control; people who say ‘let there be light’ when flipping on a light switch; the use of more than one exclamation mark; Anyone who thanks God at award ceremonies; shared arm-rests; hair strands left on shower walls; pointless weekly meetings; websites with horizontal scrolling; shopping trollies with a bad wheel.
via My Daily Style
via Fashion Toast
via Hey Pretty Thing
Dragon Tattoo collection @H&M, via Turn it Inside Out
via The Locals
