Not Just A Spot Of Tea

During the year, I've managed to receive two "Tea for One" sets, which consist of a teapot, a matching teacup, and also a saucer. They are so sweet and it felt like such a shame to have them hidden in the kitchen cupboard amongst all the other mugs and dinnerware.

So what is one to do with these pretty pots, if not lock them away until some tea party I may end up throwing for myself? Well... I sat mine proudly in my bedroom, and happily gave them a purpose to serve.

Let me introduce you to the perfect hiding place for all the chocolates I managed to receive for my birthday!

A sweet idea, indeed!

The Heartbeat

image by opheliadreams @ deviantart

In my mind, the typical festive summer sounds like classic 80s rock and a fair dose of Justin Timberlake. But of course there's a whole sweltering jungle of summer-lovin' tunes to get us through the sunny days: Those that can take us back to memories of sun and surf no matter what.

Here I've compiled a brief (and rather scribbly!) list of songs that make the summer-born-baby in me smile:

(I believe I mentioned the same song twice! But that's okay, because I love it twice as much)

If you don't recognise some of the songs, I recommend you go on a downloading frenzy! Also feel free to comment with your own top summer-day tunes :-]

x

Subconsciously Yours

Time's danced away from me and it's already time to be saying that I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas, and plenty of naps.

I personally thank nanna-naps for getting me through the Christmas time, from the eve right through to today (Boxing Day). I needed each and every one of them! And I hope you've treated yourself to a pleasant little series of your own naps. If not, what are you waiting for? Go now and nap away!

Nap away your weary eyes, your weary thoughts, the stresses, the food, and those bitter tongues. Nap to your heart's content. Dream a pleasant dream, and know that you can wake-up-a-fresh!

There is no guilt in napping, only much needed peace for your pretty soul.

image by brambura33 on deviantart

Towards the Sun

What do you hope for?

I hope for overseas adventures, where I spend my evenings talking to strangers and absorbing their tales over cheese and wine. During the day, I explore cities and landscapes, constantly on the move.

I hope to experience different cultures that send me flying outside of my comfort zone.

I hope to someday realise that I'm doing exactly what I love, and wouldn't want things any other way

I hope for people to get enjoyment or a sense of purpose from my own passion

I hope to change peoples' perspectives

I hope to learn from others

I hope for people to think I'm good company, likeable

I hope for a romantic twist

Sun's Playtime

The mercury decided to prove that it sure could rise; 38.4 degrees Celcius!

The Border

Last night, I went to Mexico

Musings and Mailboxes

Call me a bit strange, but I have a daily habit of wanting to check the mailbox before anybody else can get to it, so I can see just exactly what we've received and if there's anything for me.

Now although it wasn't me who personally went outside to check the letterbox today, I was there when my father came strolling back inside with his collections. There, in his hands, was a nicely padded envelope - addressed to me!

I am in love with surprise packages

It was from my friend in Melbourne who was probably my sister in a past life. I am now the proud owner of a pretty bird necklace and an awesome mixed CD! How I love birthdays.

So seeing as I spent time writing out many-a-Christmas card last weekend, I thought I would use my friend as some inspiration/motivation and finally send them off today.



Look forward to some Christmas mail x

Twenty Times Around The Sun

It should seem that this Wednesday just passed, I threw off my teenage shoes (at least I think I had a pair of those..) and jumped into my twenties! How scary! Mostly because I'm "the baby" of the family, and to think that my sisters and I are all well and truly adults by now... it's insane!


The day went well, starting with plenty of birthday wishes and surprises (like my package from Canada full of some of the most awesome things), followed by friendly visits, and ended in a night with the family - who all hit the wine together. Oh the joy of unlicensed venues that offer you to Bring Your Own. It was actually rather fun/ny! For us at least. The wait-staff at the resteraunt we went to probably thought we were nuts.




My sisters and I out at dinner on my birthday; Natalie, Marissa, Laura


So while I know that New Years may seem like a more appropriate time to reflect on the year that has been, I thought I would take the time now to note some important things that I have learnt since turning nineteen last year. You would hope that I would have become just a little bit wiser, yeah?

So here goes.

+ Happiness is a Warm Gym: The gym is not a bad place; The gym keeps you sane! I actually started going before my birthday last year, but I was well and truly dedicated to going right up until some tough times with uni this year. I love feeling fit and strong, and the happiness and confidence that comes with exercise. How I need to go back!

+ There is no place like Southbound: I attended my first ever Southbound Festival at the beginning of 2008; an annual 2-day camping festival down in the South-West of Western Australia, packed full of great bands and endless fun. While it was exhausting, hot, dirty, and uncomfortable - you wouldn't think to have it any other way. I'm going to the 2009 event in just a few weeks! How exciting!

+ You don't need a high TER to do uni: So I got a fairly poor Tertiary Entrance Rank when I sat my TEE a few years back. I was pretty crushed at the time, because I knew that I wanted to keep studying and do something that I enjoyed. After plenty of working and a couple of TAFE courses, I finally went to uni this year. And that was simply by applying with my high school grades and a letter/resume. AND - I've even received High Distinctions and Distinctions for a fair share of my units. So it just goes to show, if you put in the effort, you will get the results.

+ Absence makes the heart grow fonder: While I definitely haven't realised I've been in love with one of my closest friends all this time!... I had a friend spend a good majority of the year overseas. First in China, now in Canada. While he was here, I found that I was unfortunately finding myself getting mad with him over silly little things. I guess that when you know somebody incredibly well, it's easy to do that. It wasn't until he went away that I realised how much I value our friendship and certain qualities about him. So in a way, I'm glad that we had that distance for all this time, and certainly cannot wait for him to return to the land of Oz!

+ Positive things come to positive people: This year I received a book called 'You Can Heal Your Life'. It sounds a bit corny, and people would brush it off as "things you already know and don't need to hear from some fruit loop that thinks they know it all". But honestly, I am so glad to have read it. Every page filled you with positivity and reinforced the fact that you only get out of life what you put in. Positive thoughts will lead to positive things happening in your life. People that are negative are only going to keep falling into negative patterns.
This was most certainly true for finally getting my Phase II for driving this year. I failed the first time because I kept telling myself that I wasn't ready, that I couldn't do it, that it would go badly. I beat myself up about driving really badly.
However the second time around I told myself I could do this, that I was prepared, that I knew everything that there was to know - and managed to have the most lovely assessor for my practical driving test! She passed me and I was just estatic!

I also feel that just recently I have learnt to like myself a whole lot better, and it is now that I seem to be attracting a lot more new people into my life. I want this to continue, which can be hard when you start feeling down - So I guess I just need to keep my chin up!

I'm sure there are a lot more things I have learnt (including with regards to friendships and what I've actually learnt in terms of new methods of making art and such at uni), but this list would be never-ending!

Maybe you too could reflect on what's changed over the course of the year? I love hearing other people's stories!
Happy list-making! x

LifeInTechnicolour

I was going to simply pose the question of, "why can't everything be in black and white?"

... as if I want everything in life to be straight forward. Simple. Spelt out to me.

It's easy to forget that with simplicity comes monotony. And who really wants to see the same thing everyday? The same problems, the same people, the same systems and cycles...

The end of uni has seen some incredible changes for me, and I've come to realise that this year has been one of the most positive I've experienced in a long time. These holidays so far have been so positive in themself.

I am loving my life in technicolour right now

Note: all images excluding final image by me; 'confetti' by drivemeinsane @ deviantart

Soothe the Soul

My Monday morning is being spent trying to nurse myself after a sleepless (but fun!) weekend.

So now that the first cup of tea for the day has been consumed, I'm assuming there'll be a few more to come, and a lot of sweet tunes.


If you're having yourself a stress-free Monday and need some pretty music to help you through it, check out this lovely lady

http://www.myspace.com/lenkamusic

Bohemian Like You

Be inspired by exotic items and bohemian fashion, and have yourself a week of ethnic fun. We're talking cuisine, parties and dress-ups!

Tonight is "Indian Night" for my sisters and I. Numero Uno sister is having us over to her place and cooking us some yum food, while Numero Due sister is providing us with some fun dress-ups! I am, of course, providing my wonderful company...

Bollywood anyone?

Current Mood:

I'm not sure how much longer I can stand being confined between the walls of this home, sick with a cold/flu.

I thought this painting I did not too long ago as part of a uni project summed up how I'm feeling today pretty well. It's the most chaotic/non-structured work I've ever done (mind you, there is method in the madness).

Good Morning

We Dreamt Ourselves A White Christmas

As a kid, the first day of December was just as exciting as Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I'm not sure if it's a Roman Catholic tradition, or just something our family has picked up from somewhere unknown to me, but December 1 means putting up the Christmas tree and opening the little square marked with the number '1' on a colourful cardboard advent calendar.

I'm fairly nostalgic about our old Christmas tree that we had when my sisters and I were little. It was tall and lush green, with big red bows and golden ornaments of musical instruments and little bells. Our coloured lights would sing Christmas carols, and you couldn't be sure if the musty smell was the tinsel or the old nativity set. It's these memories that make me incredibly fond of using traditional Christmas colours and ornaments around the home.

You can only imagine my reaction to mum announcing that she wanted a white tree this year with lime green and hot pink. The thought was revolting. Maybe not as revolting as our blue/purple/silver theme in previous years, but the mental images screamed a hot breath of 'tacky'!

Down in the land of Oz, December 1 not only marks the so-called first day of advent, but also the first day of Summer. We don't get snow. Hell, we don't see reindeer or even want to imagine being covered completely in a red felt suit and fluffy night hat. We try to be as naked as possible and drink as many alcoholic beverages on ice as we can. So why oh why would it make sense to get a white tree?

But alas, mother put up the tree yesterday (which does turn out to be the first day of advent by Roman Catholic standards), and she proved me wrong. The white is so peaceful and calm, and it seems as though lime green and gold was a theme made for that tree. She put so much effort into decorating it, and while we still don't have lights for it yet, I think it looks lovely.



I hope you all have a great start to the advent period, and don't forget you can get your German Lutheran on, and open the first window of your calendar this morning!

Note: mine doesn't have illustrations on the inside flap like they used to :-( ;
(You will also notice that I contradict myself in saying we shouldn't believe in having white Christmases in Australia by clearly buying myself a calendar with Scandenavian imagery - but hey. We're dreamers. We can't embrace what we have, so we pretend we're totally going to be roasting chestnuts on an open fire this year)

Count your sleeps x

Sunday Blues

Summer means: Sundays are for recovery