Marching

I'm still here, I can't believe a month has flown by since I last posted.

I thought I'd do a quick wrap up of what has happened, I'm not sure it's much, but it's enough to drag me away from my computer and spare time.

01 | I went to the broadway show of The Lion King, it was spectacular, particularly the opening scene which made me cry for some reason! I think the giraffe and the music did it to me most - I mean, 'Circle of Life' kind of has that ability any old time, let alone with seeing such artistry right infront of you.

02 | The main reason I have been away is school, learning to be a nurse takes a lot of time out of your week - assignments, tests, study and many empty attempts at study - it takes its toll! But hopefully all it entails will be second nature one day.

03 | I haven't been feeling the best. I can often spend hours on my computer, doing whatever comes to me, but over the past three weeks I've been getting headaches and just simply cannot be bothered doing things on my computer. Three weeks though! Does anyone else get periods like this?

04 | I honestly can't think of much else! I photographed an engagement party and a 2nd birthday last month which I hope to post a couple of photos from soon. And just the usual hanging out with family, going for a day trip or two, just life strolling by.


It's Ben and I's two year anniversary this Sunday, maybe we will do something a little different for that. And I hope to get back to sharing soon, holidays are in two weeks which might help!

Have a great weekend. xx

WANDERLIST | Travel Lust

Growing up, the most important thing I knew I wanted to do with my life was to see the world - it was the only thing I was sure of.

Hours upon hours were spent scrolling through other blessed peoples photographs on the internet or looking through magazines and newspapers, reading stories and tips, and lists of places, looking at others' 'bucket lists' - something I like to call a "life list" - then further researching into unknown places, which sometimes led to making it onto mine.

Over the last couple of years, more than likely since I spent 2 weeks in Africa, I've felt somewhat content - like going to Kenya and Uganda gave me the ability to focus on other things I want in life. I'd travelled, I'd seen places I had only imagined since I first discovered them with young eyes.

I've been able to turn my direction on wanting things closer to home, like setting my self up, I'm still nowhere near that but I've begun working my way to a career and I have instead been with the state of mind that owning a home is what I need before I travel, before anything major. So that I have somewhere to come back to that is mine.

Although the wonder never left, my heart isn't bursting with an ache to travel right now, but I have undeniably been feeling it come back over the last short while. It increasingly feels heavy whenever I envision the world or see the journeys taken by others. And I want to do it myself.

In saying this, I want to create a new collection of posts which encompass my life list of travelling or some kind of inspiration surrounding wanderlust, and share those places which I will one day be able to experience for my self and take photographs of which are my own.


I hope you enjoy them and please share in the comments your own stories, images, wanderlists or inspiration for travelling the world!

7 Pointers for Op-shopping/Thrifting

A.K.A thrifter

01 | I've found some of my best items in the 'larger sizes' section

Among other things, there always seems to be decent tops here, just tuck them in - or not - simple as that!

02 | If you haven't got the sewing machine out in the past year you probably won't now

Unless it's an item you've completely and utterly fallen in love with and know that as soon as you get home you will grab out the old machine and alter it, I've learnt to put anything that I would only wear if it were altered back and forget about it.

03 | Always, always search the jeans section

You never know what high-waisted, mum jeans you could come across that actually fit your waist - 
these are rare gems. If the legs are showing your ankles you've got the go ahead for comfortable cut off shorts, and if they do have nice skinny, long legs - perfect!

04 | Check often

Ask what days the new stuff generally gets put out and go go go! Probably once a week, even if it's a quick skim through to skip past what was there last time and see if there's anything new jumping out. You may also have new eyes on something you didn't notice before.

05 | It's worth a try

If you decide once you bring it home that it really doesn't work for you, just realise that the $3 you spent on it will help someone else (particularly if it's an organisation) and return it to the collection bins for someone else to find. Just don't keep it sitting around like all the items waiting to be altered!

06 | Keep your eyes open

For those little holes and stains. I like to do a scan of the front and back, look at the underarms, belt loops and along some of the seams particularly if it's a fragile fabric, there's nothing worse than getting home and realising your favourite piece has an imperfection which is unfixable.

07 | Look past the clothes racks

Sometimes I go into an op-shop with only clothes and accessories on my mind - remind yourself to look at the other second-hand objects and household items (or under the glass counter tops!), even if you aren't looking for anything in particular, you might come across that thing you imagined owning months ago and forgot about. You never know what you could find!

Do you have any other tips for op-shopping / thrifting?

Weekly Notes

So my big plan to blog a lot over the holidays hasn't happened yet (sometimes I have to try not to get downhearted and tell myself that I can still have a blog, it doesn't matter!) and neither have some of the other things, BUT I can say I have ticked off some mighty refreshing and long-time-coming ones, which makes these other ones I've missed -so far - (I still have 2 weeks!) not seem too alarming.

And because I'm happy with what I have achieved, without further ado, here's my list of this past weeks favourites...

1. Finally, I rearranged my bedroom, bought a desk, bought new curtains, and am in the process of telling myself to be more ruthless than my sentimental side usually allows me. Three cheers! I am loving where my room organisation and presentation is for the first time in many years.

2. I went for the chop! Long, awful-condition ends are gone and my hair is at its shortest point since it first grew past this length (makes sense?). A decision that has been consuming me just about every day for the past few months, not to mention on and off for the past 5 or so years. I finally did it and although I'll miss some things about having extra length, this was such a good decision.

3. I've been on 5 movie dates this month, 4 with the boyfriend and one with mumma. Firstly, The Hobbit/Battle of the Five Armies wasn't as good as the first two, but still, it's The Hobbit, and J.R.R. Tolkien's imagination along with the artistry of movie makers is just wonderful. Big Hero 6, The Imitation Game, and Paddington were all quite good. But I saw American Sniper tonight and boy did that leave a big lump in the throat.

4. Grateful to be given the opportunity to get into a career which will help me help other people (to be honest I've been feeling a little lost as to why I'm going into nursing lately, and it was something in American Sniper that reignited the spark). Hopefully this year is a good one. One more year and I'll be an EN. I can do this!

5. I can't think of much to write for a 5th, except that I went and bought some embroidery supplies to give me a bit of a different art goal - now to start the creating process!

What is something that has made you happy about yourself this week?

I have a busy 11 more days to get things done before the homework and learning starts again. Have a nice week!

I'm Loving Life | MMXV

This is the first time I've opened my computer in over two weeks - I almost feel I've neglected everything, yet that's nowhere near true. I've been spending time doing what we all do at this time of year; taking time away from myself and putting it into family.

There hasn't been a day where I've not been doing something (even if it included nothing), because it involved two days of busy Christmas meals and traditional activities, spending a week away at a beach house with my main man and his family, finally seeing my sister and going for a drive to a local 'pretty spot' and the open range zoo on a 40 degree day, then after having a day of rest, I find myself here.

Where am I now? Dreaming about all the things I want to do, where I want to be, making plans that fill the hallways of my mind and boy do they keep the little man busy running.

I have a tendency to think up ideas which make me incredibly excited about the future and what I could achieve - but get shot down a couple of days later when reality hits me; the reality that I don't know how to kick things into gear and begin doing what I want to do.

What do I want to do?

Create. I want to create things, make art, draw again, edit all the photos I take, make portraits, blog blog and blog, start my own little businesses, create something to share, create a home, create a dream come true.

I can somehow blend the word create into everything I've been desperately needing.

When it comes to what I want for the year ahead, it involves trying hard to make the above things happen. For real this time. I'm not going to list all the things in my head here because it's unnecessary - and sometimes I don't know how to explain them in words.

I guess that's a little round up of what's been happening, and a little resolutions spiel to go with the refreshing feel of a new year and having a month of (mostly) spare time. I may make a more pointed list down the track for my own sake.

Let's do this! What are your plans for the next 12 months?

Weekly Notes

I've decided that to help myself in my complete and unfortunate downfall in journaling, I would like to create regular posts on things that have happened, made me happy, that I'm doing or that I'd like to share. I journaled every day for a couple of years and then it just stopped - I can't see myself picking it up again - but that's partly why I started this blog. To bring some of my mind and memories into words again. Here goes!

// I have officially completed my first year as a nursing student (proud moment), it was difficult and I'm so frightened for the future, but I'm going to push it to the side and concentrate on my passion for the time being - hellooo photography.

// We had a garage sale today and although it's sad seeing memories go it's well past the time for it - I plan on greatly diminishing the amount of things I own over the holidays, it's been too long since I've had a clean slate. Wish me luck.

// I'm finally on summer holidays and it's such a great feeling! I need to write a big list and plan out all the things I want to do, time flies when you're having fun and I can't go another set of holidays without finishing that list off! 

// I'm looking forward to Christmas + beach trips + time for photo-taking + blogging + maybe picking up a good book and reading (I think the last book I finished was The Hobbit a couple of years ago - shocking!) 

// I am going lens searching tomorrow; incredibly excited to get a new addition on my camera as my Christmas present - I don't even care that I won't have a surprise gift this year.

  

Other things:

| Breaking up with my wardrobe

| 9 ways to start living a simpler and intentional life

| Letting go

| The daily routines of writers