The Girl In A Cashmere Daze

A New Chapter

2011-07-11T19:00:00.000+10:00

Hi guys. I've delayed writing this post until now as i wanted things to get to a certain stage before sharing it with you guys. Some things have been going on in the background since May that led to a slight change all round that's a bit difficult to pin point. But while it was all taking place, i knew that it was time for me to take a risk and try a different path than the one i'd planned for myself. I feel like i've changed in some way. I've always used by blog as a form of therapy for myself; i like to call it free therapy. And at some point in time, i always feel the need to change my therapist to suit the state i'm in.

I promised myself that if i passed my exams and became eligible for graduation, i'd start a new blog without deleting this one as i want it to serve as a reference point for me in the future. I'm glad to say that my graduation eligibility was confirmed today so i will be graduating on the 20th; i am excited and nervous at the same time because i know that i am entering another phase in my life and i'm not sure what to expect. But i know that i have to give it my full attention and commitment and see where that leads me.

Having said all that, i won't be blogging on this site anymore. But, i will be journal-ling on my new blog so feel free to follow if you're interested. I've had an amazing 3 years and i can't wait to see what the future holds. I hope you all have an amazing week. My new blog is:

A Daily Dose of Cashmere

I have an unexplained love affair with cashmere so i could not afford to let that out of my blog name :)

Images 1, 2

Not A Fan of Long Holidays

2011-07-01T22:10:00.000+10:00

This is usually the case when i have nothing to do. I thought i had planned out this 4 week break from uni to a T. But i haven't had a shift since the holiday started and i feel like my brain matter is slowly melting. I'm already tired of walking around town like a lost puppy, a few locals are slowly beginning to recognize my face when they see me on the road and i don't consider that as a good thing because it just means to me that i'm beyond bored!

I've been trying to go for a walk about on most days for an hour while i also hunt for another job just in case. But right now, i'm sick of doing either of those things. I just want something to do that's going to set me off on a great high that i can ride until the end of July when uni starts again. The fact that i'm looking forward to getting back to uni work makes people give me the side eye, but i don't care at the moment.

I really need to come up with things i can do away from my laptop that excites my brain. I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

My Thoughts on Stevia

2011-06-27T21:03:00.001+10:00

I usually use low GI raw cane sugar when i need to add sugar into things like tea, custard and porridge. But recently, i've been contemplating switching from sugar to something with an even lower GI count. This is mainly because i have PCOS and Syndrome X so it's always better to consume things that wouldn't be making my insulin resistance worse. For those who know anything about Syndrome X, you'll know that insulin resistance makes it more difficult for you to shed any weight and that the carbohydrate you consume is mainly turned into fat. But if you follow a low GI eating plan, you're more likely to be less insulin resistant without the need of medication.

My doctor mentioned that Stevia doesn't have any GI value at all so it'll be a good substitute for sugar. With that in mind, i was quite excited when i went to Woolworths to purchase the stevia brand pictured above. My excitement was soon cut short when i tried it with tea. All i can say is that it had a really sharp taste that made my tea taste so bad i had to pour it down the sink.

Don't get me wrong, it did have the sweet taste of sugar but it was accompanied by a sharp bitter taste. I already feel like i've wasted my money purchasing this but i refuse to give up any hope.

Does anyone know anything that's like stevia out there but doesn't have the same sharp bitter taste? I would hate to give up my search so quickly and return to sugar. I'm looking for something that has 0mg of carbohydrates and fat as recommended by the doctor, thanks.

Image via Shopmania

Pale Skin: A Love Affair

2011-06-26T19:39:00.000+10:00

For those of you who are unaware, i have a thing for seriously pale skinned girls. I think it might be because in my first year in England, i lived with a girl for a few weeks who was quite obsessed with fake tan. I never understood why people talked about girls looking orange until i met her. Due to that experience, i dislike the smell of fake tan and my love for pale skinned girls just grows stronger and stronger.

For some reason, i love how Emily Browning almost looks ghostly in these pictures. But i have to say, i'm not quite sure of her outfit. I don't understand what that bag is doing there, even though she was at the LV show. I really like how her hair looks at that length on her facial structure. We do have a similar facial structure and my hair is only a few inches longer so i'm tempted to pull out the hair straighteners and give it a bit of a work out. But i've been working out often and i'm not sure that straightening my hair at the moment is a good idea because i'm just going to sweat it out; and my roots would end up puffing up.

Here she is with Marc Jacobs and her main squeeze Max Irons

Images via Just Jared

Simplicity

2011-06-23T19:03:00.000+10:00

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"Simplicity provides a fine line between eloquence and plainness" - LL Cool J

I feel like Cameron Diaz's outfit brings this quote to life.

Blogger Is Being Difficult

2011-06-22T22:52:00.000+10:00

I think Blogger might be suffering from some sort of emotional breakdown because i can't seem to post anything with pictures at the moment. This is a lesson to me that i should consider creating drafts on Blogger as a way to save my post ideas. Hope everyone is having a lovely Wednesday so far? I only have 1 hour and 9 minutes left of Wednesday :)

Learning Patience From Dogs

2011-06-20T13:40:00.000+10:00

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I've been doing a lot of people watching lately from my kitchen counter top. You see, the benefits of living on the 3rd floor with lots of windows in the kitchen (which i had a hard time getting used to because you can see in from the road) is that you get to observe people daily while they go on about their business.

I've always noticed the people who walk their dogs for two reasons. The first being that i want a pet. I didn't really grow up with a pet; we did have an Alsatian puppy for a while but he sadly died. We only had him for a few weeks so i never really knew what it felt like to have a pet. Back home where i grew up, most people didn't have one; dogs are mainly used as protectors as opposed to pets. The second reason i noticed these people (which is the main reason for this post) is how their dogs always seem to be in charge of the walks; especially those without a leash on.

If you went walking with a kid, you can always tell the kid exactly where to go and frown when they vie off that chosen path. With dogs, it seems to be a completely different scenario. I'm sure you could train your dog to be obedient and all, but they always seem to follow their nose. And that's when i see the dog owners being really patient. No one's there yelling at the dog to stop sniffing and continue with their walk; instead they wait patiently until the dog is ready to move on.

There's this particular man who walks his dog pretty much everyday just early into the afternoon. I've noticed that his dog always stops to smell an area that has something that wasn't there before. Today in particular, his dog stopped for almost 3 minutes to sniff around the lamp post outside (yes, i was timing it). I sat there, whilst sipping my milk tea, how this tolerance for the dog's need to stop and smell would translate into patience in their daily lives. Maybe they end up being more patient with the people around them? Or rather become more tolerant of people's attitudes and needs that they mightn't understand?

Now, i've never walked a dog in my life so i have no idea what it's like. But i'm sure there are some pet owners reading this who might be able to chip in and say a few words.

Until next time, do have a lovely Monday

My Exams Are Over!!!

2011-06-19T15:25:00.000+10:00

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I finished my final paper as an undergraduate student (hopefully!) on Friday evening and it feels like so much weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can't even begin to imagine how much sleep i've clocked since Friday. All i can say is that i really needed it; my neck still feels a bit cranked from exams but it'll pass. I'm so glad i didn't have to work last week, with all the stress of exams, i don't know how i would have coped.

All i need to do now is sit tight and wait for my exam results to come out in July. But while i wait, i've decided i'm going to apply to some universities in England for a masters program. Aside from that, i'm hoping and praying that i'll be roster-ed into some shifts for this week and also be back to blogging more.

I hope you're all having a lovely Sunday

Couture Arabesque: Fab Friday Finds: The Simply Luxurious Life!

2011-06-18T21:04:00.000+10:00

Couture Arabesque: Fab Friday Finds: The Simply Luxurious Life!: "We are closing out this very long feeling week with Shannon from one of my favorite blogs, The Simply Luxurious Life . This blog is chalk f..."

Decadence for Divas: French Chic versus Inspirational Italians!

2011-06-14T23:06:00.000+10:00

Decadence for Divas: French Chic versus Inspirational Italians!: "OK friends,since being on the blogosphere (which has only been for less than 1 year) I am “intrigued” perhaps at times a little “astounded” ..."

Absent Blogger

2011-06-13T23:42:00.000+10:00

I know it's been a while since i've posted anything. But a lot has been happening behind the scenes. I got a part-time job and i'm currently in the middle of completing my final exams. I honestly don't know how most people that work full-time juggle that along with studying and life in general. It's been quite hectic over here, but i haven't completely neglected the blog.

During my study break (and a few sleepless nights), i was able to come up with an idea that has been lingering on my mind for quite sometime. Without giving away too much, i've decided to go along with this idea and it'll come to fruition sometime at the end of July, i'm thinking the 24th of July. But i'll definitely give you guys a heads up before it happens.

Until then, hope you are all enjoying life as it is. To all the blogs i follow, don't worry, i've been reading every single post, just haven't gotten into commenting yet.

Just Do It

2011-06-02T14:17:00.000+10:00

For as long as i can remember, procrastination has always been my thing. I always seem to wait till the last minute before i start something. Even on the occasions i try to start early, i always feel crippled and incapable of completing the task if there's no pressure around the corner. I guess the fact that i've always done well under these pressures meant that i didn't put much effort into facing my procrastinating demons.

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But recently, things have changed, albeit at a slow pace. I'm getting much better at doing things earlier instead of waiting till the last minute for that pressure to set in and get me going. I usually start by writing a list of all the things that needs to get done and the deadlines i have for them. In regards to university assessments like reports, i draw up a plan/ draft of how i want to structure my work. With the basic footprint in hand, i simply dive straight in and get on with it.

Previously, i'd take a while to think it through and psycho-analyse it to see if it's possible or not. But i noticed that this habit led me to procrastinate even more. By going ahead without giving it too much thought, it makes me work through it. It was quite difficult at first and some days it still is, but then, i'm a work in progress

Generating Ideas...

2011-05-30T20:41:00.000+10:00

...and moving on to implementation. As i type this, i'm on a 10 minute break from listening to an online stream of my International Business lecture. It's quite an interesting lecture as it's covered Plato, political economies, Thatcher-ism and Regan-economy in the last 60 minutes. But that's not what this post is about...

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My little brain has been churning some unexpected ideas over this semester and i took the opportunity to jot some of them down at the time. But as of last night, i read a few of them and it got me thinking of putting some of them into action. My problem at the moment is that my ideas are just all over the place. There doesn't seem to be some sort of pattern that i can work with. This means, i have to actively try and create that pattern for myself.

I seem to generate ideas unexpectedly which leaves me taking notes on my phone so i can jot them down when i get home. The beauty of listening to my lectures online is that i actually generate academic and non-academic ideas during the process, so it always helps that my laptop is right in front of me to take these notes. While listening to this lecture, i had an idea of something that i could do with my blog come next semester; i'm actually quite interested in it at the moment.

So, do stay tuned as i'll be sure to let you guys know if i choose to go through with some of my random ideas. But until then, they'll remain my baby secrets. Just out of curiosity, is there anything you'd like to see me blog more of?

Bored With My Current Meals

2011-05-28T10:45:00.001+10:00

Has anyone ever gotten to that point where they're so bored with what they eat that you're no longer motivated to cook? Well, that's me right now. This picture totally explains how i feel

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I have no idea why i feel this way. I'm not aware if this has happened to me in the past or not. With this in mind, i really do need your help. Can anyone please recommend recipes to me that i can make for 2? And also some great snack ideas for me? Thanks in advance :)

Books, Books...

2011-05-27T18:02:00.000+10:00

...and more books. This is pretty much what my week has been like. I took a break from job hunting to focus more on studying for my exams.

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I've got three exams this semester and my first one is on the 11th of June. For some reason, i feel like i have too much to cover and too little time to go about it. I don't know if it's because my flatmate is busy panicking about her exams, so through some form of psychological osmosis, it is affecting me. I've been spending some time at the library much to my surprise. I personally hate studying in the library, everything there just distracts me right from the people to the atmosphere. I generally feel more sleepy studying in the library than i do on my own bed; and when i'm not feeling sleepy, i'm watching people come and go.

But recently, i've convinced myself to study in the library by bribing myself with a nice cup of coffee. I used to be a caffeine addict so i decided to stop drinking coffee unless necessary. And in the situation of the library, i think it's necessary because it stops me from falling asleep. Or, am i just making silly excuses? Who knows? All i care about now is being well prepped for my exams next month.

I leave you all on a happy note, i got an offer to study a Masters in Strategic Human Resource Management at my uni :) Hope you all have a lovely weekend

Grad Outfit Ideas

2011-05-22T13:00:00.000+10:00

This post is quite late; but here are the ideas i currently have for my graduation

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My mum has offered to make me this dress if she's able to make it to Australia for my graduation {this is just one of the few things i want her to make for me}. This is great cause the sleeves are long and we'll be in the middle of the Australian winter during graduation. I should note that in the 3 years i've lived here, i still don't own a winter jacket. I get by just fine with a blazer and a cardigan; the reason behind this might be the fact that i moved here from the UK.

These pictures are from Tumblr. I think i can recreate a similar look with my black blazer, twill trousers from ASOS and a white shirt OR i could wear a simple cream cotton blouse underneath OR a breton stripe cardigan. But since i'm a lazy dresser, i won't be shocked if i opt for a long sleeve tee :)

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This simple linen dress from ASOS comes in 4 colours so i'm spoilt for choice. At A$77.06, it seems like a very reasonable investment for my scanty wardrobe.

I'm Drowning...

2011-05-21T15:48:00.000+10:00

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Drowning in my mind's eye

Drowning in my emotions and everything surrounding me

I'm trying so hard to swim but it feels like i'm going against the tide

Everything seems like such a hassle and demands so much energy

It's like everything's slowly been washed away

I want to run away

Far away from it all

Right to the end of the earth with only a book and my glasses for company

Where i can get away from it all and calm my mind and unravel my thoughts

Breathe in some fresh air...

I feel the need to spring clean my life and surroundings

A bid to starting afresh as a means of creating some much needed balance...

Adopt the mantra of less being more

But where's the time for that?

How do i carve out this much needed time when i already feel short of time?

While i try to figure it out, i have to face the reality of today...

...and the weeks ahead...

Textbooks, application forms, presentations and exams

Girl About Town

2011-05-17T00:02:00.001+10:00

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One by One

2011-05-15T11:17:00.000+10:00

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The bulbs in my apartment are dying off one at a time. As i type this, all the lights in the kitchen are out and i cook with the light on the hood. Last night unfortunately, the one in my room went off as well; i was living off just one as the other three went out. But now, its all dark except from the light coming from my laptop screen. I can't even imagine the amount of times i've called the real estate asking them to send someone over to fix all the lights. I would have fixed them myself, but unfortunately i can't.

Whosoever designed the fixtures for the lights doesn't like me at all. I can see so much wiring from where i stand; and what the bulbs attach to is so tight and fixed in too deep that i can't reach it properly. A runny nose and several tries later, i've given up. So, i have to wait until Monday to make another call (and possibly go to their office if i'm feeling any better) to see if someone can come fix it ASAP

I'm lucky that i love turning off my room lights at night. The only problem now is i have to do all my studying in the living room, with the TV as a major distraction (not like there's anything fun on free TV). Maybe this will help me plan my time better and go to bed earlier

Sick Baby

2011-05-14T12:44:00.000+10:00

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I feel like i haven't experienced this week at all and it's already Saturday afternoon here in Australia. I've been sick all week although i managed to sit my weekly tests on Monday and Tuesday. Since then, i've been home curled underneath my duvet with my heater next to me and my laptop for company. My birthday was on Thursday and i couldn't celebrate much or make myself anything special because i was too weak to cook. But then, that's the least of my worries because i plan on celebrating it sometime later.

I haven't had the chance to do any of my assessments because i've been ill. So, i have to apply for special consideration because i won't be able to hand any of them in by the due date. I have so much catching up to do. I really hate being sick and it feels like i've been in bed for years already.

I know i promised to post my graduation outfit ideas but i haven't gotten round to it yet. But hopefully i'll do that next week when i feel much better.

Hope you all have an amazing weekend :)

It's Just Sunk In

2011-05-04T15:19:00.001+10:00

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It's only just sunk in that i'm graduating in July. Granted, it's not my first graduation ever neither is it my first from university. But it'll definitely be the first one that i'll be attending; i skipped my graduation in England because it clashed with my orientation week here in Australia. I applied for my graduation last week but it wasn't until yesterday that i really started thinking about it. My Mum called me to ask me if i'd thought of outfit ideas for my graduation or if i want her to buy me something.

I felt like someone had just woken me up from some sort of dream; i can't believe that 3 years has gone by so fast. Of course, during the process of each semester, i certainly whined about how annoying things and people were and that certainly hasn't changed as i type it. But i've also learnt a lot about myself during these years here. It has also become more obvious to me what i'd like to research for my PhD. It's a bit of a mish mash of different courses i've taken over the last 7 years and there's just a few people here in Australia that are willing to supervise this area of research as most universities here don't offer courses related to it. Luckily for me, we do Business Innovation here at my university and it is a key aspect of the research i'm thinking of doing.

But a research is still far off as i still need to start my Masters. In line with that, i'm yet to apply for my Masters because i'm just too lazy to fill out the form; i definitely need to do it soon if i plan on applying to other universities. But with mine, since i'm already a student i can actually apply on the day my final results are released because as long as i pass, i'll get a place.

Now, back to that outfit idea. After my Mum talked about it, my head just kept rambling with ideas which made sleeping a little bit difficult for me. I don't want to get anything that can only be worn during special occasions. I want something that i can easily incorporate into my daily life after graduation is over. So, my next post will be on the outfits i currently have in mind (i really don't want to buy any shoes). Until then, why not share your ideas on what this curvy lady can wear on her day? It'll be winter here :)

I Just Had To...

2011-05-01T15:49:00.000+10:00

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...Anna Paquin looks absolutely divine in her outfit. I don't know if it's because i have a thing for pale girls, but everything here works for me. Hope you're all having a blessed Sunday

Someone's words

2011-04-30T14:20:00.000+10:00

"Love isn't about the romantic nights or gifts. It isn't about the fireworks going off around you when you have that first, real, kiss. Love isn't about kissing in the rain and dancing beneath the stars. It isn't about the big moments or big surprises. Love is not a fairytale. Love is about still having the butterflies after years. It's about the second looks and laying in bed wide awake, all night, because you can't go to sleep mad at each other. It's about being willing to sacrifice, literally everything for someone, just because you care so deeply for them. It's not about buying them gifts, but it's about leaving them little presents here and there, just to remind them that you are constantly thinking about them. Love is about all of the little things that add up to really big things. Love is rare and special, but should not be treated as if it would break. Love needs to be thrown around and beat up a little bit, worn in, but not worn down. Love needs to be a comfortable feeling, a place to go when NO ONE else in the world can relate. A safe place, where you know no matter how ugly you look or how angry you are, you will still be...loved".

Unknown (via atomos)

Camel Coats...

2011-04-29T14:55:00.000+10:00

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I don't know why, but for some odd reason, all my dreams last night were dominated by camel coats. Both men and women wore them in my dreams. I don't remember the particulars of any of the dreams i had last night, all i remember is the similarity in what everyone had on. The funny thing is, i'm really interested in getting a navy blue or khaki green military inspired coat for our upcoming winter in July.

There's No Title...

2011-04-26T15:39:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone. How did you spend your Easter break? To those that celebrated Easter, a happy belated Easter from me. Hope you all indulged in some form of chocolate consumption. I didn't; not because i didn't want to but because i'm lactose intolerant and couldn't be bothered looking for brands that sell diary/lactose free chocolate.

Well, here in Australia we had a 5 day long weekend due to Easter and ANZAC day coinciding in the same period. Hence, today is the last day of my 5 day weekend.

I have to say i spent most of the weekend thinking and evaluating myself at the current state and just....well....thinking.....like i tend to do most of the time. I was actually planning to go to church on Sunday, but something occurred that morning that got me a bit upset; and i have no intentions of talking about it anymore because Sunday is already over and as at Monday morning, i promised myself i'll try my best to let go when people piss me off instead of going to bed with my frustrations. I usually try not to be vocal when i'm upset with someone because i'm blunt on a daily basis and extremely blunt when i'm upset. So it's always better for me to bite my tongue and shut up until i've calmed down a little bit. The funny thing is i don't even show my anger; but thanks to my inabilities of being a good liar, my irritation is generally written all over my face!

Anywhoo, this weekend, i was just thinking what an amazing world it would be if all religions just accepted each other and didn't feel the need to point out that their own way is better than the other. I'm a Christian (or as my Mum likes to call me, a partial Christian because there are certain things i don't accept); i was born into a strictly religious family so i know all i'm meant to know and abide by as a Christian. On Sunday, i chose to listen to/ and read some of the Easter sermons that were preached here in Australia and in England. I have to say i was quite offended by some of them and it almost led to my Mum and I having an argument (she's a Pastor). Luckily for me, i like to be a good child so we agreed to disagree and all is well in our modern-daughter relationship :). Even though we have our disagreements once in a while, i'm so lucky to have a mother who listens to what i have to say even though she doesn't accept and isn't common in the small town i come from.

The Sunday conversation got me thinking about how my cultural upbringing keeps fighting with me on what i believe in and what i choose to accept. I guess it's one of the downfalls of being an only child; there's so much pressure on you to be everything they would dream of in all their kids. My mum never ceases to complain about how western my thoughts are and how i need to become more Nigerian. Us Nigerians are too judgemental for our own good and we always want to assume that our way is the only right way

Well, i beg to differ. If our way was so perfect, our nation wouldn't be the way it is. The advantage of being educated in different countries is the ability to observe and absorb other cultures. No one is perfect as a human being and there's no one right way is which to find the path to a happy life. I truly hope that when my mum comes over to visit for my graduation, she'll understand why i'm the way i am and also open up her mind to other notions other than what she assumes to be the 'only correct way'.

On Monday morning, i decided to take Catherine R. Staat's advice from this post and slowly incorporate it into my life. The universe was obviously listening to my thoughts because i got this lovely post in my inbox and Shannon posted this on her blog; these made my Monday quite a good beginning to this lovely week. I'm still a bit stressed as per my last post, but things are moving along slowly and i very much appreciate it.

Happy Tuesday everyone

PS: Upon reading this post, i've just realised how much of a boring ramble it has been. Sorry if i've bored your eyes but i just had to :)

There's A Void

2011-04-22T19:33:00.000+10:00

There's an emptiness inside me that i'm constantly trying to fill.

I've felt this way for years but all my attempts to remedy it hasn't yielded any positive results.

It seems like as the years go by, the more difficult it is for me to fill this void

So i'm always trying to keep my mind busy so that there's less chances of me worrying about it

But at the end of the day, the void is still there; and sometimes, it leads to sleepless nights

For some reason, this feeling has been pronounced lately

I feel like i'm at a standstill because i have no idea what to do anymore

And that feeling in itself frustrates me

And now it's becoming a struggle to fall asleep at night because i can feel it right there

And at that very moment, i can't run away from how i feel

Some Sort Of Update

2011-04-18T21:17:00.000+10:00

I've been on uni break since last week and that has definitely put me in the slow groove of things. Nothing much has happened lately, i've just been relaxing and enjoying the fact that i don't have any tests to study for neither is there a need to go to lectures. But all that is slowly starting to change as i do have classes from next week accompanied with my regular weekly tests and an essay due. Without further ado, i'll let you in on what's been happening with me over here

* I joined thy gym AGAIN! On Wednesday last week while at the mall with my flatmate, we came across the Fitness First stand where they offered a month free as part of the 12 month gym membership. So i went to have a good look around the gym again to see if i was interested. Although the month free promotion was good, i needed more to tempt me to sign a contract. After a lot of teasing and haggling with their general manager, i got offered a Results First program for free. Basically, it's meant to cost $70 and comes with 3 sessions going for 45 minutes at a time with a personal trainer. You also get a customized workout and a few other bits thrown in; but because i wasn't sure if their joining fee was worth my money, the manager offered to pay for the Results First program only if i signed up on that day. Of course, i jumped on it!

* On Thursday of the same week, a sales party was organised in the mall where all the stores had some sort of offer going on. Funny enough, i was very tame and didn't spend much. I got workout clothes and saved $70 in the process; and a pair of military boots. I had my eye on 2 actually but i had to pick only 1 (similar to the picture above). The only problem is i keep dreaming of the 2nd one. It's not your regular biker boots you find here in the mall (or so i think); and because of this i want it soooo much! It has buckles in the exact manner i've always pictured my perfect biker boots. The only problem is it's in black and i already have a black pair. So it's a bit difficult for me to justify buying another. Now i'm considering putting it on lay by

* I watched Paul on Thursday night and i absolutely loved it! Ok, maybe i'm a bit biased because i have a thing for movies written by Brits and also movies with Aliens in it, but it absolutely rocked. We were actually meant to go watch Fast 5 cause the lady here told us it was already out in ShellB. But when we got there, we realized it not out anywhere until this Wednesday. It does have quite a few profane words in it so if you can't stand that, i suggest you don't go watch it or just have your mind prepared :)

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* At the moment, there are lots of items saved on my ASOS basket. Thank God for the 'save for later' button they added to their page. I can't seem to get this dress off my mind and it currently retails for A$63.09. Maybe i should give it to myself as a graduation present...here's hoping that ASOS still has it in stock come July

Happy Monday everyone

Denim Jackets...

2011-04-12T21:05:00.000+10:00

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It seems to me that everywhere i turn, there's denim jackets; i'm loving the one Emily Blunt has on. I know it's Spring for the rest of the world but here in Australia, Autumn is still playing hide and seek. But that hasn't stopped the local stores also carrying denim jackets. With my new found obsession with all things maxi, i can definitely see a place for a denim jacket in my life. So all i need to do is hunt down the perfect one; i want something with a western look

On another note, i've gotten all my mid session scores back and all i can say is PHENOMENAL! Happy Tuesday bloggers

Picture Perfect

2011-04-07T21:00:00.000+10:00

Ladies and gentlemen, i've had a very long day. I just did 50% of my assessment for one subject in the space of 5 hours and now i have to wait patiently for the next few weeks before i find out my scores. At the moment, i feel refreshed, relieved and extremely tired. I know, all those words don't seem together, but for some reason i feel all those things at the same time. My eyes are heavy because i'm tired and in need of a long sleep in. I don't want to go to bed too early so i don't wake up in the middle of the night with nothing to do. I was too tired to make anything to eat tonight so i had a bowl of custard and two handfuls of red grapes; washed the entire thing down with a large cup of water and i already know that it was too much to drink all at once.

How's everyone's day going? Just to express my relief on the fact that my academic week is over, do enjoy the pictures below and have a lovely time :)

Katie Holmes

Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen

Jason Statham & Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Photos

Currently Suffering From...

2011-04-05T22:56:00.000+10:00

...BRAIN FREEZE. Something has to be said for having so many assessments back to back. I truly hope my exam timetable isn't going to mirror this. My brain has shut down and i can't assimilate anything further. It took me 10 minutes to read one page and that was enough sign for me to give up. I'm going to go get ready for bed now and clock in at least 8 hours of sleep so i can be refreshed for my next assessment in the morrow. I just felt the need to drop by and say a quick hi to you guys :)

Hope all is well and you are all having a fantastic Tuesday!

Off To A Good Start

2011-04-04T20:02:00.000+10:00

I couldn't have imagined a better way to start my week. I got my marks back from the group assessment i had last week and it was absolutely phenomenal, i certainly didn't expect to get the scores i did and it has boosted my confidence for the remaining assessments i have this week including a presentation on Thursday evening. My first test for the week was at 11.30am and although i went in with some nerves fluttering, i think it went alright. Unfortunately my tummy wasn't happy with the fact that i had sesame baguette for breakfast cause it kept growling like i'd consumed something with a high amount of lactose :(

I'm currently very tired but still pushing on. My next test is at 8.30am tomorrow morning and this is one of the most tricky subjects i've done to date because usually, all the options given for an answer are correct to a certain degree. So you need to be aware in detail of what you're being asked or you could end up losing a few precious marks. But i'm going to keep studying for about 2 more hours before heading off to bed. I'm hoping to get 8 hours of sleep tonight as i did that last night and it was so refreshing.

I'm desperately in need of some coffee as i haven't had any in about a month now. I'm going to try my best to avoid it but i have a feeling i might cave in with all the stress from uni work this week. Oh well, what can i say?

I hope your week has gone off to a good start. Monday is almost over here and i know there are some around the globe that are just beginning their Monday. So, happy Monday everyone!

One Step At A Time

2011-04-02T14:37:00.000+11:00

As the days go by, or should i say as i get a little bit younger, i'm learning that one step at a time works much better. I'm one of those people who need to see a result within 2 weeks in order to keep my motivation going. I lost interest way too quickly and i have a very short attention span, i also get irritated at the speed of light when i find that all the effort i put into something has turned out fruitless. I currently can't think of anything more infuriating than that. I guess that's the best part of being a student; when you study really well (not necessarily hard) for an assessment, you end up with good results.

My knees popped out of their socket on 2 different days this week so i haven't been able to work out as much as i'd love to. Let me just say that i absolutely hate working out, i would eat spinach for the rest of my life if it meant that i didn't have to work out. But i do it because i know my body needs it and because it's another way to stay healthy without any medications. My right knee is currently still sore so i can't really do much until next week hopefully.

Having PCOS has taught me to be much more patient i think. I remember when i was in England and went to the gym religiously whilst working with a personal trainer and dietitian only to lose 2 pounds at the end of the year. I immediately cancelled my gym contract and that was it. Now i'm just learning that it's all slowly but surely, my world certainly won't end if the numbers on the scale doesn't reduce. I'm trying to accept the here and now and just deal with it one day at a time. Sure, i have my days where i'm beyond down and it would take aliens to get me back in the groove, but i guess that's just another part of life.

Now i'm trying to go by the mantra of 'One day at a time'. One workout at a time. One issue at a time, all in a day's work. So everyday this week, i've been doing my best to put a smile on my face and go about my daily innings and i have to say it's kind of worked. Of course, sometimes i've had to force myself to smile but you know what they say 'fake it till you make it'. And even though i've been wearing the same thing i always wear which mainly consists of something black, i've gotten more compliments this week than i have since the beginning of the year. Go figure!!!!!!!!

Right now, my head and eyes hurt from studying. I have 5 assessments next week within the space of 4 days but after that i have a 2 week break from uni and all i need to do during the break would be attend group meetings for the remaining assessments we have after the break. And if my knee doesn't feel better by Thursday, i might have to go see a doctor (i hate going because he already knows me by my first name!)

Happy Saturday everyone :)

A Welcome Break

2011-03-30T18:11:00.000+11:00

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As i type this, i'm having home made hot cocoa. I'm yet to find a whipped cream that is diary or lactose free, but if you know where i can find one in Australia, please do let me know. I'm done with all things assessments for this week; got an awesome grade in my tests and still waiting for the feedback from my presentation on General Electric.

Next week i've got 4 tests and a presentation all from Monday - Thursday, that should be a lot of fun. My glasses will certainly be happy cause i've been using it to study for the most part of this semester. But this evening, it's all about sitting down and relaxing; enjoying some down time without having to calculate any financial ratios or determine strategies for firms that have no idea i exist. I'm definitely going to be watching a few episodes of Grand Designs Australia tonight, i must say i'm proud of some of the houses i've seen on the show and for its first season, it's pretty solid.

Tomorrow i'll be back to being a student and searching for grad jobs online. It just feels like my week so far has been defined by journals, case studies and textbooks! I can't say i'm looking forward to the weekend, but i'm definitely looking forward to Friday next week :) Hope you all are having a lovely Wednesday

The Luxury Of A Good Night's Rest

2011-03-28T22:50:00.000+11:00

I haven't had the luxury of a proper night's sleep and i'm really looking forward to it. I had my presentation today and my weekly test; both went awesome and i'm so happy about that. Now that i've got those out of the way, i've got a 6 page group essay due Wednesday at 12pm and the rush is on to get that sorted and done. But that's the main problem with group assignments, it's pretty difficult to control what the other members of your team are doing.

We're a group of 4 and i can say that 3 of us seem to be on track. I've received all the necessary bits from 2 of my group members, done my part that needs to be included in the executive summary. All i really need to do is read through all the documents i've done and collate them in a sensible manner to yield a 6 page summary. The only problem with that is one member of the group seems to be AWOL. He hasn't replied any of our e-mails, nor has he sent his part to me to proof read and include in the essay. Being that we're getting a group mark, this worries me a lot because i feel like our score is going to be compromised by his non-chalant attitude.

Good news is that we've kept copies of all the e-mails we've exchanged, minutes of the group meeting we had and also all the information regarding how the work is meant to be split amongst the four of us. If he hasn't pulled his weight by the time of hand in, we have no option than to file a report. I'm personally not willing to do his part of the work because i already have more responsibilities than the rest of the group. This leaves the other 2 to decide if they want to split the work amongst themselves. I thought by the time people got into final year, they'd take uni more seriously instead of giving priority to getting drunk at the pub when everyone else is relying on you to do your work.

Oh well, that was quite a rant on my side. I really need a good sleep tonight because i have a lot to do tomorrow; a test and this essay/summary. I'm hoping i'd be able to sleep at least 6 hours so i can wake up a bit refreshed. I spent the bulk of my day in the library studying and doing my assignment, so right now, my brain can't seem to handle anymore information :(

I hope you all are having a good Monday so far. To my fellow Aussies, it's almost bed time right? Do have a good one everybody and speak soon :)

Weekend Break?

2011-03-26T22:41:00.000+11:00

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Or so i thought! I was really hoping that the weekend would give me a chance to slow down and rest my eyes a bit. But it hasn't been as stress free as i'd hoped, but i'm not complaining either. I've spent pretty much the whole weekend studying for tests i have on Monday & Tuesday, a presentation i have on Monday (which i've gladly finished writing up) and another presentation i have in the upper week. So it's been all textbooks and highlighters for me. The only good thing about having such a stressful time now is that later on in the semester, i'll have less assessments due and more time to study for my finals because i chose to do my presentations earlier.

I guess the other thing that motivates me is the fact that i like reading. Luckily for me, i don't really have any boring textbooks this semester and that's really a good thing. It's so easy to get put off from studying anything just because the textbook not only looks de-motivating but is lacking in colour! That's usually where my highlighter comes in. Ok, so the main purpose of me highlighting is generally so that i can easily browse through the key things in each chapter; but using a fun colour (orange for today) makes it even more appealing.

So, enough blabbering from me. How has your weekend gone so far? I hope you've had more time to relax than i have. I'm truly looking forward to the 7th of April when i finish my 2nd presentation and finally have a proper break, sleep in all day on the Saturday and watch as many movies as i choose to (i also happen to have four tests in that week so a break is well and truly deserved)

Until next time, stay blessed :)

It's Been A While

2011-03-23T22:07:00.000+11:00

Hello blogosphere, it's been quite a while since i posted anything. Between attending classes, weekly assessments and looking for jobs i haven't had the motivation to do anything else. I have to say i do think i needed the break from blogging, i didn't want to blog whilst lacking motivation so i just focused all my time on uni and job hunting.

I've just finished researching for a presentation i have on Monday in relation to climate change and the Copenhagen talks. It's very rare for me to finish an assessment days before it's due because i work quite well under pressure. But because i've been bothered by a few other things going on, i've just done my best to stay occupied daily until i'm exhausted so there's no room for me to think about anything and get down in the process because i'm already heading in that direction and i'm doing my best to pull myself back.

You'll notice that i've made some changes with how the blog looks. I hope you guys like it. If you have any suggestions or anything you want to see, please let me know either in the comments section or via e-mail. I finally added pages to my blog, i can't believe it took me so long to figure out how to do it...so lame of me.

I probably won't be back to blogging full time until next week; from then, i'll try to put up at least a post a week and depending on if i have much to talk about, more posts. Until then, i do hope you have a good week. I surely am looking forward to the weekend as i want to try and organise my room because it currently looks like i emptied a box of loose A4 sheets everywhere

Happy Wednesday blog-ites :)

Strong Cravings

2011-03-11T20:44:00.000+11:00

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For some unexplained reason, i've been having serious cravings for all things sugary! I don't know why but i've been wanting donuts, chocolate muffins, cookies, brownies, juice...you name it! I read somewhere that our cravings is a way of our body communicating to say that it's lacking something...some form of nutrient. Well, if anybody has an answer to this please let me know because it's driving me crazy especially since i'm trying really hard to be a good girl while working out.

Right now, all i want is the double chocolate cookies from Subway! Either that or home made pancakes stacked with diary-free chocolate spread and some maple syrup all over it! I've been thinking of ways i can control my cravings. So far, i've been eating apples and grapes because they both have that sweet taste to it without all the fat and calories that come with actual processed sweet goods. I think the fact that i can't consume regular chocolate is even making my cravings more intense; since i'm lactose intolerant, most of the chocolates are pretty much out of my reach because i always have some sort of reaction after eating them. Of course, that didn't stop me from having Snickers on a weekend i had no where to go.

Cravings aside, i've managed to curb my coffee consumption since uni began! I'm proud to say that i've only had coffee twice in the 2 weeks i've been back to uni (both on Tuesdays after my 8.30am class); and i didn't add any espresso shots to them like i used to do last semester. I'm beginning to think those are the only days i'll actually have coffee while at uni as i've been able to survive other classes without it.

All i need to work on is incorporating more veggies into my meals on a daily basis and healthy snack ideas to help with those cravings!

Week 1

2011-03-05T23:35:00.000+11:00

The first week on uni is always an interesting one because it sets the mood for the entire semester. Getting all those course outlines in your first lecture just determines how much sweat you have to put into your assessments, especially when it's one that involves a lot of group work.

I have to say that in the past, i rarely showed up for my 1st lectures because i can download the course outlines for each subject i'm enrolled in off the uni site; infact, i rarely attend lectures during the semester. I have a very short attention span so i usually can't stand being in a lecture theatre for 2 hours because my mind completely drifts to everything else other than what the lecturer is saying. I usually prefer to spend this time in the library reading the textbook and doing the necessary prep work for my assessments. I guess because i'm not an auditory learner, it doesn't affect how i learn. If i can't see and read what i need to learn, it never sticks in my brain.

But before this semester began, i made the decision that i'd make the effort to attend at least 80% of all my lectures. And in this first week, i can proudly say that i went to all of my lectures. Ok, for one of them, i only stayed for about 50 minutes because it was an introductory lecture. For the other 3, i stayed right till the end of class, without the help of coffee! And i didn't doodle on any of my sheets at all which is a huge surprise because i tend to doodle in lectures.

For the remaining weeks this semester, i'll be having 2 tests weekly (Monday & Tuesday) along with the usual individual and group work; mid term assessments and all. This is my final semester for my undergrad and probably my last semester as a commerce student as i'm applying to study for a Masters in Information Technology. I still haven't chosen a back up subject yet and i'm not actually sure if i will.

I found out on Thursday that i have more credits than i actually need to graduate; so i have a choice of dropping one of my subjects as i don't need to do it. The only downside is that it happens to be the most interesting subject i'm studying this semester because it's from an entirely different faculty. I'm studying the history of France and i absolutely loved the first lecture. But this has no relation whatsoever to my degree, it's just going to be an extra subject and i feel like i'm wasting my money doing it because i already have more credit points than i need to graduate; so doing this subject would just be more unnecessary credit points.

Oh well, i have till the end of March to decide if i want to continue with French history or not

It Looks Pretty & Soft

2011-02-23T00:58:00.000+11:00

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Has anyone had the opportunity to try on or even feel this jacket from Miss Selfridge? I'm quite interested in getting it and using it as an Autumn jacket as Autumn starts in March for us. I don't necessarily want the upkeep and expense of leather so i've been considering opting for a PU version. This one does look pretty and i love the 'gathering' detail on the waist at the back. I'm assuming this detail is going to help it mold better on the body?

I only have memories of their jeans from the time i spent in England years ago but i'm quite unsure of their jacket. I'd really appreciate if someone could help me out on this. I don't want to find myself in a situation where i would need to return the jacket and have to bear the postal costs so if anyone has felt or even tried this on, please let me know. On the other hand, if you've owned a PU jacket from Miss Selfridge, please feel free to share as well

The Art Of Handwritten Letters

2011-02-22T23:12:00.000+11:00

With the rise in popularity of sites such as Facebook and Twitter, the art of communication in our time has drastically changed. I remember when i was 12 years old, i used to exchange hand written letters with my Mum from boarding school. I loved receiving letters and also writing them; i remember how excited i used to get when i received one from my Mum or a pen pal that i kept then. I also loved the whole process of picking out a nice sheet of paper and an envelope in which to write and send off this letter.

But these days, it's all about e-mails, text messages and Ping-ing. I really miss the whole process of writing letters. I appreciate the fact that technology has made communication a much more speedy process and important information can be communicated quickly and easily; and also received at a speedy rate. But i'm pretty sure there are certain information shared that can wait through the time it takes for a letter to arrive at its destination.

Although i'm in a long distance relationship where Facebook, e-mails, phone calls and texts play a large role, i still make the effort to send hand written letters to Le Male. He still gets surprised when he gets them from me because he doesn't expect such in this day and age; he even teases me that i'm very archaic in certain aspects of my life but i don't care. I just love the process of using fine paper, choosing what colour of ink i want to write in and finish off my letter with a spritz of the perfume i was wearing at the time. I think it makes the whole writing process more enjoyable. I also tend to write my letters over a couple of days, i like to spread it out as it increases the depth and interest of information i share in the letter.

I'm now contemplating the idea of including hand written notes and letters more into my daily life as i find it a very pleasing and luxurious experience. The only other idea i have so far is sending out hand written 'thank you' notes and also 'invitations' to people.

What do you guys think of this lost art? Do you or do you not care for it?

Je Ne Sais Quoi

2011-02-20T08:18:00.000+11:00

I don’t know what it is about Paris and France in general that draws me in and begs for my utmost attention. Maybe it’s the way it’s been idolised in movies and books. I don’t think i’ll ever know until i’ve been to France. I’m not even sure if the bubble will bust when i get there, but i know i have to go there someday so that i can figure it out. Because, it feels like a part of the puzzle that is my life that needs to be solved.

Lady In Purple

2011-02-19T15:25:00.000+11:00

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Angie Harmon looks absolutely beautiful in this purple dress; i believe it's by Alexander Wang but don't quote me on that one. She looks so good for someone that's 40+. I'm especially loving her simple makeup and glossy hair as i'm sure you all know i'm always about simplicity :) Hope you're all having a nice day

Been Working Out...

2011-02-19T13:03:00.000+11:00

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I've been working out 5-6 times a week for at least 30 minutes since January and i weighed in yesterday only to find out i've gained an extra 2kg! I don't even know how to react right now especially since my thighs are burning from doing a Jillian Michaels workout! If you haven't read my blog long enough, all you need to know is that i'm not really a fan of her workouts but i've still been putting in the effort to do it since last week because i wanted to do something different from my other fitness dvds.

Right now i'm too upset to even react to my weight gain; considering the fact that i've been passing up on yummy cookies and brownies to stay in shape. Arrgggghhhhhhh!

I Have A Guest...

2011-02-17T13:41:00.000+11:00

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...and a problem. My friend's fiance has a guest visiting from abroad so she's had to move in with me and she'll be here until sometime next week. The problem is that we have completely different tastes in food. Even though we're both Nigerian, i don't buy into the idea of only eating Nigerian food or only things that have the closest similarity to it. I'm a student, i don't have time or money to waste and anything that i can't find walking into Woolies rarely comes home with me. I make Nigerian food once in a blue moon and that usually coincides with the times i go somewhere else to get my hair done in an African store. I generally eat anything as long as the meat/fish in it isn't something i can't eat or something that makes me gag

But with her, it's all Nigerian food or anything bearing the closest resemblance in smell and taste. So i'm here wondering what i'm going to cook during her time here and i'm pretty much lost for ideas. She doesn't eat curry, i forced her to eat bolognaise, she doesn't eat pasta bake nor will she eat potatoes except it's in the form of chips. I made her jollof rice and chicken last night (or red rice as some people like to call it)

Right now i'm tired and not in the mood for stress, so i'm just going to order pizza for her to have as dinner while i enjoy a meal of tuna pasta bake. I'm too tired to think of any other alternatives and when she's free, i'm dragging her to Woolies to go pick up whatever she can eat because i'm not going to look for the ingredients to any Nigerian meal.

If you have any ideas other than rice, please let me know. And if you have any lunch ideas that doesn't involve raw veggies, let me know as well. Thanks a lot in advance and do have a nice day :)

How Was Your Valentine Day?

2011-02-15T17:58:00.000+11:00

I hope you all were able to spend it in a way that was pleasing to you; whether you're single or in a relationship. I spent most of my day alone at home, painting my nails a shade of sky blue and listening to 'Nicki Minaj's Super Bass' on replay. I was planning on making myself some brownies but at the end of the day i really couldn't be bothered as i wasn't in the emotional shape or form to even contemplate doing anything. All i wanted to do was to stay in bed all day and sleep

Even though i've been all over the place emotion-wise since last week, i had to put on my 'fake it till you make it' face and go out to dinner with my friends last night. They both got engaged yesterday and i'm so happy for them. She almost killed me when she saw me because i'd known all about the engagement all along and i never said anything, i also helped pick out the temporary engagement ring and it made me feel really good knowing that she loved the ring

Three new girl friends and several glasses of pink champagne later, i was back at home. I had no interest to read a book and TV was boring so i had a nice warm shower, put on my iPod and stayed in bed listening to Keith Urban and i actually woke up to the same music; yes, my earphones managed to stay in my ears all night! Sometimes when i'm in a certain mood, i can sleep through music no matter how loud it is, just as long as it is something i enjoy listening to

I hope you all had a fantabulous day. It's now time for everyone to check the balance of their accounts as February 14 has finally passes; oh snap, mine is still the same as it was last week :P

Do have a good day :)

Panaeng Beef Curry

2011-02-14T15:52:00.000+11:00

Ingredients (from 'A taste of Thailand' by Murdoch books)
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 2 tablespoons of purchased curry paste (i used red curry paste)
* 700g beef flank, sliced into strips (i used 450g of stir fry beef)
* 185ml (3/4 cup) coconut milk
* 1 tablespoon fish sauce
* 1 tablespoon palm sugar (i used brown sugar)
* 3 tablespoons tamarind puree (i actually didn't use it because my curry paste already had it)
* 2 kaffir lime leaves, sliced to garnish
* 1/2 long red chilli, seeded and finely sliced to garnish
(serves 4)

1. Heat the oil in a saucepan/ wok and stir-fry the curry paste over a medium heat for 2 minutes or until fragrant

2. Add the beef and stir for 5 minutes. Add nearly all of the coconut milk, the fish sauce, palm sugar and tamarind puree and reduce to a low heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 to 7 minutes. Although this is meant to be a dry curry, you can add a little more water during the cooking process if you feel it is drying out too much (i personally poured in all the coconut milk at this stage, i didn't bother adding the other half at the end; i also added my chilli in at this point). Taste, then adjust the seasoning if necessary.

PS: although mine looks pretty watery above, remember i used less meat than the recipe suggested. When it cooled down, it thickened up more so i wouldn't worry if it looks a bit watery; except you like to eat yours immediately. I allowed mine to cool for about 5 minutes before serving

Spoon the curry into a serving bowl, spoon the last bit of coconut milk over the top and sprinkle with kaffir lime leaves and chilli slices. I served mine with rice :)

Never Say Never

2011-02-09T15:43:00.000+11:00

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Hey guys, how's everyone doing? It's been boredom city over here so i haven't felt the need to post anything because there's nothing to talk about. It's just been work, workout and sleep! I've got 18 days left before i go back to uni so i have to do my best and enjoy the remaining of the holidays. My flatmate's coming back at the end of February and i'm so excited for that. Can't wait to start making noise and staying up late talking about nothing and laughing till my tummy hurts. Due to boredom, i've been doing a mini experiment with recipes and i'll get back to you guys on that one

Until then, stay blessed!

Quirk On

2011-02-05T00:51:00.000+11:00

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I'm absolutely in love with Carey Mulligan's ensemble. It's a bit quirky and really cool and i'm not sure if it's a look that i can pull off/ put together but i really love it. I'm going to have to look for pants like hers to try on and see if i can replicate this look. I'm currently crushing on brogues but i have absolutely no idea on how i'll incorporate it into my current wardrobe.

Mascara Suggestions

2011-02-03T08:14:00.003+11:00

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Keeping the theme of my previous post, i'm in need of mascara suggestions. I've tried quite a few mascaras and to be honest, my favourite has always been the more expensive ones and i don't know why! But i really want to try some drugstore brands and see if they match up to the more expensive lines. My all time favourite is the DIORSHOW mascara followed closely by Lancome's HYPNOSE. I've tried COVERGIRL's lashblast, lashblast fusion and MAYBELLINE's original mascara (in the pink tube). I wasn't impressed with any of these 3 and i certainly won't be repurchasing. I think maybe i was expecting too much. But i don't want to give up hope on the drug store brands. I'm still undecided on which one to invest in next. I want length and volume in one mascara! Not too much length like false lashes, but something to add muscle to what i already have; if that makes any sense

So can anyone please give me some recommendations? Mucho gracias :)

Need To Get My Brows In Shape

2011-02-02T04:59:00.000+11:00

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Happy February everyone. I pretty much slacked all through January in relation to working on myself and this month that's pretty much the only goal i have. I go back to uni on the 28th of February so i pretty much have the whole of this month to do all the things i possibly can before the new semester comes in tow with a huge amount of work load. It'll be my final semester as an undergraduate (yay!) and i'm already looking forward to doing something new for my Masters. I'm one of those people who can't take a break from uni because it's quite difficult for me to get back into the groove of things.

I must say that i've enjoyed this holiday but i do miss the stimulating aspect of trying to learn something i don't know and fighting with my tutorial questions. I know when uni starts there will be some whining and ranting but overall i'm sure i'll enjoy it. Looking back at the last 4 semesters i've had at UOW, i've realised that i haven't maximised it as much as i possibly could. Well, i do have this coming semester and possibly the next 2 years to make up for that because i'm planning on continuing here with my Masters.

My hope for this coming semester is to make some new friends within my degree specialty and also just new friends in general. I believe that i cannot be overeducated! I might be wrong, but it's the philosophy that i've been brought up with and how my immediate family lives. My Mum is beyond addicted to studying! She only took a few years off from uni when she gave birth to me and she's been in uni since i can remember. She always has a new course that she wants to study and i'm always motivated by the excitement she gets from studying for something new. Even as young as she is (she's almost 49!) she's already written a research proposal for a PhD that she wants to do.

She passed her addiction to everyone in her family and also to me; i wonder if we could all collectively put our degrees together and sort of build an education tree just like you'd build a family tree.

Anyway, back to some light hearted stuff! I suck at defining my eyebrows; i barely keep up with shaping them but this month i'm going to push myself to do it. I need to stop slacking and make more of an effort with it so i don't have to visit the Shu Uemura counter often!

What are your plans for this month? I know Valentine's day is around the corner; everyone around me keeps talking about it and wondering what to get their other half. I, on the other hand, can't be bothered. I've never celebrated Valentine's day in my entire life, i've never gotten a gift either. And i'm sure if someone wanted to give me one in the past, they would have considered a book as the most important thing...ha!

So while others are worrying about Valentine's day, i'll be worrying about getting my sleeping pattern in order before uni resumes. Yesterday i finally fell asleep sometime after 9.30am and woke up at 12.47pm. Yes, i checked the time when i woke up. I did have a nap later in the afternoon though. I'm typing this post now because i got tired of laying in bed doing nothing as i still can't sleep; if you're wondering what the time is here, it's 4.59am. Off to go drink a glass of warm milk!

Refreshing

2011-01-31T23:43:00.000+11:00

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This is as nude and natural as makeup gets! I absolutely love it and i'm currently having a serious case of hair envy, i love the curls and shine on Rosario Dawson's hair. It's not just with her though, but i'll save that story for another time. I haven't slept since yesterday so my eyeballs sting quite a bit. I'm off to bed now to try and see if i can sleep tonight :)

Are Shoulders Still In?

2011-01-29T04:26:00.000+11:00

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I'm not one to buy into trends and i'm not good at keeping up with them either. My way of dressing is too simplistic for all that fuss. But i've been looking for a good blazer that can work for me as a cover up to uni when it's a bit chilly and also for evenings where it's necessary that i have a jacket with me. I do have a black blazer but it's ill fitting due to sizing issues and with this in mind, i've been stalking ASOS to find a nice simple blazer or a jacket as a close substitute.

I like the blazer pictured above from ASOS and it does come in 5 different colours; i'm currently going between the navy blue and black shades. I'm not going to purchase it now, but i do have it at the top of my list for purchases. My only tiff with it is the shoulders. It was a trend last year and i'm not sure if it is this year. At £65, it is something that i have to sleep on for weeks.

But i'd love your opinions on it, so please feel free to leave me a comment. And if you find a single button blazer or a nice jacket, feel free to send me a link :)

Boys In Red

2011-01-27T22:28:00.000+11:00

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Happy Australia Day!

2011-01-26T14:54:00.000+11:00

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When In Paris...

2011-01-26T14:52:00.000+11:00

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...thou must be chic and Jessica Alba certainly complied to that rule. I love the entire ensemble including the odd chunky ankle boot she's got on :)

Agnes In Despicable Me

2011-01-26T01:42:00.002+11:00

I just can't get over this video :)

Tangled

2011-01-25T21:43:00.000+11:00

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I love Mandy Moore's LBD, but i feel like there too much going on here with the necklace, satin heels and that hair do. Her hair looks too messy to go with such a chic dress and i don't feel like that necklace is appropriate at all. What do you guys think?

DIY

2011-01-25T09:47:00.001+11:00

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I miss my Mum. If she were here right now, i'd convince her to make me this dress and i'd fix the beading up myself. This is where my love for the internet comes in. I've already sent her a picture of the dress and told her how much i'd love her to make it for me. I've also added it to a list of dresses i want her to make me ha! So, fingers crossed, if she comes for my graduation in July i'm going to buy myself a sewing machine so she can make them for me. It's been almost 8 years since i used a sewing machine so i'm a bit lost on it at the moment. I'm definitely going to need a refresher course on that. On the other hand, i'm pretty good at making dresses with a needle and thread thanks to my Mum. And i still adjust some of my clothes using the 'double stitch' method as my mum loves to call it.

Lost An Entire Folder!

2011-01-24T21:46:00.000+11:00

Last night my laptop crashed while i was reading some notes i have on my laptop. One of my folders was open when this happened and i didn't think anything of it. Today i decided to go through everything on my laptop so that i could update the back up documents i have on my external hard drive. To my disappointment, i found that the folder i had opened last night has completely disappeared from my laptop. I'm a 110% sure that i didn't mistakenly delete it. I've also checked all the other folders on my laptop to see if it moved somewhere or if it got renamed but none of the above happened.

I'm one of those people who likes to make notes of everything i read that interests me. This includes notes from things i've watched on TV, books i've read and also posts that have been written by online bloggers. Every single note i've taken in the past year or so went to this folder. Unfortunately for me, this is one folder that i forgot to back up on my external hard drive so i've pretty much lost all my notes. I tried restoring my laptop settings to an earlier time and all i get of my lost folder is a shortcut that isn't working. I'm trying my best to stay positive about the whole thing and not let this ruin my beautiful Monday or be a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the week.

As my Mum always likes to remind me, everything happens for a reason. Maybe my laptop is helping me do some much needed laptop cleaning and revising. Maybe this is a sign that i should go read some of the books i have again. In any case, the good thing is that i still have my favourite books with me so i'm going to read them again. And most of the online notes i got were from The Happiness Project, The Simple Luxurious Life and The Moptop Maven. So i'm going to take my time and slowly go through each blog and take notes again. And this time, i'm going to back up each document as i save it on my laptop.

This experience actually made me back up my entire laptop so now everything is safe. Being my paranoid self, i'm tempted to back up some documents on my MP3 player just in case my external hard drive goes mental.

A Lacy Forest

2011-01-24T19:33:00.000+11:00

I'm absolutely in love with the lace detail around the chest and how they brought it round to the back of the dress

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My Tomato Tins

2011-01-22T01:10:00.001+11:00

As a follow up from my '7 things' yesterday, Adrienne asked if i could post a picture of my tomato tins so here they are! The tin on the left is exactly how they look before i cover it up with silver card stock paper to create a nicer look as you see with the two other tins. I have to say there's a new addition to the family in the form of the maple syrup bottle you see in the picture. I actually finished it last night but decided not to get rid of it. It's all clean and waiting for a designated job. I still haven't decided what to do with it yet. I usually mix in ingredients like hydrolysed keratin and silk amino acids into my cheap shampoos and conditioners such as Herbal Essences because these two ingredients play a key part in the JOICO hair care line. You can find these online from New Directions and i believe they also have an American website; Lotion Crafter is also a good place for US and international customers. So i was thinking i might put my mixed conditioner into the maple syrup bottle. But i'm very much open to ideas :)

I think i might end up making my own leave-in spray for my hair and see how i go with it. I still haven't decided if i will or not. But if i do, you guys will read about it.

PS: I like to cover my shelves with paper (gold as you can see in the picture above). It reduces the possibility of damage to my clothes or to the actual shelving if something spills on it

The Stylish Blogger Award

2011-01-20T21:30:00.000+11:00

Hey guys, i've just received the 'Stylish blogger Award' from the beautiful Adrienne of The Rich Life (On A Budget) and i'm quite chuffed by it. Thanks a lot Ma'am :). I need to share 7 things about myself so here we go :)

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1. I have 6 given names but i only use 2 of them in all my official documents

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2. I have a phobia for treadmills. I'm really scared of that conveyor belt thing that keeps going round and round. The few times i've been on a treadmill (in England) i always had someone standing next to me and making sure that my paranoia doesn't get the best of me

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3. I've been living away from home and travelling since i was 15. The first 2 years, i went back for a few visits but i haven't gone visiting in 6 years now. I'm not sure that i'll let my kids do this though but i'm grateful for the opportunity my parents have given me and the independence i have :)

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4. I learnt how to read using my dad's car magazines. Growing up, i've always been obsessed with looking at magazines and my dad felt it would be best if i read his car magazines to him as a way to practice whatever English i learnt in school while he relaxed in the evening.

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5. I'm currently learning how to speak French and Italian with the help of my trusted iPod

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6. For some unexplained reason, i find it really difficult to throw away tomato cans. I pretty much put everything recyclable in the recycling bins. But when it comes to these, i always find an excuse to keep them after using its contents. I always end up wrapping them in some fancy paper and using it as a pencil holder, makeup brush cup and anything else that's longer than the can. I currently have all mine covered in silver paper.

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7. I've been collecting stamps since i was 12

Phew! Those were hard to come up with. I'm meant to pass the Stylish blogger Award on to other bloggers and i've picked 7 of my favourite.

The Simply Luxurious Life

xoxo Avs

Bursting at the Seams

My Republic of Fashion

A little fashion romance

Of moments in moonlight

Confessions of a Cookie Monster

The Feet Speaks

2011-01-19T17:24:00.000+11:00

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Sorry about the corny title, but i just love this picture. The first time i saw it, my eyes were immediately drawn to the different sets of shoes you can see underneath the coffee table :) I'm loving how cute Jennifer Lopez looks here. Her hairstyle makes me feel like she stole her daughter's hair clip and put it in her hair. Although there is a 99% chance that its not the case.

Rock N Roll

2011-01-18T23:46:00.000+11:00

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I really can't imagine anyone else being able to pull off the pants she's wearing. I'm not even sure what they are but she looks so cool with them on :)

Just A Video

2011-01-18T08:07:00.003+11:00

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Last night, one of my friends came over to hang out at my place as we haven't had much time to catch up. I have to say i was pretty tired before she got here as i had a really long day and didn't get much sleep the night before. But it's always fun hanging out with her and watching silly videos and just laughing at ourselves. Well, she brought up the topic of getting Sigma brushes and showed me this video of someone's review on it. Seeing the brush set in the video was all it took for me to get interested in the brushes. They look so pretty in the case and it looks to cute for words...yes, that's my idea of cute :) I'm not much of a makeup wearer at the moment so i know that i should not be spending $100 on a set of 12 brushes no matter how pretty they are. Plus, i do have the staple brushes i need to do my simple makeup so this Sigma brush is being relocated to my wishlist. I know my MAC brushes will die at some point in the future as i've had them for over 5 years now and when they finally die, i'll be checking out the Sigma website to see if they have anything pretty that i might be interested in. I heard that they're just as good as a MAC brush but without the hefty price tag. Has anyone used Sigma?

On another note, if you want to see what my hair would look like in its natural state without any hair straighteners or chemical straighteners, you should take a look at this. It's pretty much the closest i've found to my hair texture although the curls on some part of my head are much tighter than this.

Quick Question

2011-01-18T00:42:00.000+11:00

I'm looking to get a vegan protein powder to incorporate into my diet. The two main reasons are (1) I haven't been consuming much protein as i don't eat meat often anymore as it takes too long for me to digest and (2) I'm lactose intolerant so i can't use a protein powder that has any form of diary milk/products in it cause i'll get sick. I went to the health food shop in town today and they had a pea protein isolate powder. While doing a search online i also found a soy protein powder and now i'm not too sure which one i want to purchase. The pea protein one has the option of flavours while the soy protein one only comes in the natural flavour. I haven't really done the whole protein powder/shake thing so i actually have no idea what to expect from it. The lady at the health food store told me she uses the vanilla flavour of the pea protein powder.

But i'm looking for more options/suggestions/ideas if i can get any which is why i'm posting this. I also want to start out with a small size (500g is the smallest i've seen) just in case i absolutely detest it so i can use it without feeling like i have to wait for forever before it's finished.

For those who might be interested, i found some recipes on using protein powders as a meal replacement and you can check it out here. This site actually sells protein powder as well but theirs is 1kg

Opinions Please

2011-01-17T08:52:00.001+11:00

What do you guys think of their outfits? I'm still unsure of how i feel. I'm hating Jennifer Love Hewitt's big bow on her dress (above) as its hiding her beautiful curves that i absolutely love. Everytime i see a picture of her, i remember my uncle because her shape is his idea of a perfect bod :)

I actually love everything on Kirsten Dunst including the dark makeup; but i feel like something's off with the whole package.

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Refreshing

2011-01-16T08:56:00.010+11:00

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I love green so for me this is an absolute win. I'm not too sure about the chunky black heels though. I would have preferred something along the lines of gold.

Dark & Lovely

2011-01-15T08:41:00.002+11:00

I'm slowly beginning to have a love affair with Jessica Biel from her new darker hair do to her banging bod. But today, i'm more interested in what she's wearing. There's no need for me to pick apart her outfit because i love the entire ensemble. Yes it's really simple; but that's what i love because it's totally ME. Here she's pictured leaving a salon after having a pedicure done and whilst she's wearing flip flops (with her Chanel heels in hand) her outfit still looks really laid back and chic. This is the look i'm hoping to get for the coming Autumn and Winter seasons. All i need is a jacket and pants like the ones she's sporting in the pictures. Suggestions are more than welcome :)

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Groceries

2011-01-14T20:39:00.000+11:00

I wish i could look this good whilst doing my grocery shopping, Charlize Theron looks so chic. As a matter of fact, i tend to look the exact opposite

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Dreams

2011-01-14T14:07:00.000+11:00

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So last night, i had two completely different dreams. The first one was an absolute nightmare that took me a while to wake up from. I was dreaming in my dream people! It reminded me of the scene in Inception where they talked about the 3 levels of dreaming or something along that line. In my dream, i saw someone in my family line that i've been ban from speaking to or having any form of contact with. The minute i saw this person in my dream, i started screaming and it just felt like the entire room was shrinking all around me. I started feeling claustrophobic and having difficulties with breathing; almost as if i was getting choked. Why is it that whenever i have nightmares within a dream i can't scream? Does this happen to anyone else? I had to struggle for a while before i could wake up; and when i did, i had to sit up for a bit and then sleep on the other side because i noticed that whenever i sleep on the same side that i was in when i had a nightmare, the dream continues the minute i fall asleep again. Not cool at all.

My second dream was much more calm and to my taste. I don't know if i've said this before but i'm obsessed with everything French and Italian even though i haven't been to either of those countries. But in my dream, i was talking about Supernatural with a girl in her apartment and one of her flatmates (a guy) came out and joined us in the discussion (i can't even remember the last time i saw Supernatural). Anyway, he was about to go out with some of his friends and he said he'd like to hang out with me sometime if it was ok; and that he makes a good 'French Florentine' and he'd love to make it for me the next time i come to see my friend . Of course i said yes! Other than him being cute, all i needed was some French to make me interested.

On to the question, what on earth is 'French Florentine'? Gosh, my dreams can be so random!

Envy

2011-01-13T15:46:00.000+11:00

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Do i want that scarf or what?!

Flood Issues

2011-01-12T12:58:00.000+11:00

If you've been watching the news by now then i'm sure you're aware that the most of Queensland has been inundated by floods and about 3/4 of the state has been declared a natural disaster zone. This is so scary and i've been watching it on the news since last night and my heart goes out to all those people that have been affected by the floods. I can't even begin to imagine what they're going through at the moment. While i was watching the news last night, the Sunshine Coast river was highlighted as one of the places that might be affected and 2 years ago, i was living on the Sunshine Coast.

Some places in northern New South Wales are also being affected by floods and i truly pray that we in the Gong region do not get affected by this. After watching the live coverage last night i could not help but scrap together some cash and donate towards the flood relief fund. I might not have much but i know that every dollar helps at the moment and going hungry for a little while is not that much of a big deal because if i can do it to save for something, i can certainly do it for this.

If you're interested in donating towards the flood relief (both within and outside Australia) click here. I'm yet to find the link for the NSW flood relief (if they have one)

Green Hornet Premiere

2011-01-11T19:47:00.000+11:00

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Orange How Do You Do?

2011-01-06T19:32:00.000+11:00

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I honestly can't explain why i'm in love with Drew Barrymore in this dress. I know that the dress does look a bit odd towards the bottom which gives it a weird fishtail effect. I'm also loving the colour coordination of her lips and her cheeks. She pulls it off quite well i think.

How's everyone doing so far? Finally gotten into the groove of the New Year? Well, i gained about half a kilo from this holiday season so i desperately need to work that off because i don't want anything to keep piling on me.

On another note, i finally gave in and opened a Tumblr page. I've been loving the whole idea of being able to reblog a post you're in love with. Don't worry, i haven't given up on this blog yet. I'm merely using my Tumblr as a photo storage and kind of a way to figure out my interests without the use of too much words :) So, feel free to check it out here

Sales Mania

2011-01-03T21:27:00.000+11:00

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I'm one of those people who stalks an item i love online until it goes on sale. That's exactly what i did with this Mischa Barton bag. I've been stalking it for quite some time and i was quite excited to find out that it was on sale. Of course, i had to wait to find out if any of my friends wanted anything from ASOS before doing any online shopping. But while i was online staring and drooling over the bag, it went out of stock. I thought i was going to have a mini panic attack but luckily as at this afternoon, it was back in stock and i wasted no time adding it to my basket. All i need to do now is sit back and wait for this baby to arrive home to me. I hope it looks as awesome in person as it does in the picture. I also ordered these boots in anticipation of our upcoming winter as i only have one pair of decent boots. The one i had last winter is on its last legs as i absolutely wore it to death. This slinky dress is also making its way towards me and now i can gladly say that i have the dress i've been coveting for months!!!

So, how did your New Year's celebration go?

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T23:57:00.000+11:00

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Well, it's almost midnight here in Australia and i just want to wish everyone all over the world a Happy New Year! It's been a long and awesome 365 days and i hope that the coming year will be filled with more joy, happiness and amazing things to come. Have a safe one :)

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T00:10:00.000+11:00

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Merry Christmas to everyone out there. It has been a fabulous 2010 and i hope 2011 is more blessed with for all of us. Do have a fun one :)

Hi Lo

2010-12-24T17:58:00.000+11:00

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How's everyone doing? Ready for the celebrations yet? Well, Santa gave me an early present as my tooth has finished growing and its no longer sore! I'm looking forward to having a proper meal tonight and tomorrow because i can finally chew!!! I don't think i'm going to be having custard anytime soon because i'm already over it from consuming it so much. I guess by the time 2011 comes in, i'll have my complete set of 32 teeth. Yup, you read that right! The last one started growing this week and i can already see a little bit of it sticking out. I'm so grateful that it doesn't hurt as much as number 31 so i doubt i'll be having any complaints about it.

Due to my survival on liquid food over the last week or so, my fridge only had milk and eggs in it. Just seeing it so empty broke my heart so i went off to Woolies today to stock up on some broccoli, cauliflower and other chewable items that i can cook with all through next week. I've never shopped on Christmas eve before but today was a first for me. The aisles were really maniac with humans and trolleys everywhere you turn. It was almost like a traffic jam in some aisles with lots of people waiting to go through and others waiting to browse. I hope that's not me in a few years time.

My arms had a bit of a workout today because i bought quite a lot of things that were heavy and i had 2 bags to carry. I'm one of those people that only likes going food shopping 1-2 times per week. I can't stand going into Woolies anymore than that in a week because it makes me feel like i'm spending too much money. So i always try to make a food timetable and a list for about a week ahead so that everything i buy revolves around that. It also means that all the fresh items i buy like basil, kaffir lime and coriander leaves can be used up in time before they start dying on me.

As for Christmas, mine is going to be a really quiet one because there's nothing i like better than watching movies and drinking wine on Christmas day with just a few people around. What are your plans for Christmas?

I'm Teething :(

2010-12-19T14:56:00.000+11:00

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Now i can completely understand why babies cry so much when their teeth are coming out. so, number 31 is currently growing and it is giving me absolute grief. Over the last few days, i’ve been living off custard, Nurofen, water and ‘So Good chocolate bliss soy milk’. I can’t bear to chew anything because it hurts so much. I can’t even shut my mouth properly because my gum is swollen and whenever my upper tooth comes in contact with it, the pain is exacerbated. Not i see why my friend keeps telling me to go have it taken out. The only pain that has come this close is the tummy ache i get during that time of the month. I keep consoling myself by saying there’s light at the end of the tunnel

The upside to all of this? I think i’ve only spent about $20 this week as most of that went towards getting milk, a packet of custard powder and one pack of Nurofen tablets. I guess there’s always a bright side to things non?

For those of you who have your complete set of 32, you need to share with me how you survived the pain because i’m not looking forward to number 32 coming out anytime soon.

Phew

2010-12-17T13:46:00.002+11:00

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It's funny how things work out. Last night i was just complaining about not being able to have a cute blogger template installed because of several issues that seem to come up after installing it such as not being able to access my dashboard and all. Well, the lovely Bursting at the Seam left me a comment about understanding my plight and as usual, i went over to check out her blog. After seeing her cute template, i could not help but scroll down to see who designed it. Long story short, it led me to getting the new template i have up now. What do you guys think of it? Is it worth it? Or should i go back to the simple purple theme i had before? As usual, your comments are very much appreciated so please do feel free to tell me what you think :)

Free Templates

2010-12-16T22:18:00.003+11:00

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Two posts in a day huh? My bum is almost numb from sitting down for so long. I've been trying to upload a free template from one of those websites that have blogger templates; but i'm having issues with the XML aspect. Being that i'm completely inept when it comes to things like this, i'm still unable to get it working. For some reason, i can't see the code to copy onto my HTML gadget. So, i actually have to upload straight from the folder which is being an absolute bugger at the moment. Here's to hoping that i can get it working at some point.

Healthy Eyes

2010-12-16T18:04:00.002+11:00

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Had a trip to Specsavers today to have my eyes checked and i'm glad to say that my eyes are getting better. My astigmatism on my left eye has slowly corrected itself and my right eye which is short sighted is much much better now. Due to the prescription i got today, i actually don't need to get glasses for the mean time until i get my eyes checked again same time next year. But, the doc did say that i should consider using my lenses when i feel the pressure building on my eyes. So, i need to go look for frames at some point in the near future but there's no rush as i won't be needing it at the moment.

How has your Thursday been going? Mine's been pretty simple. Other than my eye appointment, i browsed the mall briefly before heading back home to do some research on possible ways to keep myself entertained over summer without having an impact on my wallet. I'm still enjoying catching up on the blogs i didn't have time to read while i didn't have any internet. I've been reading The Simply Luxurious Life over and over again to absorb some of her amazing posts that i missed. My favourite series for this week from her blog is 'why not...achieve your dreams'. Do head over to her blog and you won't be disappointed

Delish!

2010-12-13T21:29:00.003+11:00

So...my return to the WWW has come with a minor glitch. For some unexplainable reason, the net is unbelievably slow. I can't even begin to come up with a sensible excuse for this occurrence. But i won't let that dampen my mood because my first meal for my flatmate's mum has gone off with a bang! Or should i say it went down well.

Anywhoo...halfway through eating, i realised that i didn't take any pictures of the meal. Very silly of me i know. I can't say i used a certain recipe because i'm known for my random acts when it comes to cooking. But for those who are a wee bit interested, i'll make it simple and tell you what i did. I've never made chicken with honey before so i kind of just winged it as i went along; if you happen to know an exact recipe for this let me know.

What i did:

I soaked the chicken in a mixture of water, maggi cube and dark soy sauce. I usually make sure the water covers the chicken because i like my chicken soft. I let it marinate for about an hour and poured out all the liquid from the marinade. I added a few teaspoons of grapeseed oil and honey to the chicken and just mixed it till all the pieces were coated. I grilled the chicken for about 40 minutes (at 160C) and turned it once halfway through

PS: i sprinkled a bit of salt and black pepper on each side while it was facing upwards

FINALLY!!!

2010-12-13T17:31:00.002+11:00

...my internet just got fixed about 30 minutes ago. I have so much catching up to do, thanks for your patience guys. I'll be back either later tonight or tomorrow to do a post. I'm expecting a guest at home in the next 27 minutes so i have to go start up on dinner. My flatmate's mum just arrived from Thailand and will be here pretty soon.

Just thought i'll give you guys a quick update before i attempt making fried rice and grilled chicken breasts with a honey and soy sauce marinade :)

Sore Feet and Gum

2010-11-24T19:43:00.003+11:00

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Since my last post, i've been constantly on the move looking for things for my new place and trying to find as much 2nd hand items as possible. If anyone tells you moving and furnishing a place from scratch isn't stressful, please send them over to me so i can conduct an interview. Don't get me wrong, it is pretty fun having to choose stuff for a place you're going to live in as opposed to just having to put up with what someone else has chosen. But it is also really stressful. Coupled with the fact that we started doing this pretty much straight after exams, i haven't had much time to rest. My feet are currently killing me and i could do with a really good massage right now. On Tuesday, Cookie was kind enough to come help us out while we moved some of our things to the new place and also while we bought items from Woolies and Reject Shop.

These days, i pretty much fall asleep once i hit the sheets. Tomorrow is going to be another early day for me because i have to dis-member my bed for the removalists to come take it to the new place and then put it all back again. I'm also moving finally tomorrow, which means lots of cleaning and packing tonight. Unfortunately for me, the internet at the new place won't be ready until the middle of next week or Friday by the latest and that sucks because it means that i won't be able to read any of my favourite blogs until then.

As for plans after moving, i honestly don't have any. Moving is expensive business and after everything, i plan on staying indoors as much as possible to minimise any possible expenses as all the places i applied for a job didn't offer me any. I think some time at home would give me a chance to dig in deeper and find a creative and cost-free way to keep myself entertained. What have you all been up to?

The V Pose

2010-11-19T23:19:00.003+11:00

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This picture of Anna Paquin and her gorgeous hubby Stephen Moyer absolutely cracks me up because they're mirroring each other's pose on the red carpet. I'm sooo loving the little grey beard he's rocking with that broody look of his.

Today has been a pretty long day for me and i can tell you that my feet are sore from all the walking we did today scouring everywhere for as much bargains as possible. I must say we saved ourselves some major $$ with the second hand items we found today. I can't wait to see how it's all going to come together when the items are delivered next week. We got a dark chocolate couch and bookshelf for the living room; a red rug, red poppy painting and a red floor lamp to contrast with the dark chocolate. The floor is actually wooden and also in a dark shade of brown so there's a bit of a moody look going on there.

When we woke up this morning, we didn't have much of an idea of what colour of couch we planned on getting. But we knew our cut off price and we knew that getting a couch for that price would mean one just big enough to sit 3 people. So you can imagine our excitement when we found a 2nd hand couch almost 1/3 less the price of our original budget and almost twice the size of what we expected. The fact that we found a couch so cheap automatically dictated the colour scheme of the living room as there was no way on earth we were leaving without placing a holding deposit on the couch.

How was your Friday? I need to go have a relaxing shower, massage my feet and watch a movie so i can slowly drift off to sleep. Have a good one guys :)

A Sigh Of Relief

2010-11-18T23:12:00.004+11:00

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Phew! Exams are finally over and i must say it is such a relief! I'm so glad that i survived this semester which has been the hardest so far since i've been in Australia. I was so tired after my exams yesterday and when i got home, all i wanted to do was sleep. But i knew that had to take a back seat because the next important thing was to find a place to live as soon as humanly possible. We had 4 different viewing yesterday, of which i attended 2. There was one we were really hoping to get and so we just applied on the spot. We had 2 more viewing today which were very disappointing. In the midst of us grumbling about our disappointment at how the place looked, we got a call saying we've been offered one of the places we viewed yesterday. I cannot begin to tell you how excited i was and still am. This means no more annoying viewings, scanning and photocopying documents, hoping that you can beat someone else to the place. Now it is all about finding as many cheap stuff as possible and this includes a trip to two second hand shops tomorrow to see what they have to offer.

I'm secretly wishing that the other place we really liked calls us tomorrow morning to say we got the place. That would mean that we actually have a choice of two places, but if that doesn't happen, it's ok as the one we've been offered is pretty good.

On another note, we scored a pretty good deal on a christmas tree today. Anyone who knows me in person would tell you that i've been drumming about owning a christmas tree for too long now. Even the boy has gotten sick of hearing it and just told me to get a tree already! Well, today we saw a pretty white christmas tree at Myer but it was really expensive. That was before we found out that there was a much smaller size of the same tree at a more reasonable price. But it doesn't end there, there was a 30% offer off all christmas items if you purchase 3 or more items from the christmas section. Of course, we got ourselves a tree and 2 small bells that are meant to decorate the tree. We plan on sticking these on our door; so anytime someone opens our room door, there would be a little announcement in the form of bells! How childish right? Well, i don't care, i was just really excited. Anyway, the entire haul cost us $69!!!!!

I'll definitely keep you guys updated on all the occurences as we go through moving into the new place. Happy Thursday people :)

Really Quick Update

2010-11-16T00:01:00.001+11:00

Hi Guys

Just want to let you know i'm still alive. Just currently doing my exams and my last one is on Wednesday. After that, it'll be straight onto house hunting and hopefully i'll be able to resume posting on a frequent basis from next week. Thanks so much for your understanding

xoxo Hermine :)

Very Summery

2010-11-05T20:32:00.003+11:00

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It's very rare for me to feature Jennifer Garner as an outfit inspiration cause she tends to wear trainers a lot and that's something that i don't like doing. But when i saw this picture of her, i immediately thought 'calm and collected summer'. Anyone who knows me would tell you i run away from shorts and mini skirts because i feel shy and awkward about showing my legs during the day, and i hate shaving my legs. But i think these loose casual pants make a good substitute for jeans during the hot summer days of Australia don't you think? I could easily pair this with a tank top or a short sleeve tee; finish off with a nice pedicure and thongs {flip flops}. Now can someone tell me where i can find something similar? A darker shade would be much appreciated.

On another note, my first exam is tomorrow morning at 9am, do wish me luck bloggers :)

Top Of The Morning

2010-10-25T11:37:00.003+11:00

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Good morning to all you bloggers out there!!! How are we all doing? I definitely woke up on the right side of my bed today and it is a great feeling. It's week 13 at uni which means final week of classes. Luckily for me, i don't have any assessments due; although a few of my friends still have something to hand in for Friday. I'm glad that the semester is almost over and the Australian heat has started giving me glimpses of what summer has in stock for us. But for today, i'm not doing any studying at all. I'm just going to chillax and draw up a plan for how i want to study over the next 2 weeks as my first exam is on the 6th of November.

Happy Monday everyone :)

Green Thumb?

2010-10-23T21:10:00.002+11:00

These days, i've been having a weird interest for luxurious self sufficient living. I know! You usually don't hear those words used together in the same sentence. But i've been wondering if this is actually possible in some sense. For a while i've been dabbling at making a few things from scratch. I've tried making a simple hair moisturiser and a leave-in conditioner; both of which i liked. And since i'm still figuring out what i really want to do with my life - my passion, what drives me, bla bla bla - i've been trying to focus on the few things that catch my attention when they do and giving them an attempt to see if it's an interest i want to pursue in the future.

After my temporary dab in the hair care world, i definitely know that when i have kids, i want to be a complete DIYer! I already know how to braid my own hair even though i'm extremely impatient about it, and i've started learning to care for my hair as well. Thanks to a few great blogs online and my friend putting herself up as my practice head {she hates doing her own hair}, i'm getting good at it. And i know that the more i keep trying, the more skilled i'll become with it and the more confident i'll get. My current interests are in soap making! With exams just around the corner, i have no idea if or when i'll give this a go. Maybe summer? I need to find a DIY book on it first and see if it's a costly experiment or not

Happy weekend :)

Hair Story

2010-10-18T00:32:00.001+11:00

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Sorry it took me a while, but i’ve finally had the chance to post about my hair issues. I keep going back and forth on what i want to do to my hair for summer. I know getting a hair colour is definitely not an option because i’m trying to reduce the amount of chemical processes i put my hair through. My hair is currently chemically straightened and i think that’s already enough chemicals for now. Especially with the fact that i keep hearing horror stories of how people have had their scalps burnt due to improper application and skin sensitivity/ irritation.

I know i’m a bit of a hair dye addict so if i want to pursue that venture, i need to consider letting go of chemical hair straighteners. The only problem is that i have a very curly hair that i’m not used to dealing with on my own. I’ve had my hair natural for 3 years and prior to that for 7 years. But during these periods, i’ve always had my hair braided because it’s been difficult for me to handle all the detangling and combing on my own which used to lead to headaches. The longest i’ve had my hair was while it was still natural and it was up to the middle of my back.

I’ve been contemplating either going to a professional to get my hair chemically straightened or giving it up completely and just letting it grow out natural. The problem with the professional side is that these stylists here aren’t necessarily up to par in my books. They don’t meet the standard that i’m used to while i lived in England. I actually tried going natural last year and i survived 9 months before i gave up and had my hair chemically straightened. This month would make it the 4^th month since i haven’t had my hair straightened; but that’s because i’ve got extensions in which means i don’t have to deal with the two textures on my head.

Extensions is looking like a pretty good option for summer right now. But like everything else, it has an annoying catch. The person who does it really well without giving me a disastrous headache lives all the way in Liverpool! I’m not one for travelling long distances just to sit down and get my hair done. It absolutely irritates me. But for now, i have my upcoming exams to focus on. After that, i’ll worry about my hair; but don’t worry much as i’ll keep you guys updated J

Shoe Love

2010-10-17T17:44:00.001+11:00

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Can't Wait...

2010-10-14T20:18:00.003+11:00

...for this week to be over. My final assessment for the week is a presentation i have tomorrow at 12.30pm. I’d be lying to you if i said i’m not a bit nervous about it. It’s worth a total of 30% of my final grade and along with it an essay. Luckily it is a group project and i have a great group. We all know what we’re doing and this means that i don’t have to worry about a group member flopping during the presentation because that would reflect on us as a whole.

But before i continue rambling, i just want to say a quick thank you to my new subscribers. I’ve noticed that i picked a few people up during my absence and i must say i really appreciate it. Thanks to those of you that keep coming back to read all my ramblings.

I’m looking forward to putting my feet up this weekend and not having much to do. Next week marks week 12 according to the uni calendar which means we are one week shy of last lectures. I have an essay due next week Friday and a test on Tuesday. After those, its straight on to hardcore revisions as my first exam is on the 6^th of November. I can already smell the end of this semester and although it has been very stressful, i’m happy with the way things have gone so far.

I’m currently craving sushi and a short hair cut. Let’s start with the sushi bit. I’m currently living in an apartment with others and i’m the only non-Vietnamese person here. The minute i mentioned my craving for sushi, my flatmate decided that homemade sushi was the answer to all my sushi problems. And you bet it was! I don’t think i’ve consumed so much wasabi in my entire life. We made salmon sushi twice in a row and i learnt that by eating some marinated ginger, you can counteract the burning effect you get behind your nose from excess wasabi. But currently, what i really want is teriyaki chicken sushi. I must admit that the best i’ve had in Australia was actually in Brisbane at the city mall and it had Krispy Kreme pretty close by to it. Every time my friend and I went to Brisbane, we always ate sushi and bought some more for the next day. I think i’m going to attempt making some sushi when the summer break kicks in. For me, that’s usually the best time to experiment with recipes as i have all the time in the world to be patient with what i’m doing.

Well, i've taken too long a break from getting ready for my presentation. Tomorrow, i'll tell you all about my current need for all things hair. Have a good day bloggers J

Grateful Friday

2010-10-08T19:13:00.005+11:00

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* I'm grateful that i've survived this week. With all the stress of uni, headaches and lack of sleep, i still managed to pull through without any tantrums whatsoever. I had 2 tests on Tuesday and 2 tests this morning and i'm glad to say they went well. My eyes are heavy from all the stress of reading so i'm definitely going to bed early tonight. Next week is going to be another long one as i have a test on Monday and Tuesday; then an essay due Wednesday and a presentation on Friday

* I'm grateful for the gift of life. The fact that i'm still alive is enough reason for me to give thanks to God. Our family friend passes away just a few weeks ago and even though he's in his 60s, he'll be very much missed as he was a very kind man. I remember growing up in the compound where we lived and me watching all his kids playing around and fighting. The fact that i'm still alive means there's more opportunities ahead for me. Every day brings more opportunities to grow, to be better and to do better.

* I'm grateful for the gift of gratitude. Before i started saying things i was grateful for on a daily basis, i used to take for granted the little things that happened in my day and shaped my whole day. Taking time out everyday to remember what i'm grateful for has enabled me to be more positive towards things no matter how terrible the previous day was.

* I'm grateful for good grades. I haven't had my scorecard look this good before; especially not before exams and not as a whole in regards to the subjects i'm doing in a semester. Usually i tend to have one subject where i tower above my other subject grades but this semester, i'm really grateful for the fact that they're all good. It means my hard work is paying off. Now my dad would not have a reason to ask me why i tend to focus more on one subject :) And by the grace of God, it would still look this good after my final exams

What are you grateful for?

Away For A Bit

2010-10-03T17:19:00.002+11:00

Hey guys

Just wanted to let you know that i'm going to be away from the blogging world for a wee bit. I'm super busy with uni at the moment getting ready for my final assessments; after which i have to worry about getting ready for exams. Plus i've got other things going on and the stress is beginning to pile up on me. Hence, i haven't really had much to blog about and i'm needing some time to just focus on the most important things right now without getting too stressed.

Hopefully i'll be back soon :)

Toe to Toe

2010-09-27T22:36:00.002+10:00

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I Think I Need Help

2010-09-20T18:59:00.002+10:00

On a serious note, i think i need some sort of help. Or maybe i’m just being a drama queen. So for the last few weeks, i’ve been having really weird cravings by my own standards. Most people who know me know that i’m not one for eating raw things. But recently, i can’t help but eat sliced tomatoes sprinkled with salt; most especially those cherry tomatoes. They just look so yum! Combined with feta cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, the explosion in my mouth is just orgasmic! But i’m not meant to be eating cheese in the first place because i’m lactose intolerant but since i’ve been indoors all weekend, i don’t feel too bad as i don’t have any reactions on my face which is great. But i’m not buying anymore feta cheese because i don’t want my body to get upset with me. Another craving i’ve had is green olives marinated in thai spices. I’ve been getting these from the deli section and they taste so yummy; i actually went out today just to buy these and i’ve already eaten half the can! This is sooo not good as green olives can be quite salty. My third craving so far is sucking on lime wedges. Yes, you read that right! I’ve just been buying lime, cutting them up in 4 wedges and sprinkling a bit of raw sugar and salt on the sides before sucking every single juice out of it

On this road of cravings, its good to know i’m not alone. My flatmate said she’s been craving McDonalds quarter pounders and their fries and she sure went there a few times last week. Worst of all, she was eating Maccas meal in the middle of the night yesterday so i guess i’m not too bad. And just for the record, i am not pregnant. Unless it is possible for me to be pregnant with chai tea J

Anyone having cravings? Feel free to share J

Lady In Red...And White

2010-09-19T17:59:00.002+10:00

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