The Many Colours of Happiness

Hey all, sorry about the lack of commenting lately, it has been a busy week! But I have alllll of tomorrow of so I am definitely going to be doing some serious catch-ups on your blogs :) Are social networks taking all of the fun out of dating? The short answer is yes, I believe that they do. I am not saying that social networks are bad; often they allow us to keep in touch with people we wouldn't be able to otherwise. But it terms of relationships, I have found it really beneficial to keep them out of the public sphere. Otherwise things may just get a bit boring and/or messy, as you will see in my reasons outlined below. The Awkward, Scary ‘Asking Out’ Stage: Gone are the days when a boy or girl would shyly come up to you and ask for your number.   Now the new question is “can I add you on facebook?” (i.e. can I stalk your profile), or the even more subtle “what is your first and last name” (i.e. can I stalk your profile). It has taken all of the courage away from...

As soon as I see the cherry blossoms appear I know that spring is just around the corner. They decorate the sidewalks with their lacy veils of pink and white. The delicate, feminine blossoms wave gracefully in the air, reminding me that warm sunny days will no longer be few and far between. They bring colour into the world; soft, pretty colours that are shamelessly happy. They dance gaily in celebration of life, inviting the world to dance with them. They flavour the mornings, the scent of lazy ice-cream days wafting through the air. And they bring a smile to my face every sugary sweet morning, as I drive down the cherry blossom lined streets, joining them in their salutation to spring.

My favourite book will always be ‘I Am the Messenger” by Markus Zusak. It is not the most well-written book I have ever read, not the most intellectual, nor a book that people will pull from a bookshelf in two hundred years declaring “Now this, right here, is literature!” But it has the most heart. It is unpretentious, optimistic, and unashamedly human. It is a book that changes your perspective, one that makes you believe that you really can make a difference. And really, isn't that what writing is all about?  'Our footsteps run, and I don't want them to end. I want to run and laugh and feel like this forever. I want to avoid any awkward moment when the realness of reality sticks its fork into our flesh, leaving us standing there, together. I want to stay here, in this moment, and never go to other places, where we don't know what to say or what to do.' 'It's not a big thing, but I guess, it's true-- big things are often just small things that are n...

Apologies for missing my ‘health blog’ day yesterday, I really did have every intention to do it. Unfortunately intentions aren’t everything, and instead of doing that I ran into someone else’s car. And yep, it was definitely my fault. (The person was okay, thank goodness!) That will teach me to sing and dance in my car rather than bother to remember the road rules... It was not the greatest day ever. BUT I think I whinged and moaned and cried enough yesterday to last me a lifetime, so time to get positive today! As it is Friday (in Australia, completely forgot about the time difference for my American readers), here is a little Friday list. Top Ten Pick-Me-Ups when you’re having a really bad day: 1. Cry. If you need a mini-breakdown, even if you know that you are completely overreacting, then have it. Trust me, there is nothing like a good hour long cry to make you feel better. 2. Do something that makes you feel special; whether it’s dressing up, having a bath or curling you...

I have always considered myself a feminist, ever since the age of six when I refused to watch any Disney movies because ‘girls don’t need a boy to save them’. I feel strongly about the issue of body image, and believe that everyone should love themselves exactly the way that they are. It wasn’t until last week, when I was going through my lengthy morning ritual of applying every makeup product imaginable, that I realised I may in fact be nothing but a gigantic hypocrite. Yes, I believe that everyone is beautiful the way that they are, but I will spout this at my friends while I am powdering my nose or touching up my lipstick. But here’s the thing: I can see the hypocrisy. I really can. But I still have absolutely no problem with makeup, whether it’s on myself or anybody else. Because when it comes down to it, what is the harm? I have seen so many videos and blogs lately spouting the evils of makeup on female self-esteem; as well as having comments thrown at me from my friends and...

I used to rush through the mornings, trying to put them behind me as quickly as I could. I would sleep in until the last possible second, sometimes even longer; before angrily throwing back the covers and racing around the house in a bid to out race the clock. I wouldn't begin to breathe again until I was sitting in my chair at work, or at uni, and even then I was so tired that it would only be a half-hearted effort. Lately I have been trying to snap myself out of this bad habit, and have given myself the gift of an extra thirty minutes every morning. Thirty minutes to enjoy the process of waking up. To enjoy the beginnings of each day. And so I have been waking up early. Sometimes I won't get out of bed during the thirty minutes. Instead I'll hug Joel while he sleeps, or cuddle my cats, and remind myself just how lucky I am. Other times I will get up, stretch for a while, then make myself a coffee and sit by the window with my gratitude journal, watching the sun ...

Romantic love is the most inspiring thing I can think of.  I am not simply talking about long, lasting love either. Love is inspiring whether it’s in a couple married for fifty years, or in a shy smile passed between two strangers on the bus who never quite work up the courage to say hello. What is more inspiring than that first glance, the first date or the first kiss? Or knowing someone so completely inside and out that you feel you couldn’t breathe without them there to breathe with you? What inspires more emotion than that first fight, or first break up? Love is what inspires people to write that book, make that movie, or sing that song. Love is what leads us to scribble our hearts into our diaries, cry softly in the moonlight, or go to extraordinary lengths just to see that person smile. Love makes us kind. It softens us. It makes us try to be the best that we can be.  And when it comes down to it, nothing can inspire dreams like love can.

Wear layers Toast marshmallows around a camp-fire Get reacquainted with your electric blanket Go ice-skating Spend evenings with friends in warm pubs Make lots and lots of yummy soup Spend time curled up with loved ones Drink hot chocolate in the cutest cafe you can find Draw pretty things on foggy windows Take time to admire and sketch winter trees Build a fort And most importantly.... Take a trip somewhere warm! Weekend challenge: Go out for ice cream and order the weirdest toppings that they have. You might be surprised at how yummy it is! (1) , (2) , (3) , (4) , (5) , (6) , (7) , (8) , (9) , (10) , (11) , (12) , (13) , (14)

This is the beautiful city I spent the last few days at. These aren’t my photos...while I took A LOT I am a terrible photographer and didn’t do justice to Perth at all, so I decided to let more talented people do my work for me. Remember the short-story competition I mentioned? Well my lovely father had some frequent flyer points, and since we have never really spent any time together just us, off we went on an adventure. While I didn’t win (I did get a commendation though, which I was pretty excited about!) it was wonderful. Lots of wine, cheese and crackers thanks to the Qantas club, days spent exploring the city and eating at Paris-style cafes, catching up with extended family, and looking around the university; which I automatically fell in love with. (photos 1,4,5 & 6...Blogger is being lame and won't let me move them around) Isn’t it just beautiful? Who wouldn’t be motivated to study in a lovely place like that? On another note, having a bre...

I spent my weekend in Sydney with Joel. It was good to get away for just a few days; not having to worry about work or school, and just getting to spend some much needed time together. I also learned a few important lessons along the way. Ones that I should have learned long ago, but there is no use regretting the past. Just taking from it what you can and moving on. We went down to stay in Joel’s old town, the place where he spent his teenage years. I have always hated it there; while I look forward to our trips I loathe the place. Not because of the place itself, but because of all of the memories associated with it. All of the fights, cruel words, comparisons and jealousy are centred around this town and the people within in. And that feeling, the feeling the followed me around for years, that this place, the one that I am not a part of, is where Joel really wants to be. And not with me. Yes it was childish. But I wasn’t wrong. For a few years, I wasn’t wrong. But p...

I wish I could turn the crisp, yellowed pages of a well-loved book and dive in head first. Head first between the unkempt paper; the corners turned down to save a favourite passage, one to be found again, months, maybe years later. The one that will still leave a thrill traveling up and down your back. I want to fall into that passage, the one that you couldn’t tear your eyes away from, and bury myself in it. I want softly walk over the places where your tears fell, dance over the words that made you laugh, and wrap my arms around those that changed your whole world forever. I want to wade through the smudged pages from that time you accidentally dropped it in the bath, and march my way over the food stains that were there simply because you couldn’t bear the though of putting the book down while you ate. I want to fall into an adventure, and blush my way through a romance. I want to meet quirky characters, who have replayed their story over and over again for hundreds of year...

This week has been one of those glorious early spring weeks. Where, after months of bitterly cold days and below zero nights, we were finally rewarded with day after day of clear blue skies and unseasonably warm weather. Days filled with energy, because rather than the shrill sound of the alarm snapping us out of our slumber, we slowly wake naturally to sun shining through the windows. Days where scarves, coats and gloves have been put aside in favour of colourful dresses and cardigans. Days where walking has again become preferable to driving, as has ambling to rushing. Lunch hasn’t been spent huddled up in the office next to the heater, but outside with a good book under a tree. People are smiling and laughing, the winter depression being put on hold this week in favour of kind gestures and happy conversation with strangers. Writing isn’t been done in bed with the electric blanket on and a cup of tea; but seated in the lounge room next to the open window, or on the balcony soak...