wrapping up 2012 & melbourne trip

This year has gone by far too quickly! It was only a year ago that I moved out west. I'm one year down for my apprenticeship for graphic pre-press, 2 more to go and then I am out of here. That's the plan anyway.

I just spent a week in the beautiful town of Melbourne, Victoria. One week was definitely not long enough. I went and saw Gotye live with Ivana & Natalie at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on the Friday Saturday night that I arrived - what a show he put on, has to be one of the best shows I've been to. It got a little rainy then, but lucky my local friends came prepared (something you need to be in the town that has 4 seasons in a day) with ponchos. We sat down a picnic rug and enjoyed the music with fresh warm jam donuts and coffees. Sunday came and Ivana brought her cousin from Serbia and showed Zac and I around to Brunswick St for a bit of shopping. There we met up with Natalie at the markets and had lunch at The Vegie Bar - vegetarian restaurant with vegan friendly options. I must say it was probably the tastiest food I've had!

Monday came - Zac and I decided to walk to Chapel St, knowing it would be a well over 60 minute walk, though we planned to catch a cab back. I love Chapel St! Bought quite a bit of goodies down there, went into places like Topshop, American Apparel and little boutiques and op shops which had some amazing little finds. Had to stop by at the "Special Cake Shop" to get some macaroons, of course.

Tuesday we spent it in the CBD shopping, went and watched Skyfall at the cinemas. Pretty great movie. Then had Indian for dinner. Wednesday we took a train out to Dandenong - I've heard it's like the bronx. There, Ivana picked us up and got Natalie on the way back to her home, where we had a coffee and they had breakfast, and quickly made our way to Sherbrooke Forest in the Dandenong Ranges. This place was beautiful! We had lunch at Pig & Whistle - sweet potato and pumpkin soup was only $6.50! Cheap as and delicious. We ended back at the train station to head back to our hotel at 2:30pm, where we had a much needed shower and began to get ready for the Alexisonfire concert that night. Dallas Green - swoon! I'm really glad I got to see them live one last time before they stop touring altogether.

Thursday. I don't even remember what happened that day. But that night we went to Taco Bill for dinner (bit of a disappointment) and went to some cute bars. Ate wine and cheese and then went shopping. Myer was trading until midnight soo why not. Friday was a bit rushed, got up early for check out at 10am, headed down to get breakfast at Kinfolk cafe (delicious) and walked to the art gallery for a quick peek before we had to head down and get our bags to catch the Sky Bus back to the airport. As soon as we got back to Brisbane airport, it was slightly saddening.

I love Melbourne, and I definitely want to make another trip there next year. One day live there.
I loved that the food down there was so cheap! Only turn offs: every second person you pass in the street is puffing a cigarette and therefore stinks like smoke everywhere, and there is a lot of crap and rubbish everywhere. It was refreshing coming back to clean streets in Brisbane.

Now I have 4 and a half days left of work for 2012 and then 2 weeks holiday! Stoked.
2013 will be a big year I believe, anticipation!
x

sunsets laughs and peacocks

I'm good looking

:)
some favourite photos from the lake visit.

yes

12 Things I’ve Learned In Youth & Young-Adults Ministry:

• Your biggest strength is the personalized time you give each individual. 
• You can’t meet everyone’s needs, but you can meet them for lunch or coffee. 
• The quality of your preaching isn’t as important as the way you present yourself on a daily basis. 
• Your biggest measure of success is the daily transformation you see in each individual. 
• Honesty and transparency are key in gaining someone’s trust.
• You can’t fake it. They’ll call your bluff. 
• Don’t expect anyone to do anything you haven’t or won’t do yourself. 
• A pizza party will never mean more than a personalized letter or phone call. 
• The second you stop learning is the second you should probably stop leading. 
• Being relevant does not meaning watering down The Gospel. 
• They don’t need someone to tell them how to do life. They need someone willing to do life with them. 
• You will never be perfect. So don’t expect them to be either.

I still have much to learn, and I pray that God will continue opening doors for me. But as for the last five years, these are the twelve things that I have realized the most.

- Jarrid Wilson

(Taken from here.)

My favourite favourite favourite song at the moment! Love singing it at church and jumping around, Glory to You!

listening to

Today I slept in. Surfed the 'net. Ate. Did Pilates. Scoped out the town show. Saw the cutest kid (baby goat) ever. Laughed. Went for my run. Picked up a few groceries. Came home. Made myself a cup of tea and toast. Watched tv, and did nothing else. I like this doing nothing. I miss people though. Miss that warmth of comfortableness, not having to think twice about what I was going to be doing that night or that weekend. Albeit, life goes on. I won't question His plans. I can live with that. I can be comfortable in knowing that.

Praise God.

solitude is bliss

The show is in town, the parents have left town. It's times like this that I am so grateful that I have a full time job. I am so blessed! Contemplating going for a look-see down at the show with my Land camera.Breakfast, Spotify and surfing the world-wide-web is the agenda this fine cool morning.

past month

Don't buy cheap Impossible film off eBay.

Purple lipstick.

Rekorderlig slushies - best.

float my boat

YOUTUBE

Hi all! I made a YouTube video. Please excuse the newbie-ness of it ;P But check it out if you like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XmjtZXKsho

goin' groovin'

City and Colour. Mutemath. Kimbra. Parkway Drive. Adrian Lux. Matt Corby. Muscles. Yes.

few of my favourite things

Recent purchases.

it's been a while

So, I don't use this blog so much anymore. I kind of miss it a bit, though tumblr is far easier and simpler and I really do enjoy "tumblring". There's been a lot of changes in my life since my last post, and I'll give you all a brief summary.

I moved towns. I got a full time job (my first) as an office assistant, and also doing waitressing on the side. I paid a deposit on a cruise to take place in January 2013 (Vanuatu, YES). Made a trip back to The Ville for a long weekend (got stuck and had to fly back). I went to Soundwave in Brisbane - had a good time catching up with my sister for those 2 nights I was there, was well worth the $1000+ return flight (I think..) and ate a much-cherished bag of peanut butter m&m's. All in all so far everything is awesome! I've been exercising and eating well also - PLUS, I haven't touched any softdrink since the new year :) downing lots of water.

My skin has been really good, I am using Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser and it is amazing. I've diagnosed myself with sensitive skin (never crossed my mind before) but I also have oily skin. Which is annoying, but Cetaphil is working wonders for me at the moment. It doesn't foam either which is awesome.

I did splurge a bit with online shopping in the past week.. but I'm sure to go back on track with my frugality!

I don't really know what else there is to say now! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying 2012, because I sure am :) Maybe I will have to come back here and update more often.
Otherwise, you can check out my tumblr here! And follow if you like :)

TTFN, tata for now xx