I've got to tell you, I love shoes, but I've never been the sporty type. I have my Converse and Vans for when I need something comfy to slip on, but I don't really have anything to go for a run in, except for a scruffy pair of trainers thrown in the back of my closet. Lately, trainers have been getting more and more colourful, which makes them easier to wear with an everyday outfit without looking boring, and the sleek black styles are great for matching with your current wardrobe.
These are a few of my favourites I picked up while doing my usual round of online window shopping. I'm especially loving the colourful Adidas shoes!
1) Take several "bathroom breaks" and sit on the toilet checking social media. Your manager may think you're feeling a bit sick, but at least you can catch up on Instagram, right?
2) Find the work phone and change its name to your's. Yes, my work phone is now called Silje.
3) Instead of actually serving customers, pretend you're busy and secretly gossip about that awful customer you got last shift to your co-worker out the back.
4) Daydream about sassy comebacks you want to hand out to your customers along with their "extra hot latte with only a little bit of froth" ... then realise you'll probably get fired if those words leave your mouth.
5) Pretend to stock up, but instead sit on an upturned box and try not to cry about the fact you work in retail (you may fail at this).
6) Come up with the most ridiculous coffee order ever, eg decaf double shot soy flat white served warm with a shot of vanilla syrup. Break down when someone actually orders it.
7) Print out blank receipt paper and draw pretty pictures on it. The more stick figure fairy princesses, the better.
These things I have definitely not ever done... Working at the place I do is not fun, I'll be honest, but I have to get money somehow. And soon I'll be going to university which will (hopefully) get me started in a fulfilling career, not a job that makes me want to stab something. Maybe even someone. If the possibility of another job isn't motivation enough, then maybe this is...
All images found via Pinterest
Something I need every shift.
What does everyone else do as a career? I'd love to know how you feel about your job!
Just a quick post to say Happy Valetine's Day for all you who celebrate it - and to those who don't, Happy Saturday! I hope you get spoiled by all your loved ones, for those single guys and gals out there, don't forget that chocolate is discounted on the 15th!
I have a confession to make. I'm addicted to Pinterest. I mean, scroll through for hours pinning pin after pin after pin (after pin). And sometimes, when I get bored, I search 'travel'. If you have ever searched 'travel' on Pinterest, you will know what I mean. If not, go do it now.
I've always loved travelling and discovering new places, whatever the climate is. The buzz of an airport is super exciting to me, and the view from an aeroplane is one of the loveliest things ever (turbulence, not so much). Even just packing gives me a big, goofy, smile. And yes, I am one of those people who googles airfares all day. In fact, I spent 50% of my year eleven English class scrolling through WebJet. I'm surprised I passed!
The point I'm making here, is that I've got a big case of wanderlust at the moment. And Pinterest is not diminishing that in the slightest. One problem though! I only work part-time and pretty much all money is going towards my savings for moving interstate. The rest is for phone bills, petrol money, bus fares, all that boring stuff. Which means there is no travelling for this girl for a while. Cue ugly crying.
So I thought I'd write a blog post on the places I want to visit. Naturally.
#5 Moominworld, Finland
You'll have to forgive me for this one. Sentimental is my middle name, so the desire to travel here is due to my childhood love of the Moomin characters, or as I called them, Mummi. The Norwegian television show, Mummitrollet, was a favourite as I grew up, and even now makes me super happy. It's based on the drawings and stories of Tove Jansson, which are brought to life in this amusement park. It's kind of my own Disneyland!
#4 Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Because who doesn't want to visit a tropical island?! I absolutely love the sun, and would just love to lie down at the beach or lounge in the pool all day long. Everything about the island screams holiday, and after the miserable weather we've been having where I live, I could do with this holiday.
#3 Copenhagen, Denmark
This is easily my favourite city in the world, which is a big claim. I live in a country full of vibrant, modern cities, and I've travelled to many in other countries, but Copenhagen for me is the one. A perfect mix of old and new, it has cobblestone roads, colourful buildings, canals, cyclists everywhere, and Tivoli! I really cannot wait to visit again.
#2 Christmas Markets, Germany
I'm a huge fan of Christmas, and I love markets so this is the most delightful combination for me. I've heard that the German Christmas markets are huge so to go would be a dream come true. The idea of a winter wonderland like this makes me so happy. Christmas lights, mulled wine, German food, cobbled lanes, snow, carols, what more could you want? It's probably a bit sad I'm thinking about Christmas in February... Oh well, a girl's allowed to dream!
#1 Santorini, Greece
Look at these photos and ask me why I wouldn't want to go here. After seeing a whole heap of blog posts on the beautiful Greek island, the wanderlust has grown for this place. My bucket list may be small, but this is on it for sure. White limestone buildings, clear blue waters, mazes of streets, donkeys (!), Greek food, culture and luxury mix together in this amazing holiday destination. I can't wait to visit!
What's on your travel bucket list? Have any of you been to these destinations, and if so, what were they like? I'd love to hear from you!
First of all a HUGE thank you to Miss Singh for nominating me for the Liebster Award! The Liebster Award is a blogging award that lets blogs with under 200 followers receive more visits to their blog, and lets readers discover what else is out there. I've been reading quite a few of these lately and I think it's such a cute and fun idea. I'm so so happy to be nominated. Miss Singh runs a fantastic blog that I love reading. My favourite post from her is 'Change a Sad Day to a Happy One', it made me really happy just reading and inspired me to get up and do something. You should really go check her out!
Here are the rules!
Link the person who nominated you
Answer the questions asked by the person who nominated you
Nominate blogs with under 200 followers
Create 11 questions for those blogs to answer
Notify those bloggers via their blog/social media
And the questions that I got asked are...
1) What is one beauty product you can't live without?
I'm not sure if this is a beauty product or skin product but lip balm is a necessity for me. I have really dry lips that need constant moisturising so I always have lip balm with me. In fact, as I'm typing this, I have two lying next to me. If that doesn't count then mascara! I love having long, dark lashes, and I feel like mascara can really change your look.
2) What is your favourite store to shop at?
I'm not sure if I have a specific store that I love to shop at, but my favourite 'type' of store are those cute little independent ones that sell lots of interior wear, candles, notebooks, and all sorts. I'm a sucker for those! Also the independently owned bookshops.
3) What is your favourite type of candy or chocolate?
I love strawberry clouds! And bonbons! Strawberry flavoured anything really. Although I really like chocolate, I get sick of it pretty quickly.
4) If you could live in one place in the world, where would you live?
Funnily enough, my boyfriend asked me this exact question yesterday. I'd have to say by the beach, probably the west coast of Australia. That way I get to watch the sunset over the water. I have a weird thing where I feel almost claustrophobic if I'm not by the ocean. I'm not a water baby or in sync with the sea or whatever, I just grew up living really close to the beach so I find it comforting to know it's nearby.
5) When did you start your own blog and why?
October last year I decided, after many months of deliberating, to just do it. I'd been reading blogs for a while and really wanted to start my own - so I did! And it's been so much fun. I'd invite anyone to start a blog, and if you do leave a link in the comments and I'll promise to check it out!
6) Three things you learnt in 2014?
Studying pays off, especially if you do it properly (I learnt this the hard way...)
Don't take the people you love for granted
Even though it may not feel like it then, you can get through whatever problem you face
7) Where did you go for your last vacation? Any planned for the future?
My last trip was up to Melbourne for my uncle's 50th birthday, but I'm not sure if that counts as a "vacation". I went to visit family in Norway back in 2012 where I also went to Paris and Denmark, which I think of more as a proper holiday. I'm planning to go back there this year for Christmas.
8) What are three of your favourite TV shows?
Right now Grey's Anatomy is my number one favourite. I really can't get enough of it - I've been binge watching it for over two months now. Second would be Criminal Minds. I love how creepy it gets without actually scaring me, although I have to admit I do get a bit jumpy after watching it (I am rather pathetic though). I'm not sure if I have a third favourite, as I like quite a lot but none really jump out at me. I suppose Pushing Daisies was amazing while it showed. So disappointed it got cancelled.
9) What is your favourite mascara?
Max Factor is my favourite for mascara in terms of brands, but my current favourite is Elizabeth Mott's It's So Big mascara. I received it in my December BellaBox and although initially I disliked it (it claimed to be a volumising mascara when it did anything but), it's now my go-to product. My lashes look so long and dark without looking unnatural. It's almost completely clump free!
10) How do you relax yourself after a stressful day?
If I can be bothered, I'll usually run a bath or have a shower and then treat myself to a home facial, but sometimes after a stressful day I just want to lie on the couch and watch crappy television (admit it, so do you). Hot chocolate always melts the stress away, too.
11) Who inspires you the most?
I can't say there is one person who inspires me the most, as there are lots of people out there that inspire me to do different things. As cheesy as it sounds, my loved ones always inspire me to be the best person I can be. Yep, super cheesy.
I know these are a bit of an odd bunch of questions, but I thought they might be fun to answer! I would love for anyone to participate, as I love nosying into other people's lives. Thanks again to Miss Singh for the nomination! Leave any thoughts or comments below, I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Having been suffering from a bit of a cold lately, I've found myself constantly in bed watching Grey's Anatomy with a jar of Nutella and throat lozenges (Vick's cherry menthols, you are the best) to accompany me. For three days I don't think I even went out into my garden, yet alone into the rest of civilisation. However, after feeling sorry for myself for about five days straight I decided to actually do something to make myself feel better.
Get up and moving!
This may feel difficult when your joints are aching and your head hurts and you want to lie in bed forever, but if your blood is pumping then eventually you'll start feeling a bit more refreshed. Now, I don't mean go for a 5k run, I mean take a walk around the block, or do some gentle yoga. Heck, go play Wii golf if you want. Just try and get out of bed for at least thirty minutes.
Pamper yourself
Have a piping hot bath, or a nice long shower, making sure there's lots of steam. Steam helps clear out the mucus (gross, I know, but you'll feel better), giving you relief from your sickness and also opening up your pores. Treat yourself to an expensive but luxurious bath bomb, or your fanciest soap and body lotion, and give yourself a nice facial afterwards. You might feel crappy on the inside, but the outside will be squeaky clean and smell pretty awesome too!
Drink your fluids
Lots of water is super important when you're sick. Try some nice iced water for when you're all hot and sweaty from fever, or a good old cup of tea for when you're chattering despite the layers of blankets your under. If you can manage 8 glasses of water a day that's fantastic! If not, aim for at least 5-6. My favourite drinks to have are rosehip tea with a spoonful of creamed honey, and home made lemon tea. To make this, combine the juice of half a lemon, two tablespoons honey, and half a teaspoon of sugar in 250mLs boiling water. Instant relief from a sore throat!
Treat yo'self, but also eat healthy
You know that when you're sick, you feel like doing nothing more than lying in bed with Nutella. And you know what? That's fine! When you're sick, your heart needs a little something too, which is why chocolate flavoured anything feels so healing. But you also have to remember that when you're sick you should be eating lots of fruit and veggies too. Think about it this way: the more colours, the better. Some of the best food for combating colds are grapefruit, kiwi fruit, mushrooms, garlic, kale, cinnamon, ginger, blueberries, sweet potato, fish, and dark chocolate. That's right, chocolate can cure your cold!
Get some vitamin D
Ugh, outside. Where everyone is happy and healthy and the sun is shining. That might make you feel grumpy at first, but after a while the nice weather will lift your spirits, not to mention you'll be feeling the benefits of the sun. If you're in the middle of winter, don't forget to snuggle up in lots of layers (you're sick after all), but try to get some fresh air in you. Stuffy bedrooms don't do anyone that much good.
Hug it out
Not many people might want to touch you at the moment, but perhaps you have a significant other that doesn't mind getting sick as long as they look after you. Otherwise, your friend might be sick too. If not, there's always your furry friend! Whoever it's with, hugging someone always feels good, and it releases endorphins, the feel-good chemical, so you'll feel better afterwards. Even snuggling your pillow can help.
I hope wherever you are, you're feeling better than I am! And if you're not, maybe follow these steps to feel better. Hope everyone is well, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. :)
Before I write about all the good things I've been experiencing lately let me have a little mope about the weather. This shot was taken last year just after Christmas, and I think it was one of two days that the weather was decent. This year, though, has been awful, weather-wise. When you think Australia, you think HOT, SUNNY, BLUE SKIES, am I right? Down here in the state of the ever-cold, aka Tasmania, it has been miserable; rainy, foggy, stormy, windy, and freezing. While the rest of the country has been in the 30s we've stayed around a solid 15 degrees. Where is summer?!
On a lighter note, I've had a pretty good start to the year. So far, I think I'm staying in line with my goals (although it's only been one month). I've had my fair share of good days, and there have been quite a few things making me happy. Without further ado, eight positive things!
1) I reached 50 followers on Bloglovin'! I'm super duper happy about this, as I love that people actually read this little outlet of mine. Thank you so much to all you followers, and if you're not one (yet, haha), you can follow me here!
2) My grandmother travelled all the way down from Norway to stay with us for a while, and it's so lovely to have her company again.
3) I got into university! It wasn't my first preference, however it was an option that I had ruled out after receiving my results, thinking I didn't score high enough to be accepted. I managed to get a first round offer though! I successfully deferred for a semester, so I'll be moving over to Perth sometime around July. Exciting stuff!
4) One good thing about the rain is that it's such a relaxing noise to fall asleep to. I've pretty much gone straight to sleep in this weather.
5) I have yet again been sucked into online shopping, thanks to Boohoo. My order should be coming any day soon though!
6) Using my 2015 diary regularly. I've tried using written diaries in the past and I always seem to lose them or simply forget to use them, but this one is so pretty and useful that I can't stop using it!
7) Having lots of inspiration for new posts. Sometimes I'll go through a bit of writer's block, but lately I've had so many ideas for posts. In fact, I've got about five posts scheduled for publishing at the moment!
8) Finding new blogs and interacting more on social media. It's so lovely to see how many people there are with similar interests. I've especially been loving Instagram lately. I made an account specifically for this blog that has really opened me up to the blogging community more (does that sentence make sense??) All of you reading should go follow me!
What's been making you happy lately? Anything good/bad/interesting happen to you? I'd leave to hear from you!
I've also been thinking about my blogging schedule lately. Sometimes when I'm inspired I'll write a whole bunch of posts and schedule them out for three per week, but then when they run out I sort of 'abandon' the blog for a couple of weeks, until I'm inspired again. I'm thinking of trying to post every Tuesday, which means my posts will be more spread out, but also more regular. There'll also be the occasional 8 Positive Things post (Sunday) and Life Lately post (Thursday), which I hope to publish monthly. Let me know what you think. :)
