HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I honestly can’t believe that it’s 2016 already! Where did the time even go? Ok so this will only be a short post because I just wanted to wish everyone a successful, happy and full-of-adventure 2016 to come (amongst other things)! Also to let you know that with the new year, I’ve decided to change up my layout and personalise it a lot more. I’m looking forward to what this year is going to bring (blog wise and life wise), so I hope that you are too!

NYE from Sydney

For me personally, I just have a good feeling about this year. I’ve told myself that this is the year where I’ll be doing what I want to and not because someone has told me to do it, or because it will ‘look good on the resume’ (although if it’s something I want to do and I can put it on my resume all the better). Last year was definitely a year of firsts, and this year I just want to experience everything with a new, refreshed and more mature perspective. I’m ready to just enjoy myself and chase things that I am passionate about. This blog for instance was kind of neglected last year, but this year I hope to write more and post more. It’s less about the maintenance of this site, but for my personal log book of what I have experienced, of outfits I am excited to showcase and everything in between. I honestly think this will be a great way for me to reflect and develop as a stronger and more independent person.

Second of all, I want to pursue music more seriously. For example, last week, a friend and I got together to compose my (and one of many of his) first songs! It needs a bit of fine tuning and adjustment but I can’t wait to fully record it and reveal it to friends hehe. But I have to say, that being able to work with someone so passionate about music and guitar playing as I am, was so much fun and quite a new challenge that I can’t wait to tackle again (seriously composing and coming up with the right lyrics to go with the chords is haaaard). And one day, I hope to compose some songs by myself too! But that will be a while off; my guitar skills need some work hehe.

Thirdly, I hope to do some more travelling this year or next year. I’m aiming to work and save as much as I can for a trip to Japan and Korea soon. For those who know me and for those who don’t, I am quite a big fan of anything Korean-pop and fashion related, so a trip (solo or with friends) to the capital of where my favourite K-pop groups originate from would change my life hahaha. In addition, I would love to be proficient in the Korean language this year too! I know that it’ll be a while before this happens, but I’m more than determined to pursue this. I’ll keep you updated as I go along!

So as the first day of 2016 comes to an end, I want to wish everyone another amazing year to come, go chase your dreams and make this year, yours!

New post coming soon!

To Terrigal

I recently went on a trip with 16 other friends to Terrigal on the Central Coast for three days and two nights. Let’s just say that beyond the fun times, beach-side games and late night drinks, Terrigal is actually a very chill and relaxing place. It’s a family friendly get-away from the city (with many people bringing their pets with them!) where you can opt to soak up the sun on the main beach or go exploring at Terrigal’s quieter and more secluded beaches. In this post, I’ll recap what we did during the three days, what we ate and the places we stayed while on a budget (because when you’re on holidays, the last thing you want to worry about is what the maximum is that you can spend without feeling guilty).

To start off with, I want to say thankyou to the people who organised this trip for everyone! They put in so much effort and I think it really paid off because it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience 🙂

#memesoc at Terrigal

Ok so first thing I want to mention is accommodation.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Airbnb. If not, it is a hosting site where people can list their houses/rooms for rent to people looking for a cheap place to stay. These places have all the facilities that an average home has including TV’s, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and garages for your cars if you’re driving up yourself. Most houses will also offer fresh towels and clean bed sheets with each visit. Essentially you get to live like a local during your stay without the hefty prices some other accommodations charge you.

So what we did was rent two Airbnb homes within walking distance to accommodate our large group. But let me tell you, the main house where we put all the food was located on a very steep hill from where the second house was located. That trek up for lunch and dinner was a bit painful but we made it work HAHA! The cost for the two nights’ accommodation worked out to be around AUD$55 per person which was pretty worth it. On top of the cost, the second house, where I stayed, was only a 5min walk from Terrigal beach, a fact which we definitely took advantage of. I was actually very surprised at the quality of the Airbnb homes we stayed in and for the cheap cost, I will be sure to look at Airbnb homes first when I do any travelling!

The view from the top house

The second thing that should be considered in planning a trip is food and how everyone is going to be fed. On the day we first arrived, we ate lunch at a nearby cafe at our own expense while we waited to be checked-in. Our dinner that night was pizza which we had delivered and was part of the overall trip expense. Note; if you don’t feel like cooking and you’re with a big group of people, pizza is always a fast and easy option for a meal.

Playing at Terrigal beach

On our second day, breakfast consisted of croissants, muffins and banana bread which a friend brought from his café. For those who wanted milk with their breakfast, there was a local IGA which was a 5min walk from the second house. Lunch on the second day involved a bit of preparation with people from the main house pulling apart four bbq chickens bought from the supermarket and adding parsley and other garnishes to it. This could be eaten as it was or could be put on top of slices of bread to make a wholesome, cheap chicken sandwich. Note; if you don’t want to spend time washes up too many dishes and cutlery (which may not be provided at your Airbnb to begin with), come prepared with plastic plates and cutlery which can be easily thrown out afterwards. Dinner on the second day consisted of Thai takeaway which was included in the expenses.

Midnight chills by the beach on the second night

On the third day, we woke up early to clean up so we could check-out in time. This meant we would be buying our brunch before we headed back home. Our large group split off to eat what we wanted. The group I was with ate at a nearby restaurant that was serving $10 big breakfast’s with a complimentary cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate. After spending the last two days eating take-out and home-made food, this breakfast was one of the best I had ever had! HAHAHA on top of that we had American pancakes which were basically pancakes with maple flavoured bacon! It was like a symphony in my mouth, simply delicious for my last meal in Terrigal.

And now onto the activities.

Terrigal beach

On the first day we arrived, the weather was quite gloomy and rainy. Thankfully the weather cleared up just as we finished checking in and settling into our house. The group from the second house decided to go to Terrigal beach where we played some beach footy, soccer and water games. The group from the second house opted for some more relaxing activities such as yoga, sleeping and chilling. After washing up, we all came together for dinner and of course… drinking games. It was my first time playing King’s Cup and I have to say it’s pretty fun HAHA!

The second day started off a bit slower thanks to the previous night’s activities. So after lunch, one member from our group suggested we go to a more secluded beach that was a 15min drive away. I would definitely suggest Googling different beaches/places to explore when you visit tourist areas because the more known beaches are often crowded and dirtier. Of course if you want the protection of lifeguards, the smaller beaches won’t be patrolled, but if you take care of each other, the peacefulness of the smaller beaches and the cleaner sand definitely outweighs any benefits of the main beach. So off we went to Spoon Bay which is located within Wamberal Lagoon Natural Reserve.

The view from the top of the bay

Follow the path down from the top and you’ll reach the sandy beach

It was seriously so beautiful there! We were probably the only group there for a while and that allowed us relax and do as we pleased. It was quite a hot day so jumping into the cool refreshing water felt so good! We played some water games, beach soccer and even had some wrestling matches HAHA while some took to getting their tan on. Note; don’t forget to bring towels, and a backpack full of water, sunscreen, hats, umbrellas, tissues and whatever you think you may need. Because when you’re quite far from everything, you won’t be able to go back to retrieve anything you forget. Better to come prepared with everything!

The water was so clear

The sand was so clean

Later in the day, we decided to walk towards the cliff side of the beach and walked on the rock structures. The view from above was incredible and made for some Instagram-worthy photos HEHE after a few hours we headed back for a quieter night of games and less drinking.

Rock structures towards the left of the beach

“Wave after wave, slowly drifting”

Spoon Bay, Wamberal Beach, Terrigal

On our last day, there wasn’t much to do as everything was already packed. So after brunch, we chilled by Terrigal beach before heading back home.

And there you have it! My recap of my trip to Terrigal (my first trip with friends not organised by a school or uni too)!

Let me know of any places you’ve been with friends and what activities are the best to do with a large group of people, also what accommodation you find to be the best! Ok that’s all from me, see you guys soooooon!

Terrigal beach

Towards the right side of the beach there is a kiddy pool and natural rock structures

The Floral Maxi

When I wear maxi dresses, I wear it with a side-split skirt so my legs don’t suffocate in the heat, and a bright display of floral colours, especially if I’m planning to dance the night away at a “Mexican Fiesta”!

I think there’s something quite romantic about wearing long, flowing maxi dresses, particularly if they are in floral prints and can be worn to compliment any summer/spring season. And this dress is no exception. Since my Formal at the end of last year, I’ve been intrigued by the many different cuts and styles of casual dresses, formal dresses, maxi’s, mini’s and basically anything that I can substitute with shorts for a more modest Sunday church look.

What I’ve been able to appreciate more recently, is just how easy it is to slip on a dress and be on my way, with there being less of a worry about matching a shirt with pants and shoes. Especially in the hotter seasons, wearing a flowing skirt rather than constricting pants is definitely an advantage for any person. And what I’ve come to like specifically, are dresses with slitted skirts that allow the fabric to easily move and create a refreshing air supply as you kick your legs forward.

Exhibit A: Take for instance this “Jarlo Millie High Neck Maxi Dress with Lace Insert” from ASOS which I wore for my Formal (the American equivalent of a Prom I would say). The light material, combined with the front slit, undoubtedly made it easier for me to dance in and move about, while at the same time allowing me to stay cool (by using one half of the skirt as a fan HEHE). I don’t know about you, but I’m sensing a recurring ‘floral flower’ theme happening here.

Exhibit B: If you are like me and love to dress a bit more fancy compared to your normal day-to-day wear (i.e. top and shorts), then a comfortable dress is definitely the way to go. What I liked about this particular maxi dress was that it had adjustable straps which could be fitted to my shape as well as a lovely fresh floral print complete with blue palm fronds and Hawaiian-esque flowers in a range of oranges and pinks.

There was also an included belt that I used to accentuate my waist and create a more fitted style. However this can also be removed and left as a loose fit dress as well. In addition, it also had a high split on the side of the dress which made walking that much more of a breeze.

All in all, I really thought that this maxi encapsulated a very easy-going summer-y vibe, perfect for this season. Not only are floral prints fun to wear, but they are a lot of fun to mix and match pieces with. I wore my dress with a denim jacket and my favourite open tan sandals. And of course a wide sunhat for sun protection!

Shine Bright Like a Sparkler

Courtesy of the aforementioned “Mexican Fiesta” at my friend’s 18th birthday party 🙂

Something Old, Something New

Some advice: if you ever find something buried deep in your mum’s or aunt’s closet, don’t pass it up. Dig it out, spray some perfume on it (sometimes closets smell) and TRY IT ON! I guarantee you will be thoroughly surprised with the results.

So I’ve recently started watching a TV show called, “The Vintage Clothes Show” where the host, Dawn O’Porter, meets individuals who only shop on the High Street (i.e. commercial shops/branded items). Dawn then attempts to change their view on vintage wear by showing them the unique factor and charming quality of pieces that can’t be found anywhere else. Almost all of these individuals start off with a distaste for vintage wear, seeing them as “old”, “smelly”, “daggy Grandma’s clothes”, or the most common belief, that “someone must have died in it”.

It’s amazing to see, as I watch on, the many different pieces Dawn has her clients try on. They are as much unique as they are timeless, representative of their respective fashion eras. In another segment, Dawn pays a visit to one of her clients and ‘raids’ the wardrobe of their mother/grandmother/aunt for some classic vintage pieces. At first glance, the pieces are too big and/or too daggy. But what does stand out, is the quality of a piece or the sentimental value it holds. Dawn then gets her Workshop Team to reinvent the vintage piece and bring it into the 21st Century.

The results are simply astounding and the clients are immediately overwhelmed with joy at the transformation of say, their grandmother’s super-shoulder-padded electric blue blazer, which has been brought in at the waist, shoulder pads removed and been turned into an amazing, and now wearable, 80s style jacket, perfect for a fancy night out.

Or take for instance, this Little Black Dress, which was initially too long and too plain for Alice’s taste. But after Dawn’s team reshapes it, lifts the hem and adds jewels from an old cardigan, Alice’s mother’s old vintage dress is turned into the perfect party dress.

BEFORE | Alice’s mum’s long and plain vintage LBD

AFTER | Metallic buttons are taken from an old cardigan and added to the neckline of the dress to create a more unique and eye-catching dress

AFTER | Alice’s “new” LBD brought in at the waist and hemmed higher for the ultimate reinvention of Alice’s mum’s vintage dress

Watching this show definitely inspired me to go through my own mother’s closet and through the numerous bags of clothes my aunt had given to me over the years. And as I did, I stumbled upon this little number.

On first impressions, it appeared to be a long, flowy top that once belonged to my aunt. It had an embroidered butterfly on the front with sequined detailing on the floral print. Immediately I thought it would make a lovely spring/summer time dress with its soft baby pink undertones and the bright pop of blues and oranges.

I was surprised to find that it was very light weight yet made to a very high quality. There was a bit of wear-and-tear with some sequins missing, but nothing too significantly damaged. Nothing a bit of sewing can’t fix!

I also like my dresses to have a bit of structure, so I added a teal blue belt at the waist to add shape to the dress (while also matching the flowers!) And voilà, I had reinvented an old a new summer dress that I could wear out and enjoy, rather then keeping it trapped in a bag.

For more of a modest look, I paired the dress with a mini blue cardigan and relaxed look tan-coloured sandals.

So next time you find something that belonged to your mother, or you find a top/dress that you didn’t know you had, don’t be afraid to bring it out and try it on! If it’s too loose, simply add a waisted belt to create a more flattering figure. If it’s too small to be a dress anymore, turn it into a top.

Because I am sure that there will be something just waiting to be reinvented and worn as a unique blast from the past!

Photos of Alice’s dress, courtesy of “The Lifestyle Channel“

Pockets A Plenty

The number one question I ask when looking for a potential pair of pants/shorts that may be coming home with me is, “do they have pockets?”

Seeing the fashion that is currently ‘in’, I am not very impressed. Namely, it is the length of denim shorts and the style of said shorts that I am starting to find common and way too short to leave anything to the imagination. Maybe it’s an inherent sense of my own bias speaking here, but unless you’ve got pin-like legs, and a bottom half that is in perfect ratio with the rest of your upper body, then it is impossibly hard to find shorts that are not only flattering but also practical.

Truthfully, I have indulged in buying several denim shorts over the years due to the fact that “they looked good on the model/hanger”, I needed some or they were on sale. However, the cut and fit is almost never exactly what they look like on the model as they are on me. And that’s a fact that I’ve accepted.

I have fairly stout legs, flat feet and a calf that is less than straight. So I do find it hard to wear shorts. And matching them with shoes as well! What a headache!

So recently, I’ve started looking for more wider cuts of shorts that flare out at the bottom or have a statement design to flatter my legs as well as ensuring maximum comfort when I’m out and about. I’ve also made sure to keep my eye out for potential items of clothing that I could wear to work in a corporate environment or just for a fancy day/night out.

So when I saw these shorts at Valleygirl, I was immediately drawn to them. Not only were they nicely designed and practical for everyday use (they had pockets! C’mon, like how could anyone resist pockets?), they were also on sale! Honestly my favourite word in any shopping situation!

Upon trying them on, I was immediately picturing what I could wear it with (while also admiring how they looked like a skirt but with the safety net of shorts). I loved the fact that they could be dressed up with some black heels or dressed down for a casual shopping day with flats or sandals. Along with that purchase, I bought a floral print top that is slightly sheer at the front and fully black in the back. The black undertones of the top matched perfectly with the shorts and I was quite surprised with how sophisticated the look was. Suffice to say, I was pleased with what I had put together.

In this, my first ever photoshoot, with the timer on my camera, I paired the top and bottom with a aqua-blue watch with gold outlining and a deep teal shoulder bag. I thought I would dress the outfit down a bit by wearing open tan-coloured sandals to convey the summer-vibes of the season. Loving the loungy style, I added an oversized black, white and maroon coloured knit which I thought was a nice addition to the pop of colour on the shirt. Plus, it’s a necessary, stylish addition to any outfit if the day is a bit chilly.

You probably don’t need me to tell you, but this has definitely been one of my favourite buys!

Ready, Set, Go!

And here we are, at the start of my very own blog! At this very moment, it feels as if I have no thoughts, yet also a million new ideas racing through my mind all at once. It’s a case of knowing what I want to say, but not knowing how to say it. So I’ll start with what is probably the most recent (and worthwhile to mention) memory that I have.

The road ahead is ‘thiiiis big’

So, recently, I went on a trip to the West Coast of America with my family, where we visited all the usual tourist places like San Francisco, the theme parks in LA and even the Grand Canyon. It was indeed a lovely, relaxing breather from the busy and stressful lifestyle I had lived while undertaking my final years at High School. It’s hard to believe, now that I look back on it, that all the knowledge I had accumulated over the past few years had basically been leading up to a single period of examinations that now seem so trivial and small in the grand scheme of things. For example, when will I ever again need to know how ‘belonging’ is represented in a text? The answer, I don’t.

Of course, while going through that period, I thought that what I was doing was a complete waste of my energy and time. It was simply just another reason for me to stress out about how ‘perfect’ my essay needed to be before I could hand it in, not even to get a mark that was worth anything, but to just be given advice on. Looking back on it now, I can finally laugh. I can breathe. In fact, I can see that there were indeed skills I had developed without even knowing. For instance, how to analyse a text or knowing how soap is made or even learning how everything in an economy is related. Though slow to acknowledge it, I actually came to enjoy the subjects I was studying and craved more knowledge (just without the exam part of it). And seriously, this yearning to learn more things and broaden my experiences and understanding of the world has only grown. Which made choosing a university course that much harder to do.

“What do you want to do when you grow up?” That was the question most of my relatives would ask whenever I saw them at annual Christmas dinners or at casual lunches. I still remember how I would reply, “my parents say I should be a lawyer, because I argue with them a lot,” or I would mention the dream I had of one day becoming the first female Prime Minister of Australia. Has wanting to become a lawyer changed? It certainly has. As do all decisions we make. They change as our view on things change. They are as fluid as the thoughts that run through our minds day and night. They can be, and will be influenced by any little thing. All I know now is, that I want to pursue a career within the business industry with a bit of psychology thrown on the side, or even a bit of medical science, and maybe information technology. But of course I can’t do all that (not all in one go anyway).

So here I am, about to start a Commerce/Law degree. The law part of it is there because my parents say it’ll help me to be more competitive come recruitment time. Is it something I had originally planned to do? The answer? No. During my final year of high school, I had even convinced myself that I wanted nothing to do with law.

Even now as I am older, I still ask myself a variation of the same question above. However, it’s no longer what I want to do when I grow up but what career will I pursue? Will it be successful? Will I be happy?

Having recently had to think about what university courses I wanted to do, I seriously pondered whether I was pursuing something that I wanted to do, or if I was just following that path because it was something that I thought would make my parents proud. Part of that university/future planning involved spending so much of my time and energy writing up applications, going to interviews, getting short-listed and basically making it to the final stage, before being told that I hadn’t been offered a spot i.e. rejection.

It’s hard to swallow; rejection. I would know. After putting in so much effort and really making everything ‘perfect’, of course it’s going to sap your energy and your spirits. But I’m slowly learning to see that really, “when one door closes, another opens.”  I thought I knew what I wanted to do while attending those interviews. I thought that with all the hard work I put in, it was bound to pay off. And sometimes your hard work will surprise you, and open up more possibilities that you might not have even considered before. Yet at the same time, what you thought would happen, might possibly not be your reality.

After really talking to my mum (who is my rock and my guide), she allowed me to see that it’s not the end. Everyday people get rejected from their dream job, or from something they thought they had a chance in. But it’s not the end. There are always other ways of getting there, as long as you put in the effort and keep moving forward and learn from your mistakes. Sure, it’ll take you a bit longer than originally planned, but the destination will be the same. And who knows, maybe along the way, you’ll learn a new language, meet new friends, gain some independence and come out a better person in the end. And maybe that’s just the outlook I have to take on now.

Even though I still want to learn everything possible, I’m also trying to remind myself to “never say no” to something until I’ve tried it. So I’m glad to say now, that I am in fact excited about going to uni and giving law a try. I’m going to do my best and even then, if I don’t like it, I can always change to something else. I’m an adult now, so no one can stop me, but me. I just need to keep an open mind and look at things from a wider perspective. The whole world is literally there for me to explore.

So I guess what I’m trying to say with this first blog post of mine (probably more to myself than anyone else), is that nothing will happen unless you make it happen. Don’t be afraid of trying new things, or thinking about what others might say. Give it your best shot and really look beyond what is there in just black and white, because there is so much more to see. All that’s left now, is simply a matter of saying “I’m ready, I’m set, so let’s go!”