stroll through the neighbourhood

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILY QUIRIN

Morning/ afternoon/ evening (whatever time you may be reading this)!

It’s well and truly transitioning into “winter” here in Brisbane, and when I say “winter” I’m referring to the period of a few months when temperatures generally flutter between 10 and 20 degrees, with lots of beautiful sunny days and cool winds. It’s not really winter on global scale but as a human that is fueled by sunlight, mild warmth and clear skies, it’s perfectly fine with me. I also love berets, coats and any excuse to layer clothing in a quirky (albeit sometimes eccentric) way.

Lily and I took these photos a couple of weeks ago; after a luxurious breakfast of copious amounts of avocado, grilled tomato and peppered eggs. To me, there’s nothing better than cooking up a storm in the kitchen on a Sunday morning and washing my brekky down with a coffee (or maybe three). These photos perfectly represent what it’s like in Brisbane at the moment, and this weather makes me deliriously happy, even when I’m stressed.

I’ve been slowly breaking out the sweaters, tights and layer-able mini-skirts, replacing their spot in storage with my lovely summer dresses and sandals. It’s a bittersweet feeling, but I know it’ll only be a matter of months before I’ll pull them out again and excitedly exclaim to all those around me “Oh wow! I remember this dress*! I just love it!” (*cough* literally September is when the weather turns putrid once again and my hair takes on electric-shock look thanks to humidity rearing it’s hideous head).
*can be interchanged for any summery clothing item really... ie, bikini, mini skirt, summer dress, basically anything that enables skin and sun contact.

Life has been pretty good lately – I find myself living for the weekend though, as working full time has rendered me with a lot less time to get other adulting things done… like laundry, keeping my room in a somewhat organised state, going to the dentist/ doctor/ dermatologist, buying groceries, calling my Mum (I have resorted to actually emailing her these days…just because it’s easier, I swear I’m a good daughter!!) and still seeing all my wonderful friends and of course, Max. I've been reading a book on "Adulting" lately - the author claims to have been the one who coined the term from the start, and based on what I have been reading in this said, step-by-step guide to approaching and being in your twenties (or basically just legally allowed to vote and all that jazz), she seems to be the expert on the matter. Being an adult isn't what I thought it would be. I still feel very young, lost and confused sometimes, despite having a full time job, driving around in my car, paying all my own bills, booking my own appointments, trying to get my finances in shape (I need to lay off eating out for a little bit I think... the main culprit is Grill'd and g&t's at bars.... $10 a pop adds up!) and making time for my my lovely friends and boyfriend. I remember as a kid looking at a 21 year old and seeing them as someone who just knew what they were doing all the time. Adults had the answers, they had it ALL figured out. But now that I'm here, living in this 21 year old body (don't get me wrong, it's lots of fun, and I love life, but I don't know all the answers), you kinda just have to trust your gut feeling and wing it. That's what Mum has taught me anyway, and she's the best person I know so if I try and live life with her in mind, I should be totally fine.

How are your lives going anyway? It's funny how quickly this year has flown. I've been at my new job over five months now - which probably means it's not really "new" anymore, and I've been dating Max for four months (tomorrow actually!). The transition from being single to being in a relationship was a surprisingly smooth one, and felt very natural which reinforces how right everything has always felt with him. Each week we’ve been trying to do at least one little date or outing so last Saturday morning was spent eating pancakes at the Manor on Charlotte St in the CBD, then we hopped on the ferry and sailed along the river for a bit before seeing the latest Avengers movie. I never used to be a devout Marvel/ superhero movie fan; I never read comics as a kid (except for Tin Tin and Asterix… amazing), but I started going to the movies a lot more when I moved to Brisbane in 2015 and with that came more and more cues to watch superhero films. The movie was amazing, and if you were one of the clued in folk that stuck around after the credits (ALL of them), you’ll be anticipating the arrival of Captain Marvel as much as me. Another reason Max and I are so compatible is our shared love for films – it’s funny, when he was single he would regularly go to the movies by himself, just like I used to. He’s the only other person I know who did that and saw no issue! I remember every time I would see a film solo (this was like, a weekly thing), and my friends knew, they’d be like “How can you see a movie by yourself?? Don’t you feel self-conscious that you’re alone??”, and I honestly never understood this. Seeing films solo is great, I highly encourage it. Though I do love seeing them with Max now too, especially when I can suffocate him with kisses in the credits.

Anyway, I need to close this laptop lid and get some sleep. I'm typing this at 10pm on a Tuesday night - spin class killed me, and as much as I think I should wake up at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning and go for a walk, I think a sleep in til 7am and a relaxed get-ready before work will be just as beneficial for my physical (and mental!) health. Sometimes the best form of self-care is to simply do nothing... just for a day. Wednesday's are often my low impact day... I think after work I'll head home, hit publish on this post (and you're reading it now!), knock back a couple of ROOIBOS teas (I do like to live quite... adventurously) and anticipate picking Max up from the gym. We haven't seen each other since Sunday... deprived would be an understatement, but at least I managed to do two loads of laundry and clean my room top to bottom in that time. Chicken soup is on the menu for dinner too tonight, followed by Mad Men and lots of laughter, because that's what happens when you put Max and I in the same room. Laughing. Constantly. 
Ciao!

life through the lens #6

Lovely pink peonies from the markets in Brisbane // Romantic pastels and huge sunglasses for warmer winter days

My sisters and I made these pancake for lunch and it was by far the best lunch we've ever had // Reading in the sun with a sandwich and a good book 

Greetings internet! Today I thought I would share a few snippets from my Instagram (and my camera roll in general) from over the last month or so. Some of these photos consist of what I've been up to these holidays which have mostly consisted of impromptu cafe visits, sleepovers with friends, the beach and delightful food. To balance out the relaxation/ decadent food side of things, today my friend Abbey (along with her sister and Mum) did a 20km walk from Yaroomba to Noosa. I'm not sure whether my body has fully grasped the fact that I walked such a long distance, but I'm sure I'll find out tomorrow when I inevitably wake up with sore limbs (but hopefully glowing post-exercise skin)! 

 Stopping for an 'Emma and Tom' break in Brisbane in between the museum and the gallery // Pretty watercolour sunsets at Kangaroo Point

Driving around town in Ruby's vintage car - it's so much fun when your friends have their licenses! 

Pretty flowers on an overcast afternoon // The neighbour's little puppy is always stopping over our house for a visit! She's such a fluffy little darling

I hope you enjoy looking through these pictures and if you're on holidays, you're having a wonderful time! I hope you're enjoying life in general because everyone deserves to :) I'm off to sip some rooibos tea and crawl into bed with season 4 of Gossip Girl. Yep, I'm hooked again. 

Finally happy with the decorating of my room - my two pillows are from Target and the wall art is from various magazines and the watercolour is something I did earlier in the year which I was very happy with! 

 Coolum Beach was absolutely BREATHTAKING today. We wanted to swim so badly but it would have put us off course! 

Husk and Honey deliciousness // Denim jackets are my life

Diary XIII

Snazzy tip from a visually stimulated girl: Make things interesting and sip your drinks from a jar! Not only are you recycling your old pasta sauce bottles, but everything looks so much fancier with crushed ice and a striped straw. Add some lemon or grapefruit for some extra flavour - and plenty of extra health benefits! Perfect for drinking during a hectic homework sesh. Everything looks better in a jar!

We visited Maison de Provence, my favourite French cafe located in Cooroy, at the weekend for a catch-up with two of my favourite relatives in the whole wide world (shout out to you both!!). Every time I visit the cafe, I'm always in awe at how beautiful the table settings are and how beautiful and elaborate the flower arrangements are. I definitely want to visit the local nursey now and plant a pretty botanic in a tea pot now...

After consuming the most delectable vanilla slice in all existence, we paid a visit to the five gorgeous pups that Aunty Michelle and Uncle Andrew own. Now, before meeting Doug, Jose, Frankie, Poppy and Milly, I was not a dog person at all. Terribly afraid of canines and all that slobber. I've been converted! Dog loving has been established! I love them so much, especially Frankie; he's so plump and fluffy. 

And speaking of dogs, today, I hung out at our neighbours house and became friends with Archie, a cattle dog, and from today onward I have decided that as soon as I move out, I'm buying a dog. Anyway, after picking grapefruits and exploring the property further with the dogs, I was shown the prettiest lake. It's perfect for reading and admiring from the base of a tree trunk. Tomorrow I'm hoping to take some outfit pictures near the lake because the lighting is absolutely magical!

Two of my favourite things about Autumn: the sunsets, and my ten year old sister's apple pie. So good.

Today was actually a brilliant Monday for me! School itself was quite mundane but I received really great results back for my English assignments last term and I'm over the moon as I didn't expect it! I hope you all had a good day too, and don't forget to enter the giveaway! xo

P.S: Would you like to see a skin update? Things have been going really well lately with roaccutane and I think I'm due for some progress pictures and a general update. Let me know if you'd like to see it!

My blogging lifestyle

Busy Blogger // Avenue Maria 

Being a blogger for nearly four years has made writing for the internet and developing an online identity an aspect of my every day life. Somehow, since May of 2010, I have managed to write for Avenue Maria in between the hectic happenings of school, my social life and also my part-time job and having many "stuck in a rut" situations and  being *this* close to giving up on it, I've never quit. Blogging is fun, unique and has enhanced my creativity and helped me blossom into the young woman I am today - who is still figuring things out, mind you. 

Today I thought I would share with you a few aspects of what blogging is like as a part of my world, featuring a wonderful techno toy from Lenovo, and super awesome computer brand that has partnered with my blog and I.  

Stand position // Staying Organised  

Over the last two weeks I've been lucky enough to try out the ThinkPad Yoga Ultrabook from Lenovo. The thing I've loved most about it so far is that it converts into so many different positions to make things a little easier and more convenient than usual. It's not your average laptop... it can fold into three different modes: a tablet, a stand and a 'tent' position. The stand position is shown above and it's perfect for when I'm reading other blogs or writing up sticky note reminders. The screen is still touch and an on-screen keyboard is available as well - while the actual keyboard is locked into place so you don't start typing something you didn't intend to! (This feature is particularly useful for clumsy people... like me!)

When it comes to blogging and staying organised, the only thing that keeps me posting at all is organisation and time management. Life gets incredibly busy, and it's especially so in year 12. Making lists, alarms and setting aside days and times to dedicate to blogging is the best way to stay organised and make sure I'm getting at least one post up each week. 

Tablet Mode // Editing pictures // Wardrobe 

The tablet mode is wonderful for editing pictures. With the special sensor pen, I can draw and write on my pictures and then edit them further on Photoshop. It's so much easier than connecting up a hand writing app and the results are just as personal and unique. 

Editing photos is a major part of my blogging lifestyle as well. I've found that having a good camera helps, but the editing is definitely the most important aspect of a blog's aesthetic. I've been using photoshop ever since I was fifteen by making up my own curves and actions to brighten and enhance my photos. 

Wardrobe wise, it can be hard finding new outfit combinations and new locations, however I think because my clothing has become quite limited over the last few months (after the major summer clean out I did over the Christmas holidays), it's definitely challenged my creative styling and even the switching around of the most simple pieces can make a world of difference. I'm so excited though - there's a big package from Oasap coming soon with lots of new clothes to style for Avenue Maria!! Stay tuned for that! 

Laptop Mode // Keeping Inspired // My Style 

Inspiration is a key element for keeping things fresh, unique and diverse when blogging. I love reading back-issues of Teen Vogue, Frankie and Harper's Bazaar give me ideas on how to reinvent my personal style on days where I'm not feeling as enlightened. Reading other style blogs also helps infinitely as I can take little snippets of inspiration, colour combinations and ideas from people who know how to rock it! 

I don't really consider myself a "trend-follower" or a wearer of mainstream, hipster clothing; it's mainly about what I like to wear and what I feel comfortable in and that is: the classic style. Full skirts, floaty tops, quirky prints and vintage-cut dresses are the things that usually adorn my body when I leave the house. I think that is good too, because I'm starting to find my niche when it comes to my style and what my style is all about. I think blogging has really helped that.

Locations // Finding places to take pictures 

One of the most exciting parts of blogging is the unlimited creativity that comes with taking outfit pictures. Sometimes I take pictures wearing a themed outfit and find a location to match, and other times I wear outfits that are examples of what I had worn recently. Finding locations is always really fun and can compliment the outfit perfectly. I usually shoot outfits after school around six in the afternoon during Summer, and four in the afternoon during Winter. Sometimes my sister and I traipse around the whole neighbourhood and take plenty of pictures at all different locations. 

This picture is of the same outfit, three times, but as you can see, the location makes all the difference in creating a different vibe each time! Let me know in the comment which location was your favourite :)

Tent // Writing // Relaxing 

Aside from juggling it with school work and keeping up with comments, emails and other social networks (which, let's be honest, I never do!), blogging is one of the most rewarding occupations I could possibly have begun. I couldn't think of anything better than jumping into my bed on a Saturday night curled up with a hot chocolate, watching a movie or reading some blogs written by the wonderful friends I've made over the internet, as well as compiling my own content. 

Speaking of watching movies too, the tent position on the ThinkPad is the best way! It's perfect for propping up between pillows or resting on your chest if you want to lie on your back (hopefully that's not just me, haha!). 

I think it's so fantastic having a blog like this. Not only can my readers, my family and friends, as well as myself see how much I have changed through the visual aspects of my blog, but also the textual side of it too. Without records or pictures or anything like that, important memories and pictures and all that jazz can get lost in the flurry of life, but my testimony is published on the World Wide Web for people to see. It's going to take me places that I've never been before and lead me to people I'd never even imagine meeting! If you have a blog, keep going! If you don't have one, start one up! Write about what you love. Write about the things that make you happy. Share your story and you'll be surprised at the amount of people who will be willing to lend an ear to your voice. I never thought my acne post last year would receive so much positive feedback and that I had helped so many people. 

Anyway, I hope this gave you all a nice little glimpse into my blogging life and what it looks like! A big thank you to Lenovo for the amazing new laptop, too. It's perfect for school (completing those wretched research assignments), watching movies and of course, blogging to my hearts content. I'm on holidays now so I can finally respond to emails etc! Have a lovely day everyone ♥ 

what's in my bag? // travelling or city shopping

I've been meaning to do a What's in My Bag? post for such a long time! I just finished watching about five videos of them on youtube and thought I would finally do one myself. This is the perfect example of what would be in my handbag if I were travelling to Brisbane, shopping or just generally out and about for the day:

1. Spare bag strap. My bag is by Peeptoe and it came with an alternative strap which has been very useful, especially when I've taken this bag out with me shopping or to the city. The chain strap is beautiful but it can be very uncomfortable after a while so I like to switch it up every now and again // 2. Body Shop All-in-One powder compact is the perfect size for a handbag and is ideal for touch-ups throughout the day // 3. Iphone! Definitely gonna need that... (mine's a little beaten up as you can see!) // 4. Eyebrow pencil for ya know... fixing up those stubborn ole' brows // 5. Hurraw! lipbalm is incredible and I love it // 6. Cherry blossom perfume for the Body Shop, smells lovely and is a nice, convenient size // 7. My wallet is by Olga Berg I think. It's quite a good size and fits all of my receipts and cards and things however I need to buy a new wallet soon - this one is starting to show signs of wear! //

8. A notebook or journal. If I'm travelling (on a bus especially), it can be so nice to just sit and write whilst listening to music. I always like keeping something to write things in with me all the time // 9. A pocket purse for my important cards and coins // 10. Snack food! // 11. Pain killers - headaches or car-sickness episodes are pretty unpredictable so it's always nice to have it on hand // 12. Earphones - to block out the noise on the bus, car or train and relax a little // 13. My 2014 planner or diary. Super handy for making appointments, checking dates and schedules etc. // 

P.S: I usually also have a water bottle and a pen in my bag, but they're not pictured. What's in your bag? Do you like travelling light or are you a fan of having all the essentials? Anyway, I'm off to do a solid school work session. I'm home sick today with horrid back pain and cramps. I've relaxed a little this morning so I'm ready to charge through some English, History and SOR. Wish me luck! xo