rosey posey // summertime happiness

- Handmade top, thrifted skirt, Corelli shoes, Oasap sunglasses -

Seasons greetings! There's less than five days until Christmas and I am well and truly behind in the carol blaring, Christmas cookie baking and present buying/ wrapping. Aside from working (which I would rather not talk about and pretend doesn't exist), I have been spending time with my family, shopping and finally reaching the stage where I am genuinely happy and relieved that school is finished forever and I can revel in the freedom of choosing my pathway in life. Yesterday I received my OP rank and although the whole system is completely useless and only serves as a temporary entry ticket into university (as well as a bid to make the school you went to look good - thanks for all that unnecessary pressure SJC!), I am still proud of my single digit result and it's usefulness in allowing me entry into all of the courses that I applied for. Woo!

I'm still pretty unsure of what next year holds education and work wise, but I do know that it's going to be wonderful. Whatever it is. Something I learned in 2014 is that I do underestimate my ability quite a lot, and there is power in positive thinking. Basically my goals include: getting my driver's license, a car and to be happy. Oh! And some form of romance would be good... but there's no hurry, I am an independent woman after all!

As you've probably noticed, my hair is quite short! I got the chop recently and it is honestly one of the best feelings ever! So fresh and bouncy! Although it looked much better on the day of the cut and blow dry, I still love the length and the lack of split ends. I highly recommend The French Touch hair and beauty salon if you're ever on the Sunshine Coast and need a good hair cut or whatever. 

I best be off, I think I'll watch Maleficent tonight with a big cup of rooibos tea and my plush elephant, Heather, whom I bought today because I was cranky and needed a hug. Hope you're all well. Merry Christmas xo

darling deer

 Wearing: Emerson tee, Dotti skirt, Oasap bag, Kmart shoes, Forever New hair flowers, Burt's Bees Lipcolour in "Rhubarb" 

I picked up this adorable tee during the holidays for two reasons: it was an "under $10" purchase (my budget was wearing thin) and it has deer on it... surrounded by purple blossoms. Enough said? I think so. It's been a bit of a summer staple too... making beating the heat easy and helping me nail the effortless look whether I need to dress it up or down. Oh, and this skirt might be a recognisable piece! It's not actually mine; I pinched it off my sister and it's still at our house so I guess I could temporarily claim it as my own. The weather was seriously beautiful today too and actually, life has been beautiful. I'm in a really good place right now. My skin has never been healthier, I've started year 12 on a high note and I left my job so I have much more free time and less stress in my life. February is also the month of love and my birthday. I'll be a 17 year old! How did that even happen? I feel like it was only yesterday I was a second grader with a bed-wetting problem* and a centimetre gap between each tooth. I hope you're all having a great week so far! xo

*Don't worry, that problem has been fixed for a long time!

P.S: I hope you guys like these pictures! My Mum actually bought me the flowers back from her mini-holiday over the weekend. They're seriously beautiful and I feel very feminine and elegant when I wear them. 

sunny & bright

Tree of Life dress, Kmart shoes, Burt's Bees lip butter in 'Watermelon'

After a little lie down with my swanky new 2014 diary today, I finally concocted a list of goals for my future. I am probably the most indecisive young woman I have ever known (I feel sorry for my future boyfriend.. he doesn't know what he'll start when he asks what restaurant we should go to for a date...), so naturally I was worried that I would never come to a conclusion about my future. I'm not just talking the next two years or so, but you know, my life. My career. So, it has officially been decided that I am going to study a Bachelor of Arts and major in Criminology (hopefully at UQ). Many of you have asked me if I'm still doing fashion... and to be honest, if I was offered a full-time blogging job like Nicole Warne, I wouldn't hesitate, but for now, blogging is a hobby that gives me joy, but probably not a future career. 

I'm still tossing up whether a gap year would be a good idea because I want to get started as soon as I can... travelling in between study and work. I'm really happy about coming to a decision though because now I can actually aim for specific results and start planning. The future is scary (but wonderful), so I want to make sure I'm really prepared. 

To be honest, I'm a very comfortable girl. I live in a small town, go to a small(ish) school, and I rarely go on holidays without my family with me, so moving away will be a big step and because I'm finishing school forever in less than a year, something I have to start considering. A big part of me wants to stay here: comfortable, sheltered and secure with everything set out, planned and in a familiar routine. Another part of me however is longing for adventure and a change of scenery. I want to experience really crazy stuff! I want to go exploring, I want to jump out of aeroplanes and get out of my comfort zone without clinging onto my imaginary security blanket and going back home at the end of the day because "I just couldn't handle it". I want to study abroad in the States and visit my long-lost family. I want to get out of here but I also want to stay. It's overwhelming and also amazing that instead of picking which uniform I'll be wearing on a certain day of the week, I'll be choosing what I will do for the rest of my life.

I think I'm prepared for it, but there's also that little nagging voice in the back of my head that always dreams up wild ideas but never actually gives me the courage I need to DO them. 

I honestly think 2014 will be my year though. It's the year I've kinda been waiting for... but I'm still hesitant for it to end. It's the start of a new beginning. And 2015, the year after, will be the year that I become an adult and I actually start living the life I've been planning.

Anyway, I think that's probably sufficient rambling for tonight. Hopefully I haven't confused ya'll with my nonsense! In the meantime, do you have any thoughts about the future? Was it scary moving away from home? Any tips or advice for a teenager who thinks way too far ahead?! Haha. I hope you all had a lovely weekend and as always, thank you for the continuous support. Internet families rock! xo

mint

 Ally t-shirt, Forever New lantern skirt, Oasap necklace available here, Revlon Lip butter in 'Raspberry Pie'

Today I braved the holiday crowds and caught the bus to our major shopping centre. It was a huge day out, I made new friends on the trips there and back (a lovely elderly couple who told me all about life back "when they were young" and a woman who I discussed Body Shop essentials with), I had sushi and a watermelon smoothie, shopped for five people, and kinda got home and dropped. My heels had the most horrendous blisters and to add to my list of glamorous personal occurrences; they bled and there is now blood all over my shoes. I mean, they hurt, but I didn't think they would bleed! Silly feet. 

I can't believe it's less than a week until Christmas, it surely doesn't feel like it. I've been pretty busy preparing over the last few days; we've all made rum balls and cookies and tonight I'm going to make cinnamon rolls (ala Izzy and her family) so I'm very excited about how those will turn out. 

On to the outfit: I'm really loving this odd combination of stripes and an exciting pattern. This skirt was found on the 50% off rack at Forever New and I couldn't pass it up. It's way too pretty. And festive. Plus, I needed a new skirt! Ok, yes, I've justified it enough... 

Anyway, I hope you're all geared up for Christmas and you're spending time with your loved ones! I need to play more carols to get into the spirit. Talk to you soon! xo

grapefruit lemonade

First outfit post of the Summer! Woohoo! The weather hasn't been too awful either. The perfect balance between hot and cool, windy and humid. I just jinxed it though; tomorrow will be a scorcher I bet and I will probably have no choice but to laze about under the fan and drink something refreshing - while listening to Michael Buble's Christmas album - obviously. 

I bought this dress last Monday from Tree of Life on an improptu shopping trip with my friend Zana. We also saw the new Hunger Games film (bloody fantastic!) and then went to work straight after. This dress was definitely a lucky find, it's so summery and cool and has a slightly festive vibe about it. 

I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and I'll talk to you soon. 

P.S: As per the usual, thank you for the comments, emails and messages in regards to my acne posts. It is such an awesome feeling knowing you've helped people and I hope some of you found hope and  inspiration in those posts if you are suffering from acne or know someone who is. 

tuesday chats // what makes you, you

 Dotti dress, thrifted purse, Rubi shoes (again!), WolfCub headband

This post is going to turn out all cheesy and sappy, I just know it! Today I wanted to talk about things that make people unique and special. This is definitely something that I struggle and have struggled with for as long as I can remember. I guess I've found it hard to separate the difference between being a 'freak' and a 'weirdo' and being 'unique' and 'one-of-a-kind'. Everyone has their interesting habits and today, in an effort to improve on my tendency to classify myself as a 'freak' and 'fish out of water', I'm going to share some things about myself that I am totally not ashamed of! So, here we go:

• I may or may not have regular dance parties with my little sisters to Miley Cyrus tunes... yeah, I said it. 
• I've had the biggest crush on Gilbert Blythe for as long as I can remember. He's basically my dream boy. 
• Tripping over, saying something stupid or embarrassing, laughing at my own jokes (no one seems to find them funny and I'm so confused by that!) are things that happen on an hourly basis. 
• Retail therapy is a thing and Becky Bloomwood and I are kindred spirits. Nothing cures a broken heart better than a new dress.
• I make lists. Lists of people to pray for, things I should remember for the future, places I want to visit and well, (you guessed it!), shopping lists. 
• I probably drink more tea than water (... *adds that to the list of things to fix*)
• Not ashamed of the fact that I have had one boyfriend in my entire duration on this earth. It was grade one and, well, he kinda blew it. Ugh, six year olds are so 2003.
• I have an obsession with Johnny Cash, The Seekers, Glen Campbell and Kenny Rogers. I'm not even joking - music was about ten times better back in the 20th century. 
• Now, I know for certain that I'm not alone in this one: The smell of old books is just SO GOOD. There's a copy of Treasure Island in my room that is just the most delicious smelling book I have ever found. When are they going to make a perfume smelling like old books? Because, I need it. Pronto. 
• I get emotionally attached to fictional characters and if they go through rough times, it takes a toll on me too. Exhibit A: Downton Abbey. Julian Fellowes, if by an chance you read Avenue M in your leisure time, I have a message for you: If you kill off one more character from Downton I will cry and drown you in my tears. 
• Oh, and there is an Ace Bus in one of my outfit pictures. 

What's weird (in a good way!) about you? Share it in the comments below and we can all bond over our strange qualities that make us, us! :) Hope you're having an excellent Tuesday! 

fairy

This is the dress. You know? The one I ranted on an on about late last year in lead up to the dance? I took these pictures at summer's peak (mid January) and completely forgot about them. It was quite lucky to find them on my old memory card because the weather has been completely ridiculous here lately and I've been drowning in homework which means no chance of outfit pictures. I'm really excited though because I turn the big 1 - 6 (OK, fine, it's not that old) in five days! I don't know what it is about being 16, but it's just such an important age of me. :)
Anyway, doesn't it look so summery and lovely in these pictures?! It's completely different right now though; very chilly (I'm even wearing a sweater!) and perfect tea and movie watching weather. I've also been looking at a few online stores recently too in search of wintery things for my wardrobe. I really like the collection of Ugg Australia they have at Number Eight Clothing... especially these gorgeous gloves. They would look so fancy with a trench and some red lipstick! Hope you're all having a great week so far, I'm off to relax after a homework filled afternoon and watch the latest episode of the Carrie Diaries. Bliss. xo