an eve to end a decade

Well its about an hour till the new year and you can tell by the fact that I'm blogging that my New Year's eve is filled with festivities! I'm stuck at home with my parents, sister and two younger cousins from Melbourne. We aren't up to much. I'm also still stuck on a new year's resolution too. I do have my photography project to look forward and my L's to get before I start uni. I should start writing out a 2010 to do list.

Anyway I did actually go out to the city today with my two cousins. It was fairly fun. Lots of walking - from Town Hall to Market City to Central. Didn't buy that much. most my shopping was done on Monday. But I did buy some stuff. We also went to Capitol for sticker photos!

I got a new hat, it's felted! Also a new POCKET WATCH! A picture memo book from Morning Glory and my Capitol pictures.

My cousin and I chose one of the cheaper machines. Half the photos were fail but oh so hilarious.

I have to say a BIG thank you to EVERYONE who has been reading my blog! Good to know I can reach people with my random ramblings about my ever so insignificant life. THANK YOU to ALL my wonderful friends! My girls, the guys, the kazoo kids, my lovely music family, class buddies and everyone else I love to smile and say "Hi" to. Penrith High School class of 2009 I LOVE YOU and will miss you all dearly! Don't worry I will see you guys again! And to everyone else who has made this year GREAT and oh so enjoyable through the ups and the downs, you know who you are!

Well I will post some of the pictures I got developed from my LOMO. But not now, next year! Haha

Laters and I shall be seeing you all next year! Last blog post of 2009 complete!!

*j

sunday morning...

...rain is falling

No, not really but I do quite like that song. For those not in the know the song is Sunday Morning by Maroon 5 from their 'Songs About Jane' album, it's one of my all time favourite songs.

So it's Sunday and after sleeping in and missing church this morning I am now enjoying a late breakfast of French toast with cream and maple syrup (now that's that real stuff not the maple flavoured syrup, the fake stuff). Okay so I was enjoying some French toast, it is now getting cold on the kitchen bench  while I sit here typing up this post, oh what a dedicated blogger I am. In reality I just get distracted easily...

Now this morning while writing out this post in my brother's room on his laptop, I realised that my brother has a lot of nick names for me. Here is a list of them:

Jilly

J dozzle
Fag doe

J doe
J dog

Fag

J
Julz

The newest is Jilly. Now he doesn't have phases with these nick names or anything, he just uses them all interchangeably depending on what he wants or the situation. I have no idea how he remembers them all.

I also noticed, even though this post is titled 'sunday morning' it was already afternoon when I started typing, go figure. I did get up around 10.30 after sleeping REALLY late reorganising and cleaning my room in preparation of my cousins coming and staying over our place for a while.

...

And about 8 hours after starting this post I am back to finish with no idea what I was going to go on with. I really should learn how to finish posts in one sitting. I'm not very good at it. It's normally the reason why I have a lot of draft posts because by the time I get back to it what I have written doesn't seem so relevant or what not.

Now I said I would post more on the things I have made for Christmas but I haven't made much else and all my pictures are on the other computer and still need photoshopping so I will have to post them up later. I can however post a few pictures from my recent Christmas celebrations (as soon as I can relocate the memory card from my camera).

Christmas eve:

After all most of the presents were opened.

All crowded around one of those I Spy type books, but easier and for kids, funny how it's mostly the older folk crowded around.

Christmas day:

Helped my cousin make some of the Lego car sets that he got for Christmas. I miss Lego. I want some for Christmas!!

Waiting for MORE presents on Christmas day.

And that was my Christmas in four pictures. Not a very good representation of what actually happened but it's good enough for now.

Also I found something new that I want to get! The Diana F+ Delux Pack!!

It is valued at $550 on the Lomography site but I found it on Ebay for ONLY $255! That's a BARGAIN! But I don't know if I'm going to get it yet because I still want that Canon 450D SLR and don't want to spend all my money. What do you, my lovely readers think I should do? Well there are only 6 left on Ebay so I need to decide fairly soon.

Speaking of Lomos and Diana, I NEED MORE FILM!! Especially because I am going to be starting my photography project VERY SOON!! OMG NEW YEAR IS HERE!! Yeah, I have one roll of film developed but my stupid brother didn't pick it up after work on Christmas eve and I haven't been to the shops so I STILL don't have it, maybe tomorrow. But I think I should stock up and get at least 3 more rolls, which should be enough to last me a little while. But fingers crossed for my project Three hundred and sixty-five six (leap year) photographs. (Who ever told me it was a leap year next year can go die... not really but I was stupid enough to believe you, that's right YOU)  

Anyway I think I have rambled a sufficient amount to make up for the past few post-less days. Shall be back with more photos and hopefully some scans of developed photographs from my Diana Mini.

Till I can find the time to post again,

*j

Sneak peak!

Well here is just a sneak peak of something that I just finished making today. It is a Christmas present for my sister. More photos and info will be posted up after Christmas, as well as everything else I have made or STILL need to make.

I have no idea what to make for my cousin. Need to start AND finish something today but I'm having a MEGA mind blank. She is 16 and likes to dance. Favourite colour is purple and she likes pandas and huskies. Help anyone?

*j

Credits: Post processing on the photo - used PS action found here.

My Portfolio...

...is still non existent! I'm trying to make a portfolio in the hopes that I can get an interview with someone from DAB and show them some of my stuff to see if it will better my chances of getting straight into VisComm. My fingers are VERY crossed.

BUT first things first! I need a portfolio. Now I don't have any experience in anything like this so I'm looking to ask people for advice. Also I don't know what to put in it. If any of you lovely blog reading people out there would like to check out my deviant account, please tell me of anything you think I SHOULD include to help me narrow down.

Thanks to anyone who bothers, it is much appreciated!

*j

Sharing is caring

Just some links to entertain you people who read my blog.

♥ Some lovely and inspiring gift wrapping and packaging images compiled on oh, hello friend. It's all so pretty, I want to try out some of these things for Christmas.

♥ Images from the amazing home of interior designer Jessica Helgerson on Design*Sponge. I want my house to look this awesome, the mirrors... so cool (you will know what I'M talking about when you check it out).

♥ Katie's blog Skunkboy Creatures. She makes the cutest and COOLEST plush toys. I am ever so slightly jealous of her talent.

I thought I had more than this to share... guess that's all.

*j

Closed curtains

Now this is very random but I just wanted to share with you a small section of the inside of my room. Really just wanted to show my window because I decorated it and it's fun. :)

See, open by day... (look its my big totoro toy sitting on my bed in the corner)

and closed by night!

I keep all my small stuffed toys on my window sill. As well as the bamboo favours we got from Minna's 18th, the frame Ama gave me for my 18th, my big stack of free postcards (only temporary) and two gnomes which I use to keep my curtains open - one from my birthday and the other from Smiggle, which I got for $1.

My curtains are from the same material I made a bag out of earlier this year. The colourful bunting I made for my 18th, the yellow fringing was scabbed from school, the red pompom trim from a Reverse Garbage trip with Shuang and and little picture garland from the owl shop in FORSTER!

And there you have it folks, my window! How exciting, I have such a nice view of the side of our neighbours house!

That is all.

*j

P.S. I will post pictures of the other cards I made after I finish photoshopping  them!

i love...

MLIA

My Life Is Average is one of the best things since sliced bread. SERIOUSLY it is such a feel good thing. Best cure to a bad mood. You just read and feel happy, get amused and for me more often than not my faith in humanity rises a little. For example;

The other day, I realized that you can select "walking" as a mode of transportation when finding directions on Google Maps. I got walking directions from Detroit to Hawaii, and once I got to California, the directions said "Kayak across the Pacific Ocean for 2273 miles". I love Google.

&

Today I was taking notes in my theology class and I named the powerpoint I was working on “humanity” because that’s what we were studying. I forgot I named it that, and later when I tried to close it, it asked me if I wanted to save the changes I had made to humanity. I said yes. I felt empowered. MLIA

It should be My Life Is AWESOME because it really is. And now I shall go back and read some more MLIA.

*j

i blog on paper..?

Yes apparently I do. I found a piece of paper with writing intended for a blog post. I guess I really wanted to post something but wasn't at the computer at the time so I wrote it on paper instead. Ans now I shall type it up as I had originally intended.

 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2009

i DON'T love...

being in a bad mood.

Whether it be angry, annoyed, depressed or simply wallowing in self-pity, being in a bad mood is counter productive, effects sleeping patterns and overall just sucks. 

I personally think that being angry or annoyed is the worst. Once I'm pissed off  there isn't much I can do about it except wait it out till I've cooled off.

Being depressed is just... well sad really. Although it's great that I can get cheered up.

I'm tired and writing this post has helped me calm down so now I shall sleep.

*j

And that was all that was written. I think this was from before formal when I was stressing out about getting everything I need to do finished in time and then my parents were giving me a hard time about something and yeah... blogging seems to be my way of venting.

Anywho I will be posting more later...

*j

Fireflies

Anyone heard of Owl City? It's Adam Young's one man 'electronica-pop' band. Not normally my cup of tea (not that I drink tea other than Easy Way and iced tea) but I do like his stuff. Fireflies is one of his new songs (at least I think so, to me it's new) and I have to say it is one of my favourite songs at the moment. It has rekindled my liking for Owl City again, really even just the name is cool. Check out his site!

And OH MY GOSH Owl City is coming to SYDNEY in March! Best part is that he'll be performing a UNSW! YAY there are perks to (most probably) getting into my second choice uni (although still hoping that I make it). He'll be coming round with Cobra Starship so that should be some fun.

ALSO check out Kina Grannis' cover of Fireflies. I LOVE it! I think half the reason why I'm loving Fireflies so much right now is because her cover is awesome. Kina is an singer-songwriter who has been spreading her stuff through youtube. She is VERY good and has a new album is coming out next year. Unfortunately she's in the states and doubt she'll be coming down here any time soon but fingers are crossed. Visit her site!

Now I would post up the video of her cover here but I'm not entirely sure how to do that yet, so if someone wants to teach me please do!

Edit: Here's the vid of Kina's cover.

Thanks Gail for helping me out!

Anyway my room is NOT going to tidy itself so I shall go do that.

See you later alligator(s)!

*j

P.S. I'm posting from my brother's laptop in my room! He is in Queensland and I have been taking advantage of his laptop because he left it at home. Hehe...

It makes me sad

The results for the Higher School Certificate were released today and recent high school graduates all over NSW went and checked the all important numbers two years in the making. I have to say I had high hopes, I am a somewhat high achiever with high standards to match. This is all good and well but when you don't get as high as you hoped,don't achieve as high as you could have and didn't perform to meet standard the result can be overwhelming.

That right there is my life story to date. I didn't get as high as I would have hoped. I didn't achieve as high as I know I cold have and I didn't perform to meet my standards or expectations. And as a result of this a few tears were shed, hopes and dreams drifted farther out of grasp and an a lingering feeling of sadness and disappointment set in.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't do badly by any means. My marks just weren't quite up to scratch with what I was hoping for. And so I sit here thinking I need an alternate career path, well really just some other course options seeing as what I want to get into doesn't seem possible right now. So uncertainty lies ahead and this is a little scary. Tomorrow our ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank - if I'm wrong please correct me) comes out. From this I can really sort through my uni preferences properly. At least my HSC marks are a bit of an indicator of what to expect for that.

Anyway in the mean time I shall be listening to some music to try and soften my mood seeing as bejeweled doesn't want to load on facebook. I should probably eat something but unlike other people I tend to not eat when emotionally distressed. And also hoping that I will be allowed out to the drive-ins tonight for a movie or two to cheer me up and to keep my mind of my not to impressive results.

Till next time when I'm in a better mood,

*j

Neat & tidy.

I cleaned all my mess up from my card-making earlier! Finished probably half an hour ago, then I thought I should take  few snaps and post up the photos just because I can! (The before pictures can be found in the previous post)

The space in front of the computer... you can actually see the table now!

 

 The kitchen bench MINUS all the paper and what not. But where did all my mess go?!

 

All the mess went into this neat little pile next to my sewing machine! :D

And that is my cleaning done for tonight. :D

*j 

Productivity

Well I am actually being a little bit productive today. Currently working on the cards my mother asked for, commissioned work thank goodness! It's taking SO long though and I'm making a big mess out of the computer table and the kitchen bench.

My computer desk. Look it's my blog! *pointing at monitor* And look my DIANA Mini!

The kitchen bench and my big pile of coloured paper and scraps.

Little cut out shapes for the cards. No I did not cut them out individually with scissors, I used one of those hole punchers.

The original design plan. The end result is practically the same but you get the idea.

My workspace on the kitchen bench while gluing it all together.

Cards drying on the side. Gluing 20 little pieces of paper into a circle is very time consuming work. But it looks good so I don't mind. I think the quickest I finished one card was in 15 minutes...

Of course I had to fit  my little jellyfish in there somewhere and a little "handcrafted" note on the back, I'm branding.

And the finished product! :D

So I've made 6 cards and a lot of mess, won't cleaning be fun! But that's not all I did today. Visited my primary school because my sister was getting a "Gold Award" or something and my mum told my brother and I to go so that we could take pictures and picker her up from school. Also went to the shops after and I checked how much it would be to develop my film from my LOMO! It's about $8 at Big W so it is quite affordable, but I have no money right now. I just finished watching a whole bunch of videos from Forster, it's all so hilarious! I really do miss that place, it was so much fun.

Anyway I should clean up a bit of my mess now so that I don't sleep too late and end up being REALLY tired tomorrow. Got a big day ahead. Ice skating in the morning then a party in the evening! Should be heaps fun and I am looking forward to it. BUT I have no money and will have to go to the parents for some, hope they're feeling generous tomorrow morning!

*j

Would've been nice

Found this on My Life Is Average.

Today, I discovered that my college level math book came with 3-D glasses, which are to be used to view the 3 dimensional shapes portrayed in the book. I'm glad the textbook companies understand how college students learn. MLIA

I wish we had these back at school...

*j

It's beginning...

to look a lot like Christmas!

Yep, tis the season to be jolly. Our Christmas tree is up, the decorations are out, my dad has been avoiding to put the lights up on the house... And so begins the present hunt! Luckily for me I plan to make gifts;

1. because I like to make things &

2. because I'm cheap!

This just poses a few problems.

Firstly I like to have a big clean work space when I start out which normally means I work on our huge dining table (not to mention the kitchen is only a few meters away). But seeing as I will be making a lot, it may take a while to finish all my stuff, which is just a nuisance to the rest of the family who might want to use the table for eating maybe. I normally have to pack it all up at dinner time and then take it all out again after. It gets very annoying. It also means I can't work too late into the night as the dinning room is near my parent's room and they are relatively light sleepers. But I like working late, no one is there to bother me and I can concentrate better. My solution to the location of my workshop is usually my room.

♥

BUT my room is a disaster zone right now. I have things EVERYWHERE and since I am planning on reorganizing I need to take everything out to sort. BUT I don't have enough space in my room for this so I still need to work out how it's going to work, not to mention rearranging all the furniture (excluding my bed seeing as the odd shape of my room means I can only really position my bed one way if I want to put anything else in there). To sum it all up my room is not a safe and plausible working environment.

♥

Thirdly, because my room is in such a mess all my crafting tools and materials are either scattered buried under things. I need to locate and retrieve all of these belongings (I thought of english, damn) so I can see everything I have to work with. I also need to sort and organise my craft things too instead of just having it all in random boxes.

♥

Also I'm feeling kind of lazy these days. For example I should have finished cleaning my room AGES ago, I really should go and do something about that. But even for other things, I'm meant to be making some cards for my mum to give out to her work clients. I haven't finished yet and she wanted some for this week. I am going to the shops later to go buy some new paper for me to use though.

♥

And lastly, I have no idea what I am going to make. I haven't sewn anything since before HSC and I've been doing quite a bit of paper crafts lately. So I will have to decide on that and if I will be making individual gifts or just a similar set of the same thing to give to everyone. Ah this is too much thinking right now...

And so goes my Christmas dilemma. Anyway I should just go surf the net and look through all the blogs I follow for some inspiration, there are a whole bunch of other things I want to try out too. So much to do, so little time...

Well that shall be all for now, my first long blog post in a while. Hope you enjoy reading my ramblings, I hope to be back with more later!

*j

Okay I lie...

In my previous post I said that I would post more on schoolies and my wonderful week at Forster. The truth of the matter is that I really have lost my motivation to post things these days. And as a result of this laziness and procrastination I have even lost some of the excitement from schoolies, although I still think our stay at Forster was the best week of my life.

Anyway on with my lack of posting, I realised how many times I would go and make a post but never really get around to finishing one, which would explain my long list of "draft" posts. I have about 15 from last month and the month before. I really should learn to finish them off.

Anyway that is all I have time to blab on about right now. In the mean time I shall be off to the pools because it is SO hot these days and because I need the exercise and because my friends and I can finally properly try out the beach volleyball net at the pools.

Till I have more time and something more substantial to blog about,

*j

i love...

schoolies at Forster.

And boy do I miss it. Schoolies was honestly one of the best weeks of my life. The people I spent it with, the beautiful town of Forster where we stayed at and all the wonderful memories we made together. I'm going to miss our daily walk to the rock pool and spending our evenings together just having a great time. We really should do it again sometime. I shall make another post about schoolies because it was THAT awesome and will probably add some more photos too.

 our beloved rock pool

*j

raindrops & lightening

It's raining outside, how wonderful. The cool air and lightening in the distance. I can ever so slightly smell it over the smell of my dinner, which is making my mouth water. And the sounds of James Taylor in the background. How very peaceful and relaxing.

I also finally decided to change my desktop again today from the periodic table seeing as chem was last week and I don't really need to know that stuff anymore. I changed it once and then again just then but I don't know which one to use. So here are my options.

 

Both are by Raindrop Memory, the same lady who designed the icons I blogged about a little while back. You people, yes you, the people who manage to find time to read about my insignificant life, need to help me choose which I should have as my new desktop. Because if not I will be changing it back and forth  and rearranging the icons every hour or so.

Anyway I should get back to some of the formal stuff I am in charge of doing. That and eat some dinner.

Till I get bothered to blog again,

*j

Lomography

It's official. I will be the proud owner of a Lomo Diana Mini in less than 10 days! OMG I am SO excited!!

I told my brother to go and buy it off ebay for me half joking, and he actually bought it! But it's good. Got the camera and 2 rolls of film for about $75 with free postage! Now I just hope that I get it before schoolies so I can go and play around with it then so that I have the hang of how to work it for my film photography project come new year! Hopefully I will learn to use the film sparingly as Ben has told me. But GOSH I just can't wait!!

Well that shall be my awesome news for now. I swear I have gotten SO lazy in regards to posting.

Farewell,

*j

i have the need...

the need for speed. NOT. Haha as if

But I just thought that I needed to blog bout something. I swear blogging is how I procrastinate, hence the increase in blog entries over my pre and mid HSC. Now it's over I don't seem to be blogging as much. Even if I'm actually going out and having things to blog about. I don't feel like making a post. It's weird.

This weekend there will be NO studying. In fact I will be getting out! Jess' debut tomorrow where Minna, Gail, Dom, Dave and I will be performing Learn to Fly for her by the Foo Fighters. And on Sunday I will be off to NEWTOWN FESTIVAL. I'm excited and for good reason. Should be awesome!

Anyway  shall leave with a picture of my desk/wall in my room where I was studying chemistry last weekend. Note "industrial chemistry" written on the page in the bottom left. And the WICKED poster! Best musical ever! I wouldn't mind watching it again so if anyone wants to go watch it let me know. And I picked some daisies from outside and put them on my table.

*j

i love...

finishing my HSC!

That's right folks. I have officially finished my high school education. As of 12.30pm today I finished my chemistry exam, and I feel SO much better. Good bye stress, Hello freedom! Now I have to figure out what I'm doing for the rest of my four month holiday...

*j

Lucky

I found some four-leaf clovers whilst putting up the washing this morning. Okay let me rephrase, I saw clovers growing in the garden and spent a good 10 minutes squatting on the ground looking for four -leaf clovers, while the washing I was meant to be putting up was drying in the basket.

I found a total of five and because I'm strange I decided to scan and upload them in the hopes to share my lucky find. But of course I had to go into Photoshop and play around with it a bit. And after collective (I was going on  and off the computer for study and food) time of maybe 45 minutes (give or take about 10) I came up with this!

 

Well I do wish the rest of you who still have exams the best of luck for the HSC and for everyone for no reason at all, may you be lucky!

*j

recovery

Well thank you to all those who checked up on me yesterday during my emotional breakdown, partially reflected in my previous post. I went through what seemed like a whirlwind of emotions none of which I enjoyed very much. Glad to say that I am all better now with a little help from my friends *sings the Beatles song*.

It think it was a good experience (you must think I'm crazy, even more so than you might or might not already). But I seemed to learn a lot about myself. How to deal with feeling utterly depressed and all in all under the weather.

Well I should go study.

So long,
*j

P.S. Good luck to everyone doing the PE exam this afternoon! And I send good vibes to those currently sitting the ext. english exam!

SNAP!

There goes the last of my sanity. I have officially snapped with only a few days till my last exam. I have gotten to the point where I couldn't care less if I was finished or not. I seriously DON'T CARE! So pissed and annoyed right now and SO NOT IN THE MOOD FOR ANYTHING!!!!

Only one thing I can say now.

FUCK MY LIFE!

Yes I'm sure it's strange hearing (seeing? - who cares!) those words coming from me. Don't worry you aren't the only one. I should go back to studying stupid chemistry but I doubt I will get anything done. Heck I've written two sentences in the past 2.5 hours. I felt more productive studying ENGLISH!

I HATE THIS!

*j

ah procrastination...

*Hello*

*I am*

*Procrastinating*

*thumbs up*

Pictures courtesy of La PhotoCabine. It's a little French site, so it's all in French. But try it out. It's fun and easy to figure out (you only need to click 2 different things). All you need is your own webcam and it does the rest. You can also have the photos formatted differently. Found the link to it via + handmadelove +.

I should get back to study...

*j

the periodic table of ELEMENTS

Look what my new desktop wallpaper is! Just for you chemistry, because you're SO special. Found on Anneka Tran's blog. My desktop seems to like her stuff. But its a fairly cool periodic table might I add. Although it would be crap to have in the chemistry exam, there isn't all the info on it, just cool pictures.

That's all folks, just thought I would share. Might come back with something else to blog about later.

*j

five & one

That's five exams done and one more to go. How exciting. Although it seems like the HSC has come and (almost) gone so fast. Although having done five exams in the first week I suppose is pretty quick, so I guess this rushed feeling I'm having is explainable. And now I have just under a week to learn the WHOLE chemistry syllabus. I should have dropped it when I had the chance. But oh well, I might as well try my hardest for my last exam. And hey, maybe one of those units will end up counting, you never know.

Well today I had my HSC Music 1 Aural Skills exam. I love being in music. The people. The atmosphere. We always just end up sitting around on the grass talking, singing with guitars out. the boys playing around with a ball and in general just enjoying ourselves and each others company. We are always so relaxed even though its our HSC. The examiners even seemed laid back. They were all exhausted from the 2 unit exam earlier. The exam was fairly okay. I liked the last song. It was a jazzy version of the song "I want to be like you", for reference it's in Jungle Book.

Well I seem to be working backwards a lot these days. Earlier today, this morning before I left home I decided to bake some brownies for my beloved music class. I was meant to make them yesterday but never got around to it. I ended up with these cute, heart-shaped , bite-sized brownies all nicely wrapped and packaged for distribution to my music buddies, complete with little tag labels. [pictured below] 

Yes, I know I'm crazy for individually wrapping each of them and  having sewed paper packages. I kind of regretted doing so as I ended up leaving an hour after I was planning to. Luckily I prepared all my labels and cut all the paper yesterday, so all I had to do was sew them together. But it's all good. I liked how they turned out. I really just wanted to try out some packaging ideas I've seen around the place, on blogs which I can't remember. 

Everyone seemed to think I was crazy but thought the packaging was cool. And they liked the brownies so I think it was a job well done! Even though it was just a packet mix, but they don't need to know that. Only my special blog readers shall know the truth! Hahaha. Yay for Betty Crocker, these are the same brownies I was blogging about in the holidays. They are so yummy!

Anyway I shall stop there. [*edit: Side comment] My left leg feels funny.

Adieu,

*j

i love...

letters

(& emails).

And not I'm not talking about bills or the mail you get from BOS and UAC. Or spam from facebook or some chain email my friends. I'm talking about the long lost art of letter writing. That's hand written, envelopes and stamps (and the slightly more high tech version - email) otherwise known as snail mail. 

Getting letters in the mail, I find really quite exciting. I'm actually trying to get my best friend from when I used to live in Victoria (some twelve years ago!) to start exchanging letters again. Letters seem so personal and knowing that someone spent the time to take out the good old stationary set and write something for me is nice, makes me feel spacial. It's nice to stop and read a letter. I also enjoy writing them. Everything seems so fast paced these days. When writing a letter, you don't need to feel rushed, there is no one to interrupt what you are saying so you can completely express yourself.

And although they are no where near as good, emails are the next best thing. In our busy high tech lives, sometimes finding time get out a pen and stationary is little hard. So being in the age where computers and internet are practically a necessity, it's a lot easier to write and send emails. Not to mention you don't have to deal with paying for postage (because I am a cheap Asian), though I would gladly pay for a postage stamp - I even used to have a stamp collection. So email works well for me too. Especially now in the times of the HSC I don't have the time, rather I don't get out to be able to go to the post office and drop a letter off.

Although you can go one step better and send and receive packages. I like the old style packages, all brown paper and string. I've gotten packages of things that I've bought online but not from people. I would like to receive a package one day. It would be fun! It's like opening a Christmas present when it's not Christmas (unless it's a Christmas package).

Well anyway, does anyone know how much it is to post to the US?

Love,
*j

salt and pepper meet rubik

How awesome are these?! They are Rubik's Cruet Salt & Pepper Mill. I swear some people are so clever. First Mr Rubik then the people responsible for this piece of GENIUS. When I have my own place I want these! Actually I've seen plenty of really cool salt and pepper shaker sets. I should start a collection and set up a shelf to display them in the dinning room.

Anyway I found these at fredflare.com. I think I have shared some other things from this place before, I love a lot the stuff they have there. It's all so cool! Anyway here is what it has to say about these. Excerpt found here.

You’ll look like a genius with these two mock Rubik’s cube, salt & pepper mills on your kitchen table! The white top is for salt & the red top is for pepper, so you will never get ‘em mixed up. Both mills have adjustable ceramic grinders so you can choose fine or coarse. Easy to clean, plastic outer.

It's a shame that they don't ship internationally. I would buy a set of these, and a whole lot of other stuff too. I would buy them for my bother actually.

*j

favicon

Well I came across a tutorial for adding a favicon to my blog. A favicon being the little icon which appears next to the html of a site (bad explanation) but the little orange blogger icon that's next to the browser, that's a favicon. I have been having some troubles with getting mine up and working. But I think I have it now.

What do you people think?! I couldn't really think of what to make the icon so I just put "*j", which is just how I sign my posts. I might change it but to what? Give me suggestions if you think I should change it. Or just give me suggestions. If you want to try and get one for yourself the tutorial is here.

That's all,

<- my favicon

Diana

I'm posting too much today. It's because I'm bored. I'm not procrastinating for once! I gave myself the night of from study because I finished my week of HSC exam HELL. FOUR exams. THREE days. But it's ALL OVER! And... NO MORE ENGLISH EVER!!

Anyway on about Diana. Remember my post about my photography project? I mentioned my lack of a cool film camera. Well I have found the camera I want! Ta da!

Presenting the LOMO Diana Mini. Isn't it so awesome?! And the pictures it takes are heaps cool but the only way I can describe it is through pictures (then I wouldn't really be explaining it would I, using the photo as a substitute for my crappy explanation)

These photos give an old and weathered look without altering the image at all. That's just how the camera takes photos. It reminds me of the image quality found in old polaroids, which I also love. Like Ben said, they give of vibes of nostalgia. These photos have character.

The only thing with these cameras is that they are kind of expensive. Thankfully nothing compared to the price of an SLR camera. But to put it in perspective, I can buy a perfectly good digital camera for the same amount of money, and then I have to go buy film and pay for development. I should have a photography fund. A separate lot of savings just to spend on my camera, film and developing pictures. Sounds good, just need money now.

Anyway, I find this project really exciting. I can't wait to get started.

*j

i wouldn't mind

checking this out...

Anyone care to come with?

*j

i love...

in jokes

and the people I have in jokes with. There's pie eating elephants, theories and sexual unicorns. Burning sims, brown prawns and gold stars. Rocks and rain man. Easy Catholics, baby birds and spare space that's spacey and spare! They are all SWAM! Ah memories.. I love you guys!

love,

*j

Dealing with Dead Bugs

This is just my own take on communitychannel's latest video blog on "Dealing with dead bugs".

Well pretty much there has been a dead cockroach on the side of the living room for a few days now. Like in the video, I don't like cleaning up dead bugs especially when I didn't kill it! Because I would have left it. My sister would have been grossed out and my brother would be creeped out, probably call me just to show me that he saw a cockroach (that fool). So I assume that my mum killed it and let it there, I'm pretty sure.

I hate killing bugs like that. I tend to cringe at the crunch made when you squish their shells and am instantly disgusted at the thought of its gooey insides infecting the two surfaces it happens to be wedged between at the point of contact.

Anyway, I hope that you people don't have dead insects lying around your place.
*j

i love...

post-it notes.

Seriously, they are so fun. For notes, reminders and little drawings. All you do is peel one off and stick! I like having them around when I study (like what I should be doing NOW). I write the important stuff I need to do and reminders when my next break is. Sometimes I just draw on them and stick them all over the table and on the tissue box in front of me (because I'm STILL sick), yay for procrastination! Anyway here are some of the ones I have up at the moment. The ones in black are kind of old and for english. The one in blue highlighter I did yesterday.

Oh and I started my HSC exams today! English paper 1 is done and dusted! One down, five to go which includes THREE more this week!

Farewell my lovelies. ♥
*j

three hundred and sixty-five photographs

Well in my last post I mentioned getting a film camera and Ben's Polaroid Past project and I said that I was getting carried away with the prospects of my new idea to have a go at my own version of this photography project. So I cut it out and decided to post it here. This is what i wrote before...

I'm thinking of having a go at what Ben is doing with his Polariod Past project but instead of a blog and uploading images digitally, I will take the pictures, develop the film and just keep the photos in a box. And then at the end of a year I will look at all the photos and hopefully make a flip book out of them and entitle it "A year in the life of a jellyfish". Although I will make a few changes to how I do it and I won't start now. Mainly because I can't with the whole HSC thing starting tomorrow and my lack of camera but definitely after. I think I should start at new year. That would be cool or starting on my birthday would have been awesome but it's not till AGES.

And now I shall continue...

Well I think I am going to make some changes to Ben's original concept. I will still have one assigned photo per day although due to the different medium (digital photos vs. film) and some personal preferences I will make some changes. Here is how I will do this:

• START: New Years Day 2010.
• I can take as many photos as I want each day and then upon developing I will chose which photo I will keep for this project. Hopefully I will have the date on the photos because I doubt I will use up a whole roll of film in one day or remember how many shots I took or which photos are from which day.
• When I choose the picture I will write a title on the back in pencil
• The photo will then be placed in a box
• Once placed in the box the photo cannot be taken out nor am I allowed to flick through the photographs till the end of the project.
• FINISH: New Years Eve 2010
• Once the last photo is added I can then flick through three hundred and sixty-five photographs depicting a year in the life of a jellyfish.
• I WILL make a flip book out of this. Don't know how long after I finish but it will happen.

So those are my plans. But first things first. I need to get me a camera! And some film. I shall go looking for the PERFECT camera. After HSC but I have quite a bit of time still. And if all else fails I can still use our old film camera but that thing is a brick and I want my OWN camera. Hopefully find one that isn't a brick and isn't so ugly. Black plastic casing = YUCK.

Anyway I am very excited about this. Another thing post-HSC to look forward too! Wish me luck.

*j

loverly art, marshmallows & old film cameras

I want an old film camera.

Not instant film, that's too expensive. But the normal film roll ones like our old family camera which is about the same size as the digital SLR I want. Oooh I should get a an old film slr camera. Although it might be a pain to take around if its as big bulky as new digital ones. I will have to shop around. I think this decision is partially influenced by the new Kodak store in Plumpton, seems so convenient to go develop photos there because it's so close.

I am really just sick of not having a camera around and my camera phone just wont cut it. And me recent fascination with the polaroid photoshop action has made me want to work with film. Not only that, developing these pictures will be fun. It's half the surprise seeing how the pictures turn out. Might teach me some stuff for when I get my SLR. Not like digital cameras where you can see exactly what you are taking a picture of and its so easy to edit and delete.

It will be cheaper too. Cheaper than replacing our broken digital camera. Although I will have to pay for film and to get it developed but I don't like how I have folders and folders of pictures on the computer that are just sitting there and I never really get a chance to look at. should invest in more photo frames for myself and blu-tack. I'm thinking of having a go at what Ben is doing with his Polariod Past project. [I thought of this on the spot and as a result of getting excited I started going on WAY too long so I thought I would cut it all and paste it into a new post for your reading convenience. Either that or I would need to change the title of this post!]

Well anyway MOVING ON. I seem to be working backwards in regards to my title because now I will be going on about marshmallows.

Did you know...

that when I was younger I was convinced that it was marshMELLOWS and not marshMALLOWS, I obviously did not read packaging. I did not realise that I have been wrong all my life till not that long ago (a few years). But moving on! I like marshmallows. they're sweet and squishy and oh so light. They taste good too. Out of the pack, in a mug of hot chocolate or my personal favourite, toasted over an open fire (bon fire, campfire, fireplace I don't care) especially when it's all crispy on the outside and all gooey on the inside. Could even go one step further and make smores, but thats adding other elements (i.e. chocolate and gram crackers).

I really like marshmallows but what I don't like are the random flavours they come in now-a-days. The traditional vanilla I love and strawberry too but when you add things like apricot and mocha it just isn't the same. And now to the point of all this marshmallow business, I came across a recipe via oh, hello friend for homemade, good old fashioned vanilla marshmallows. I really want to try this out some time. Probably for Christmas I can make them as little Christmas favours instead of the traditional candy cane. Well anyway the recipe looks very easy and apparently they taste quite good. Here is the link

And now for the last (or first?) item on the agenda:

Loverly art

I found some lovely art by a lovely artist yesterday. This artist goes by the name of Sarah Hankinson. Here is a bit about her from her site.

Melbourne Illustrator Sarah Hankinson creates feminine yet striking works which play off broken lines and occasional splashes of colour. After graduating from a diploma of Illustration in 2004 commissions have come from Kookai, Bonds and Impulse Body Spray whilst her work has appeared in publications including Urbis, Cleo, Chik, Computer Arts Project, STU, and Curve magazines.

Sarah’s illustration style is elegant, youthful, and strongly fashion orientated, many of her pieces focusing on the female form and made up from a variety of mediums including inks, charcoal, pencils, cut paper and fabrics.

Sarah has exhibited at ‘Chapel off Chapel’ and ‘Design A Space’ galleries in Prahran, Melbourne.

And Here is an example of her work.

*j

note: I have probably written enough here to qualify for 3 separate post. Oh well..

i love...

wrapping presents.

To some, wrapping presents is a pain just to cover up a gift so hide its identity and to keep what's inside a bit of a surprise. But to me gift wrapping is just another creative outlet. I pride myself in taking out a bunch of paper, ribbons and strings and an assortment of other crafty bits and bobs and create a pretty outer casing to a gift.

Regardless of if it will later be destroyed by little hands or thrown in the garbage. As long as someone notices my handicraft and thinks "oh, that's nice!" that's my work done, even if they don't know it's my work. Even if no one seems to notice, my mum always appreciates my work! (That's another thing i love... my mother. But that should go without saying.) Well anyway here is a picture of a present I wrapped yesterday for my little cousin's first birthday. Her party is on today. Right now actually but I stayed home to study. But how is study going? I'm writing this blog post aren't I!? Haha. I really should get on with that. I have english work awaiting me, so I shall stop now.

See you on the flip side!
*j

The Hundred Acre Wood

I've been sick lately. Started off with a sore throat last week. Extreme fatigue on Monday. Then a fever on Tuesday night. Then headaches on Wednesday. Coughing on Thursday. Lost my voice on Friday and again on Saturday. And now I STILL have a sore throat and a stuffy head. Needless to say I have not been feeling well and this has affected my study. Not so much in the amount of study getting done, just the actual motivation to get the work done.

So what have I done? I've eaten lots of honey. Either just a spoon full *sings (hums rather, I can't sing right now)* "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go DOWN!" of plain honey or mixed in with some warm lemonade or ginger tea. I'm starting to feel like Winnie the Pooh right now. I will have a friend named Christopher Robin and live in a tree trunk.

But on a more serious note, I need to get better before HSC! So keep the honey coming and I might be able to sing "a spoon full of sugar" (is that what that song is actually called?), ah Marry Poppins is a classic!

Well till next time.

Toodles,
*j

i love...

accidental rhyming.

Just thought that I might start a series of "i love" posts after a conversation with a certain someone which lead me to say "i love accidental rhyming". As influence from my recent blog surfing I instantly got inspired to start this set of posts for those little things in life that I love and make me smile and feel like sharing.

I don't know how great this will turn out. All of those opposed say "I", those in favour say "love". haha I'm lame.

love.

*j

Quote

Found this quote via Daydream Lily. The origin of this is somewhat unknown, apparently it's been circling through blogs for a while now but this is the first time I've ran into this. Thought I would share.

Hope you enjoy!
*j

What goes on in my subconcious

Well I was reading Ben's "Things to do before I die" list on his blog and I commented on how some of those things listed I had already achieved upon his request I went back through the list and told him which ones I have in fact accomplished. When I got to #17. "Have a lucid dream" I had a think.

I'm fairly sure that I have had a lucid dream before on several occasions. Unluckily for me I normally forget what my dreams are about shortly after waking up. The knowledge that I did have a dream is normally all that is left of it. The dreams I do remember are normally the ones that I found quite strange at the time of dreaming and upon waking up must recount my subconscious tale to myself to try and comprehend what happened.

Although I do seem to come to a strange phenomenon where I am able to remember past forgotten dreams while in another dream. I think this occurs when, while still in my dream I am woken up for some reason for only a short while where I recognise that I have been dreaming but am not so awake as to forget the previous events (this isn't making sense... I know what I mean though and that's good enough for me). When trying to fall back asleep I go back to my dream, though only half asleep I am completely aware of what is happening in my dream some things that continue to happen remind me of things I have dreamed of before. This had happened today when I was having a nap after I came home from church. I woke up because my dad was doing some work in the backyard just outside my window. When I went back to my dream one of the places looked familiar to a place I was in a different dream. Then I realised that I could remember it and started trying to remember my other dreams while this dream still continued. I think the half awake side of me remembers this and the dreams that I remembered at this time I still kind of remember now.

I find dreams and the whole subconscious experience to be quite interesting and mysterious. What does what we dream about say about us? Is our subconscious mind our true selves free from thought and all that... I wish I knew and I wish I could remember more of my dreams. I think I have a few where I’m being chased through some neighbourhood and I go hiding in random people's houses. Or for some reason I remember a few dreams about being in a toilet, normally hiding and not ACTUALLY needing to urinate, its quite odd. And I'm sure only half the people in my dreams I actually know. Unless of course my dream is set at school or something... but even then school looks different. I remember one time there was a toilet in the language block and the labs were in the woodwork rooms... hahaha

I should be studying. ENGLISH CAN GO DIE IN A HOLE!

That is all.
*j

You are the cream in my coffee

Well I had another craft blog surfing spree which started yesterday afternoon and finished way past midnight (note: I started this post during this surfing spree but I am finishing it now - Friday, 8:30pm). Back to what this post is meant to be about, during my craft blogging I came across this photo set on flikr.

It's a small book by Emily of The Black apple. Made as a birthday present, it contains the lyrics to an OLD song "You're the cream in my coffee" and illustrations to accompany each line.

LYRICS + some of my favourite pages
♥
You're the cream in my coffee.
You're the salt in my stew.
You're the starch in my collar.
You're the lace in my shoe.
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.
♥
Most men tell love tales,
Each phrase dove tails.
You've heard each known way,
This way is my own way.
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.
♥
You're the sail on my loveboat,
You're the Captain and Crew.
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.
♥
You give life savour,
Bring out its flavour.
So, this is clear dear,
You're my Worcestershire.
♥
You're the sail on my loveboat,
You're the Captain and Crew.
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.

It's very cute, both the lyrics and the pictures. Well just thought I would share it because it made me smile. Hope it did the same for you.

♥
*j