Summer Bucket List ’14

Yummy Yum Pizza!!!

With pizza, you usually think cheese and tomato paste, however, I had left over refried beans and didn’t want to use either. So here is a delicious pizza with a twist!

Ingredients

• Lebanese round flat bread
• Cherry tomatoes
• Chopped lettuce
• Diced onion
• A few tbsp refried beans
• Diced capsicum
• Spray olive oil

Method

• Spray oil on bread
• Spread on refried beans
• Add some diced onion
• Heat in oven at 180C for approx. 15 minutes
• Take out and add lettuce, chopped cherry tomatoes and capsicum
• Serve with lemon juice

Things I’ve Learnt From My Parents (And Other Influential Adults)

• Alcohol isn’t something to rely on. It’s fun to occasionally get tipsy/a bit drunk, but regular drinking can affect relationships and make a big hole in your wallet.
• Be physically affectionate. When you’re really close to someone, you can tell they love and care about you, but it just feels tense if there aren’t hugs and the like.
• Fuck traditions. Listen to the younger generations. They’re not stuck in routine and far more willing to learn more, especially if it goes against the norm. You obviously don’t have to take everything they say to heart, but contemplate and research it.
• Form your own beliefs and stand by them.
• Look after your mind, body and soul. You’re not a fitness nut for valuing exercise. The energy from a healthy lifestyle feels amazing.
• Make new friends and stay in contact with old ones you still value. Friends never go out of style.
• As long as it’s what you want, do whatever to your body. It’s yours and you should be happy with it.
• Talk to people. Be it calls, internet, doesn’t matter. Keep in touch with friends and family on Facebook, greet strangers on the street, just connect with people.
• What is offered on the internet doesn’t stop the need to travel. The world is huge; explore every bit of it.
• Stay true to who you are, but also accept that time moves on and things change.
• Continue to enjoy the things associated with kids. You’ll find they’re wiser than you think.
• Educate and be honest with your children. Tell the truth about how babies are made, explain that body hair and pimples and all that are completely normal and even that sex is more than baby-making and is pleasurable when done right.
• Teach them to be assertive and to say no when needed. Don’t let them think that they have to do things just to make a person happen.
• Don’t use schoolyard bullying as an excuse for fancying someone. If you’re into a person, be nice; don’t pull their hair and stab them with pencils.
• Rather than going for the easier option, always consider that no one is the same. Punishing a boy for wearing a dress may discourage him from being himself (or even her/themselves), emphasising that little girls should dream of finding their handsome prince charming not only forces them to believe that they are nothing without a man, but may also label a girl interested in other girls as a freak.
• Laugh. Loudly. Laugh huge crazy guffaws. You’re happy; show it.
• Don’t sexualise everything. Girls are not “sluts” for wearing shorts and singlet tops. Rather than bitching about your sisters, try being nice. Or at least don’t say anything mean.
• Keep reading. Time goes a bit crazy sometimes, but always make time for books.
• Go on adventures. Big, like trying a new sport or travelling, and small, such as eating new food or changing your walking route.
• Continue to love yourself. You’re a majestic human and deserve to treat yourself with as much kindness as possible.

Hectic Life Update!!!!!!!!

Hello fantastic Earthlings! I’m very sorry; I have been very busy preparing and doing my prac teaching, so I haven’t had much time for updating here. As of now, I’ve had one observation day, and 5 hours of teaching over 3 days. (We were meant to do an hour per day but pfft…)

The first day I came back was amazing. Many of them couldn’t remember my name, but when they saw me, they kept shouting “I know you! I know you! I like you!” It completely warmed my soul. I’ve received a few artworks this week and they made me on the verge of tears with happiness.

I started teaching with a very challenging rainy day sport lesson, but I didn’t let the negatives deter me and have only gotten better. I’m especially looking forward to my final lesson, which will be a music lesson based on a uni assignment I have due soon.

Yesterday I got some more teacher outfits, so I don’t have to be a dreaded outfit repeater, like Lizzie McGuire on graduation day. The one in the photo is a lovely, and extremely comfortable, light blue floral button up.

Even though the uni (and government) is against it, I’ve gotten heaps of hugs from the kids and have loved pretty much every moment so far. (They have their bad times, but they’re kids; not much you can do.)

I am currently enjoying a relaxing Friday evening, reading Isla and the Happily Ever After and digesting a delicious rosemary potato pizza, hoping everyone is having an enjoyable life.

 

 

A Special Loving Birthday Knick-Knack

My best friend’s birthday party is next week and to help her with the terrifying challenges of uni, her mind, and everyday life, I have made her this little jar of glitter, sequins, and notes of what I find absolutely rad about her. It was quick and easy to make, and I am sure she’ll love it.

Happy Sunday #7

Hello lovely friends; happy Sunday! I’m incredibly sorry I forgot to do this post last weekend. Life has been rather busy. I have barely started an assignment that’s due in a fortnight and it’s worth 40% but just need to stay calm and get it over and done with. In the last two weeks I…

• went on a picnic with my best friends. We chatted, took lots of photos, and ate “Asian salad” by the handful.
• made two new friends and they’re absolutely lovely. One of them almost shares my name.
• learned how to do NSW Foundation cursive.
• started on one of my best friends’ 18th birthday present.
• have tried really hard to convince myself to transition further into veganism.
• procrastinated on assignments >.<
• met some lovely tourists and got to practise my French skills.
• cooked some really yummy dinners.
• fangirled about the release of Isla and the Happily Ever After on the 14th.
• watched a bit of the Doctor Who Q+A in South Korea.
• drew pictures.

I hope everyone is feeling fantastic and has a lovely week!

Bodies are the best

Right now I have killer shark week cramps and a huge pain in my chest/throat and can’t eat because I burnt my oesophagus on Monday. At times like this, I want to just claw at it and rip it away from me. But I can’t. Nor, overall, do I really want to. Bodies deal with a lot of crap; they’re called names, beaten up a lot, and absolutely despised when they get a bit sick. We seem to overlook what our bodies can do. They

• wave to people
• eat delicious food
• give hugs
• dance
• walk and run
• hold hands
• pet dogs
• swim
• wear pretty clothes

My body is just like me (my soul or what have you); I try my best to do what’s right and make things as fun and comfortable as possible, but sometimes I mess up and hurt myself, and accept that I need feeling and healing time. Sure, unlike my feelings, my body is physical, but it deserves the same respect.

Cute arty self-lovin’

I don’t care if people think it’s self-absorbed. We have grown up surrounded by the media and the idea that we need a tiny waist, or a large chest, or a perky butt, or a thigh gap, or whatever. We’ve been forced to do all sorts of things because everyone has told us that we’re not good enough. Then when we feel really good about how we look and decide to document, we get treated terribly and called vain.

Fuck that.

I am cute, and if I have days when I want to show my extreme cuteness, no one will stop me.

Back To Uni…

Uni is… tiring. But it’s excellent to be back. Half of my classes are psychology focused, which is fascinating, and I’ve also made some new friends. One of them is named Mads, so I feel we’ll get along swimmingly.

My 4.30am wake ups are already taking their toll on me, but in time for my break, I found my childhood queen of pop had released her new single. I feel it’s a sign for me to not let the tiredness get me down and enjoy everything instead.

(Also I apologise in advance for infrequent blogging)

Happy Sunday #6

Hi lovely friends; happy Sunday!

After 6 weeks, it’s finally looking like winter. It’s good that the weather is being normal, but I could go for a long walk and some sunshine right now. This week I’ve…

• Finished the Heroes of Olympus series.
• Finalised my timetable for next semester (it involves a fair few early mornings -_-).
• Had a sisterly bonding park exploration day. We even rolled down giant grassy hills.
• Learned how to make stickers (I’ll make a how-to when I’ve gotten better at it and can make decent ones).
• Hopefully cemented a basic understanding of grammar within my tutee.
• Received a postcard from my best friend who’s on holiday in Germany.

I hope everyone’s had a brilliant week and that next week will be just as great!

P.S. Good luck to everyone starting their next (or first) semester of uni.

Edit: Yes, I am an idiot and posted this on a Saturday.