Saturday morning recap/refocus/resomething

Week 11 of a college term always feels quite important but also kind of random. Most lecturers would spend one class on revision (or exam format, if they make us study the whole book), and would let us watch some movie or come in to ask questions in the tutorial or just give us that class off to have some study time; we'd be rushing to finish any last assignments and use study time as extra sleeping time. Also random festivities were held during this week, such as the Student Ambassador dinner or a spontaneous feast last night with Phong, Ben and darling Anh from Melbs, both at probably my most favourite restaurant in Manly, Hugo's. First we couldn't come up with any reason why we were spoiling ourselves like that (Ben wasn't really though; he insisted on $10 Ivanhoe steak and Ben&Jerry's ice cream after), but then I remembered that the royal wedding was on, so there we go, perfect occasion :P

As you can see I've also revamped my blog a little bit - thought it was time again for a bit of change, especially with winter approaching. I've set up a new comment system as well! Thanks to Disqus you can now use your Facebook or Twitter account to leave comments. Hope to see everyone on my blog more often :) <3

Some (again random) photos from my nearly full memory card. Time to clean up and make some space for Melbourne!

1- Janna, my best friend from elementary school, and me * 2- Four Ate Five, Surry Hills * 3- my window * 4- my little baby girl finding her balance, and her friend letting himself fall next to her * 5- Sydney Road * 6- our living room window * 7- Double Phoenix at the Pool * 8- Manly beach * 9- Manly Wharf * 10- The Pony Room, Manly

The weather in Sydney is miserable (on-off sun/rain), and I feel the same. I thought I fought the Easter Sunday cold but today I feel like crap again. I went all the way to the city as I planned to check out Nicola's new restaurant at Westfield (an extension to the cafe with amazingly amazing gelato and macarons, yep) and then pick up Tamara from work so we can come back to Manly together, but I arrived in the rainy city only to catch the next ferry back because I felt like returning to my bed and nothing else. Bought flu tablets and vitamins (yes, also vitamin D Dr Henstridge) and am simmering my porridge for later at the moment. Oh and now it's sunny again, thank you very much.

Something random again, but did you know about viewing your blog in Dynamic view? Totally love it and never knew about it until today when I was fixing up my new layout! Just add /view at the end of your link (as in http://blooming-sunday.blogspot.com/view) and enjoy.

Ugh I can't wait for exams to finish (*note to self: start studying tomorrow. No excuses.) and then fly to Melbs with my peeps. Everyone's getting really excited about it. Acts as our light at the end of our exam tunnel.

One last random picture to finish off this super random post:

[taken by Phong last night at Hugo's with his superfancy and superheavy new 7D]
My new Facebook profile picture. We're gonna paint Melbs red man.

Loves

Continuing my "current favourites" series from my ancient 360 blog. :)

1- James Franco
Saying that I'm a huge fan could get awkward for me because I haven't seen his recent movies (note to self: watch 127 Hours this term break). But the fact that he is so successful with his acting while doing all the other things he's doing (directing and producing his own films, painting, studying for a PhD and God knows what else. That's why he doesn't really sleep) is very very inspiring. He makes all of us look bad, not just his fellow actors/actresses; I feel embarrassed now whinging about the work load I have to cope with and better get my act together and do some work tonight. But let's not discuss the question if we're all lazy bums - maybe he's just a fricken restless genius. A hot one, I have to say.

source: fanpop.com

2- Nirrimi's photography and blog We Live Young
You might have seen Diesel's Fall/Winter ad campaign. Nirrimi Hakanson, the 18-year-old Australian girl who shot the campaign, is one of the very few bloggers I follow passionately. I adore how her pictures are so deeply emotional, wild, free-spirited, usually a little melancholic, the way she works movement and colours in her photos, and how her writing pours from her heart. Her gypsy life is nowhere similar to what I'm used to, but the way she illustrates and expresses her feelings is very genuine, touching and encouraging. I write a lot to clear my head and understand myself as well; although I'd rather keep those thoughts to myself, I love enriching my emotional perspectives by reading personal blogs such as Nirrimi's or my very close friend Hoa's.

Some of my absolute favourites. All from Nirrimi's blog.

3- Lifelounge

I don't spend too much time on this website but they always have funky stuff that catches my attention. Australia-based Lifelounge provides you with the not-your-average dose of entertainment by showcasing  cool music, fashion, arts, photography and technology that you might or might not yet know about. I enjoy the urban feel of the website and especially frequent their photography section. Don't think there's any quicker way to learn about lovelies like Architecture In Helsinki or Frederike Helwig.


4- Cage The Elephant

A few weeks ago I was looking for some new music and came across their latest album "Thank You Happy Birthday". Their sound feels like a mix between MGMT, Gorillaz and My Chemical Romance to me - somehow a little gloomy and theatrical, but at times also quite dreamy and romantic. Again has a similar effect on me like Florence + The Machine and makes me want to run, crash at the beach at sundown and take photos of fun people having fun times. My favourites are Always Something, Shake Me Down, 2024, Right Before Your Eyes, and Rubber Ball and Flow for more quiet moments. Also love it that they're so colourful!

5- Nic's Japanese sleeve
Never really been into tattoos but Nic's is very beautiful and in some way suits him very well. Looking at it always makes me think of home - I miss my grandma's place with her amazing flowers and the fish pond in the middle of her house.

The only photo in this post that I took myself haha.

Hope everyone's had a great Easter (and Anzac Day, in case you live in Australia too)! It's been my best Easter so far... We got in total 5 days off, and it didn't really bother me that I had to work 3 shifts because I still had quite a bit of time for my social schedule. Thursday night I had a nice catch-up with Nic (you might remember him from the Black and Gold video; we've become mates now haha), of whom I have a home video that I can use for blackmail purposes (I myself love it but he doesn't want it to become an obstacle to his career because apparently it's stinky. It was a cover of this song, and Nic, if you did some more proper recording I'd have something to actually post on my blog instead of just mentioning it). I spent some quality time having dinner and going out with my girls Irina, the two Polinas and Lisa Thursday, Friday and Sunday night, finally got to meet up with my lookbook mate Michael who was in Sydney over Easter, and had this rare but absolutely fantastic talk with Benny, who picked me up for homemade soup Saturday night. However I must have caught a cold after the Sunday night rain and haven't been feeling too well since yesterday; last night I slept around 10 hours, which I normally don't do, even on days off. Will pump myself with vitamins and flu tablets before I go to bed tonight.

To-do's:
* Work aggressively on the Marketing group assignment until Friday
* Start getting notes together for exam revision
* Precisely plan exam weeks and term break
* Plan things to do in Melbs
* Delete my 34690932801 photos from my camera
* Wait for next work roster and plan birthday festivities

2 and a half weeks to go until term break! 2 weeks until my 21st! Let the countdown and stress begin. Should really have happened already and not only now.

x

I'd like to request a day off please

Currently addicted to: Kate Nash - Made of Bricks. I know it's not the most recent album but it's sooo funky.

It's Friday, 11.04pm, and I've been in bed since at least half an hour. I know, booooring, but I'm just so exhausted that I know I wouldn't have any fun going out tonight. Thank you uni work, you officially wasted one of my precious Friday nights out haha.

I'll be reliving my past instead then. Last Sunday Polly, Phong and I went to brunch at In Situ, and it already feels like aaages ago. The weather was lovely, the three of us hadn't been out together for quite a while, and brunch is simply the best meal to enjoy with your mates on the weekend. Maybe this Sunday again?

My new shubar boots from Hype. Couldn't resist. And the shop assistants there are super funny as well :)

Oh and I went to the Insight + Something Else sale the other day (I made all the effort to go to Rosebery before work that day!), and bought a super cute Insight trilby hat for $10. Bar-gain.

Me in my Korean floral chiffon dress with my new find/favourite.

4 more weeks until this term is over chyeaah. Oh god I can't wait until this huge mess of work and college leaves me alone for a few weeks. I'll be working 4 days in a row starting tomorrow, and have two assignments due before Easter. I can see myself going into the hols all bruised and beaten up.

*Note to self: request for Anzac day off.

Oh and by the way, a part of our ceiling in the corridor just fell down. No jokes.

Galaxy of the lost

The glamorous life of Manly's elite

On Friday, we ran our college's alumni dinner. The theme was classic Hollywood, and we stuck to an understated, sophisticated look, combined with a killer menu, pear martini on arrival and Marilyn and James walking around saying hi. No Oscars, which pleased me.

Chateau Marmont much?

Though I was against having Oscars in the theming, I think we well deserved one for throwing this glitzy soiree.
Be back next time. Pssh, don't give out the door code, it's just you and us.