newness

I love "newness"*. It triggers motivation for a fresh start. A clean slate that acts as a jumping off point from which we can dive into a pristine and unencumbered future.

A few new things I am loving at the moment...

1. New books.

I have been on a book spree lately, acquiring them at a much faster rate than I can absorb them.

Just a few of the books on my "to read" list...

2. New bedding.

A reward for finally accomplishing that room "detox" I have been resolving to do for months, modelled on this dreamy decor:

No, you're not going to see my real-life bed – I haven't made it yet today...

I still need to find the cushions, but new sheets and bedspread are always delightfully refreshing.

3. New sunglasses.

I had my eye on these for months. Originally, I wanted to get the Oliver Goldsmith "Audrey" sunglasses, but I concluded that the frames overwhelmed my face. These are perfect. They make me feel cooler. I don't think I'll ever actually be cool, though.

Cutler and Gross "D-Frame" 0261

There is a danger, I think, in becoming addicted to newness and using a lack of it as an excuse not to change or adjust bad habits. Let's not forget the magic of rediscovering or reworking old gems, which is equally satisfying and wholly inspiring. Not only that, but newness is relative, and tangible. A preoccupation with it can lead to needless accumulation. I know this all too well, and, trust me, it doesn't get you anywhere, except backwards.**

"You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you're satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you've got your sofa issue handled. Then the right set of dishes. Then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you."

“If you don’t know what you want, you end up with a lot you don’t.”

– Chuck Palahniuk***

* It's a word. I looked it up.

** Okay, so maybe I didn't need all the things on this page... only as much as a privileged 21-year-old living in a first-world country could ever need something... My old bedspread is covered in makeup stains, and I lost my last pair of sunglasses last December (did you know that exposing your retinas to UV rays causes your melanocytes to produce melanin erratically, resulting in permanently uneven pigmentation?) The surplus book tower is difficult to justify, although education is invaluable, yes?

*** Chuck Palahniuk is my boyfriend Andy's all-time favourite author. I can't read his books (too grim and gruesome - just read the synopsis for Snuff if you don't believe me) but Andy reads me tame extracts from time to time and he can be so clever and insightful. I just bought his new book, Tell All, as a present for Andy and, from what I can see, it doesn't seem too disgusting, so I may try it.

death to gwyneth

Speaking of Cate Blanchett, here she is in a delightful interview with Andrew Denton.

ten things

I have been tagged by The Belle Lumiere to do "Ten Random Things About Me". Here goes...

1. I have the best boyfriend in the world. We met when we were six and we have been together since we were fourteen going on fifteen. It is our seventh anniversary at the end of this year.

Andy and me at 17. Highschool sweethearts!

2. I love reality tv. Masterchef, So You Think You Can Dance, Project Runway, Top Chef, Real Housewives of NYC... you name it. My favourite at the moment is Work of Art. It's amazing.

Work of Art... The host, China Chow, is divine.

3. I don't wear jeans. Ever.

4. I adore Cate Blanchett. A couple of years ago, I saw her in a Shakespeare play for her theatre company. I was in the front row and she was amount two meters away from me. She is just as beautiful and talented in person as she is onscreen.

Isn't she luminous?

5. I don't like Evian Water because it tastes too clean.

6. I have a gorgeous little Poodle/Maltese called Janet. I named her after an Enid Blyton character (I was nine at the time). She is 12-years-old but everybody still mistakes her for a puppy.

7. I own a Wii Fit which I played once.

8. I own a copious amount of cosmetics. I have so many products that I have banned myself from buying any more makeup and skincare. I collect nail polishes instead now. Chanel Vendetta and Nouvelle Vague are my favourites so far.

9. I buy about 5-6 magazines per month. It adds up...

This was taken a while ago... the collection has grown a lot since then!

10. When I like a song I put in on repeat for a day or so until I get sick of it and never want to hear it again. Samson by Regina Spektor is doomed.

I tag Celeste of Read Me, Love Me and Loola of LoolaZen :) xx

lovely

"A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."
— Roald Dahl

(P.S. I know that this quote is from The Twits, not Matilda... but frankly, there are no pictures of The Twits that are pretty enough to grace this blog. Plus, Matilda is my favourite Roald Dahl book and I always hated The Twits when I was young. It was a little too sadistic for me. I do love this quote, though!)

julia gillard

So, we have a new Prime Minister.

First of all: please let's not get too preoccupied with the ethics and morals (or lack thereof) involved in Kevin Rudd's downfall. Politics is a dirty game. One person's success relies upon another's failure. Politicians know that they have to constantly be on top of everything - policy, scandals, polls - and if they slip up, someone else will use the opportunity to get ahead. Kevin Rudd did it to Kim Beazley, Tony Abbott did it to Malcolm Turnbull. Peter Costello tried to do it to John Howard, during his term as Prime Minister. Of course, anybody with a heart can't help but to feel awful for Kevin on a personal level, especially when he "blubbered" (yes, even me). But Julia's ascention is not as unscrupulous as Rudd and Abbott want us to believe - and it is entirely in line with the structure of our political system, whether we like it or not.

I don't try to hide my political persuasion. I am a "Young Liberal". That's not because I am a strong supporter of the Liberal Party of Australia. In fact, I can't stand Tony Abbott, and I find a lot of his beliefs pretty scary. I am a "small l" liberal, in the idealistic sense. My utopia would consist of a progressive, minimalist, secular government that provides infrastructure, law and order, protection and aid for the most vulnerable members of society - and no more. I am at odds with the Liberal Party because I find some of its policies nauseatingly conservative, including its opposition to a republic, indifference to the plight of asylum seekers and resistance against the legalisation of gay marriage.

Julia Gillard is not exactly the answer to my prayers - yet I can't help but admire her and entertain the thought of voting for her party, now that she is at the helm. It's not because I agree with her policies. In fact, she has already voiced her aversion towards two policy points that I feel very strongly about - compassion toward asylum seekers and the legalisation of gay marriage. No, what impresses me is her character. She exudes a trustworthiness, earthiness and diligence that I just couldn't see in Kevin Rudd. Is that enough? It shouldn't be. But the truth is that there is nobody in Australian politics who has the power, or the desire, to create my ideal society. So I am forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. At this point, Julia Gillard is that lesser. I just hope that she lives up to my expectations.

equilibrium

I love couples that consist of a short man and a tall woman. It kind of absolves that completely unromantic "list" approach to finding "The One"... You know, "he/she must have blonde hair, a great body, a good sense of humour, be intelligent, successful, taller/shorter than me... etc." Love just doesn't work like that. Thank God. If perfection was a prequisite to love, then we'd all be very lonely.

Garance Dore and Scott Schuman


Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum


Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

I love how they all look as though they are in their own little love bubble, oblivious to the fact that other people may be thinking less than kind thoughts. Or maybe they just don't care, which I love even more.

"But who can say what's best? That's why you need to grab whatever chance you have of happiness where you find it, and not worry about other people too much. My experience tells me that we get no more than two or three such chances in a life time, and if we let them go, we regret it for the rest of our lives."
— Haruki Murakami

vague fantasies

"It was late september. I was eighteen. I had experienced a rather unceremonious exit from school. I had no real idea about what i wanted to do, just some vague fantasies involving writing, a palazzo, an adoring Italian, daily love letters and me in a Sophie Loren sort of dress, weaving through a Roman Market holding a basket of ripe scented figs."
— Sophie Dahl, Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights

braids

I have been bombarded with braids lately. First, my best friend Kimberley posted this and this on her blog, Glued to My Chest. Next, lovely Zoe Foster chatted about and photographed her magnificent travel braid. And finally, I saw these gorgeous pictures on Primped of a versatile braid sported by Nicole Ritchie.

So... I am now obsessed with braids. I have been wearing one almost everyday for the last few weeks. They're perfect for evening, casual, work and the gym. They look fresh, even after a few days between washes, and they are versatile - I can do hair up, hair down, curly, straight, wavy, au naturel, elegant, boho, ladylike, cute. You get the idea.

By the way... today one of my customers called and referred to me as "the girl with the braid". I don't really know why, but that made me happy.

visualisation

I don't believe in The Secret. I know that I wrote in a previous post that I was "embracing" the law of attraction, but that is only because I believe in the concept, in an abstract sense. I believe that being purposeful, having clear goals and direction and working towards something helps us to achieve our dreams and aspirations. I don't think that there is any magic involved at all, but I do think that it is more likely that your life will evolve the way you want it to if you can picture the way you would like your future to turn out. This way, your path will be more direct.

So these are a few, somewhat materialistic, things that I am "visualising" right now...

A bicycle

Or, to be more specific, looking absolutely adorable on a bicycle, preferably somewhere in Europe. New York will also do quite nicely.

Cute vintage caravan

For travelling around Australia with my boyfriend Andy, à la a memoir I recently read called Love and Other U-Turns by Louisa Deasey. Some friends, including Andy, have expressed their doubts about the likelihood of this ever happening...

Prism glasses

A writing career


Sarah Wilson on the Mumbo Report, talking about her covetable "portfolio career".

Like I said, I don't believe that just visualising these things will "attract" them to me. I know that I actually have to take steps to grab them for myself. But I think that it helps, in a way - if only to justify all the time I spend dreaming.

Here is some food for thought: the darker side to positive thinking, by Barbara Ehrenreich. In animation. Warning: these videos are dangerously addictive (in a good way, unless you have work to do).

And a few intriguing quotes from another Barbara, Barbara Kingsolver...

"The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance, but live right in it, under its roof."

"Your dreams, what you hope for and all that, it's not separate from your life. It grows right up out of it. "

"It's the one thing we never quite get over: that we contain our own future."

i'm a planet

I have watched Juno a few times over the last couple of weeks and each time I see this scene, I find it so touching and oddly powerful. The acting and dialogue kind of sums up the innate, biological inequity between men and women. Even in this case, where the guy is incredibly sweet and the girl is tough as nails, she is forced to carry the burden of their tryst. Under her sweater. Whilst he goes along with his life, as if nothing ever happened. And even though she clearly wanted that for him, she is heartbroken at the same time. And this is all portrayed with such lightness and humour. Simply perfection!

the beauty of literature

“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald

(Not to take away from this magnificent quote, but I want to say that have an obsession with red hair at the moment. It's just so beautiful. I swear it has nothing to do with our new Prime Minister... but maybe a little to do with my infatuation with Horatio and Joan Holloway.)

block

One of my goals for my five-week uni break was to write. Which, as fate has it, I can't. I have writer's block. I have started about a million posts, but I can't bring myself to finish any of them. So I'm sorry for the lull. Hopefully, this too shall pass... and there will be a slew of new posts on the way. If not, maybe just some pretty quotes and pictures to fawn over. xx

P.S. In the meantime, you can check out a guest post of mine that has recently been posted on a lovely Australian blog that consistently inspires me, The Belle Lumiere. It's just a short one, to do with my essential beauty products for winter. Enjoy!

five weeks

So, I have recently finished final exams for the semester and I have a lovely, long five week break ahead of me.

What I really want to work on during my break is prioritising. I tend to want to do and be good at so many things that I paralyse myself. I want to wake up early and yet I also want to stay up late reading fashion blogs. I want to do well in my exams yet I also want to preoccupy myself with twitter and authors@Google. I want to lose weight yet I also want to sit in bed and watch Top Chef on my laptop. I want to save money yet I also want to buy clothes and makeup and books and magazines.

I recently read The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone, which is absolutely fantastic and has completely changed the way I think about food. She said something that really struck me in her introduction: that the only way she can maintain her diet is to make food her priority. And that really struck a chord with me. (By the way - I really, really love the idea of being vegan, but it's not so easy in practice. So I'm working on cutting down on meat and animal by-products, slowly but surely. I'm not going to pretend that I am entirely embracing veganism or macrobiotics, but I am determined to try).

So my priorities for this break are as follows:

1. Write.
2. Exercise.
3. Unclutter.
4. Read.

That is all. So far, it's not going so well. I am struggling to write coherently, and I have missed the gym for the last two days. My room is still full of empty boxes, ready to cart out my junk. I have read three books, if that's any consolation. So I suppose you could say that prioritising is something that I'm still working on; with the aspiration to have something to show for it before I start a new semester at uni, afresh.

the real world

"What we see before us is just one tiny part of the world. We get in the habit of thinking, this is the world, but that's not true at all. The real world is a much darker and deeper place than this, and much of it is occupied by jellyfish and things."

— Haruki Murakami

(Picture via Bruna Marchioro)

every morning I wind my own spring

I am not a Morning Person. I have deduced that there are two main reasons for this. One, I tend to stay up very late. I don’t have a good excuse for that. I’m not a shift worker or an insomniac. I just get preoccupied by a lot of fairly useless things, like watching Go Girls on Foxtel IQ or cutting out pretty pictures from magazines. So there’s that, coupled with the fact that don't like waking up. Not because I'm depressed or detest my job or anything like that. I just love sleeping. The warmth of my bed, the sweetness of my dreams and the cuddliness of my boyfriend all coalesce to dissuade me from getting out of bed at a reasonable hour.

I have done my research. There are all sorts of benefits to being a Morning Person. According to various sources, I’ll be more productive, energetic and bright-eyed, not to mention that I’ll lose weight and my skin will be more radiant. In summary, I’ll be happier, as well as a more successful, aesthetically pleasing person. There are also many proven methods available that I can use to transform myself into a Morning Person. Obviously, going to bed earlier and having a deep sleep are very important and tai chi, avoiding caffeine, lavender candles, Eckhart Tolle and bananas are supposed to help with those.

But I have a better idea, one that suits me a little better than St Mary’s Thistle and early morning walks. It came to me on the morning of my 21st birthday party. For the first time in weeks, maybe months, I woke up early, of my own accord. My eyes flew open and I got out of bed immediately, quickly dressed and started doing things. No multiple iPhone alarms, snuggling my boyfriend, turning on The Today Show. (Isn’t Lisa Wilkinson divine?) No, I just woke up and got out of bed. Why? Because I was excited. I was seeing the people I love. I was proud of the party I had organised for them. I had a lovely outfit to wear. I had things that I needed to get done. If only I could be so passionate about facing each and every day, I wouldn't have to worry about alarm clocks and Tryptophan-enriched foods. It would just come naturally. So there existed my new aspiration: to make my days so exciting and fulfilling that I woke up easily and bounced out of bed every morning.

I tried that for a few weeks. You know, writing lists and making plans to fill my days with fun and laughter, trying to build anticipation and excite a passion that would miraculously trigger my eyes to fly open at the break of dawn. But the truth is that, no matter how hard we try, our days will be varied. Some will be overwhelmingly awful or mind-numbingly boring, and others will be exhilarating or just plain lovely. The majority will be a combination of all of these. Coming to this realisation helped me to acknowledge that it’s not so much my life that has to change, as much as my mindset: above all, my subconscious needs to acknowledge that this wonderful world we live in has so much more to offer than the comfortable little cocoon that engulfs me every morning. I guess what it comes down to, ultimately, is the dichotomy between what we want to do versus what we think we should be doing. And the lesson is to reconcile those two little voices in our heads so that they are one and the same, whispering exactly the same thing, each and every morning: wake up and face the day.

"Just as you take care of the birds and the fields every morning, every morning I wind my own spring. I give it some thirty-six good twists by the time I've gotten up, brushed my teeth, shaved, eaten breakfast, changed my clothes, left the dorm, and arrived at the university. I tell myself, Ok, let's make this day another good one."

— Haruki Murakami (Norwegian Wood)

(Don't you love how he describes priming yourself for the day as to "wind my own spring"?)

lambada

I am a self-confessed snob when it comes to beauty products. I attribute it to my job in luxury cosmetics - if I didn't believe that expensive products give you better results, then would be incredibly hard to convince my customers to buy them (although I often find myself telling my cash-strapped customers to "just take the serum and scrub - buy a Cetaphil cleanser and Nivea sunscreen at Priceline then come back when you have some more money").

And so when I found myself falling in love with a lipgloss that I bought for only $12, I consider it my duty to pass this gem onto others. It is the Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipgloss in Lambada. It looks something like this when applied:

... but even more importantly, it tastes delicious.

lay me down, by your side

This is Glen Hansard, the male lead in the incredible film Once, a modern-day musical set in Dublin, about a busker and an immigrant who fall in love whilst writing songs and singing together.

I would be remiss if I didn't also alert you to this beautiful, Oscar-winning song from the film, Falling Slowly (the clips reveal some parts of the film, so you may just want to listen if you think that you'd like to see it).

Once made me feel strangely grateful for not being naturally talented at anything (I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for me, honestly, it's something I accepted a long time ago!) I think that extraordinary talent can be as much of a hindrance as a blessing. How could these characters devote themselves to anything but music? Yet, they had virtually nothing.

This is one of my favourite films ♥ Please watch it, on a rainy day. With chocolate.

winter basics

Winter is fast approaching Perth and I am determined to keep things simple. As I did over summer, I am trying to embrace the (perhaps stereotypical) French ethos of only purchasing a few key pieces each season. On a recent trip to Melbourne, I bought a gorgeous fitted jacket, ballet flats and metallic heels. In Autumn, I bought a few silk Morrison dresses that will easily translate into winter. That's all I really need, apart from a few extra accessories to jazz up my outfits.

So, to give you an idea (if you're interested), here are my winter basics.

An Ode to No One tailored black velvet jacket

I bought this at Fat, in Melbourne GPO. An Ode to No One is an Australian Sydney-based label, and I truly believe that Australia has the best modern, young, (mostly) affordable fashion in the world. Fat is the first store I walked into, and this is the first jacket I picked up and tried on. I fell in love with it immediately and avoided all jackets for the rest of the trip.

Morrison "Leticia" black draped silk dress

Morrison is a local Perth label. The fabrics are beautiful and the pieces drape perfectly. I have this dress in black and elephant (a grey colour), and they translate to all occasions and seasons. Plus they have pockets!

2 Baia Vista black leather ballet pumps

These are actually French Sole, but mine are almost identical, and so comfortable! I bought them from Zomp.

Chloe Heloise blue leather handbag

Mine is a lighter blue colour, but the same style (similar to the nail polish below). I snatched it up in the Paris sales over Christmas.

Romantic Scarlett Johanssen-esque hair and makeup

Love the soft waves, strong brows and flawless skin.

To achieve her gorgeous makeup look, I will probably use Giorgio Armani Designer Shaping Foundation, By Terry Touch Expert Concealer, Nars Cream Blush in Enchanted, Nars Eyeshadows in Ashes to Ashes (eyelid) and Bali (brows), Nars Lipstick in Cruising and Nars Lipgloss in Chihuahua or Belize. I have also become addicted to touching up with the luxuriously gold-flecked Tatcha hand-made blotting papers.

Things to Buy

Leopard print scarf

Yes, this is the notorious Stephen Sprouse for Louis Vuitton silk-cashmere scarf. I came across it in Paris and I am still kicking myself for not buying it there. The rationale was "surely, I can find something exactly the same for a fraction of the price". No, actually, I couldn't! Not even in Melbourne when I visited a few weeks ago, looking absolutely everywhere for a leopard scarf. I may have to save my pennies and buy this online.

Jennifer Behr rose headband

So pretty and romantic. I was inspired by my blog crush, Sara of Harper and Harley.

Chanel Nouvelle Vague nail polish

This may clash a little with my handbag but it is so gorgeous. See Temptalia for swatches.

That's all! I hope this has inspired your winter wardrobe in some small way. xx

(Pictures via An Ode to No One, Morrison, Primped, Beloved and This is Naive)

favourite tweeters

I love twitter. Not everybody does, mostly people who don't use it or understand it. They tend to be people like my parents, who can't comprehend social networking at all, or Facebook afficionados, who think twitter is "lame". I'm not sure how you can get much lamer than Facebook, but that is debatable.

I love twitter for several reasons:

1. It keeps me up-to-date. I check twitter and immediately I know what people are talking about - politics, music, fashion, feminism, celebrity scandals, tv shows, my friends' love lives. Granted, not all of these are relevant nor essential to my life. But I like being instantaneously in-the-know.

2. It's a form of sharing thoughts and ideas. I like it. It makes me think. Some of those thoughts are trivial, others are inspiring. It's fun, and makes me feel connected to the world-at-large. A world of my own creation. Which brings me to my next point...

3. It's not Facebook. I estranged myself from Facebook for a couple of years, and I recently returned - my only motivation being to avoid missing this year's multitude of 21st birthday parties (nobody calls or sends invitations in the mail anymore)! So unless I check Facebook, I miss important things. But I don't like it. It's shallow and narcissistic. It is bad enough running into people I went to school with at the local supermarket, let alone having to read about their lives and see their drunken pictures everyday on my "newsfeed". There is an innate pressure to accept friend requests from everybody you know, from classmates in pre-school to someone you met at the pub last weekend, because you don't want to be so rude as to outright reject somebody's "friendship". But twitter is different. It's not about amassing friends and "likes" under your status updates. Well, not for me, anyway. I follow some friends, some comedians, some journalists, some celebrities. If they are uninteresting, nasty or vain, I unfollow them. It's not brutal, like "blocking" on Facebook. It's passive. Similarly with following. I follow people, some people follow me. It's not mutual. There is no pressure to reciprocate, or to continue following each other forever. You can keep your twitter circle as small as you like, and nobody judges you or feels betrayed (unless, maybe, you unfollow your whiny best friend!)

Anyway, that is why I adore twitter. And here are a few of my favourite tweeters. I highly recommend that you follow them - if it suits you.

Alain de Botton @alaindebotton

Alain de Botton is a writer who imparts pearls of wisdom via twitter everyday.

The news so powerfully suggests 'what matters', it takes a while to realise 'but this drama is not my life' and switch off.

It would surely be almost impossible not to be very nice to everyone if one were mysteriously absolved of any interest in status or sex.

Chas Licciardello @ChasLicc

Chas (of The Chaser fame) is probably my single favourite tweeter because he has the best repertiore of links - always funny, informative and interesting.

How the world narrowly avoided environmental disaster 60 years ago through dumb luck http://bit.ly/9MyIsN

Funniest thing you'll read today -> Failed Attempts at Sexy Album Covers http://bit.ly/dCTtJb (via @scrivenersfancy)

Leigh Sales @leighsales

Leigh is the anchor for Lateline on ABC. She keeps me up-to-date with quality political analysis, plus she has a great sense of humour.

End your Friday night with a bit of Alec Baldwin/Jack Donaghy brilliance from 30 Rock http://bit.ly/dWp0

Jack the Insider's blog is my pick of the political analysis today - interesting take & well written http://bit.ly/d5tMVk

Josh Thomas @joshthomas87

Josh is my favourite comedian, next to Tim Minchin. I have been to quite a few comedy shows (Josh, Tim, Arj Barker, Carl Baron, Wil Anderson, etc) and his time:laugh ratio was the highest - and that was just his first show. Definitely one to watch!

After my spot tonight someone yelled 'fuck I hate faggots.' I'm pretty sure he is allowed to vote. #democracyhasitsflaws

a few people have commented on my large hips tonight. I have a pear shaped body. That is not really normal (or OK) for a man.

Tom and Lorenzo @tomandlorenzo

You will love "TLo" if you love Glee, Project Runway, Mad Men and scrutinising red carpet outfits. They are hilarious and, more importantly, thoughtful and intelligent.

Our #glee post is up! "Last week I joined a black church." http://tinyurl.com/27r8vfm

Launching "Mad Style," a look at the fashions of #madmen. First up: Bobbie Barrett. http://tinyurl.com/232vquz

Sarah Wilson @_sarahwilson_

Sarah is my favourite blogger. Everything she writes is fresh and insightful.

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” http://bit.ly/dkQAxf

my challenging cup of tea with Edward do Bono (!) http://bit.ly/bA9i5b

Frankie Magazine @frankieMagazine

The twitter account of my all-time favourite magazine. Their lovely tweets often involve cupcakes and tea.

So that's that. Enjoy!

palindrome

I love this :)

I hope it gives Generation X and the Baby Boomers (at least those who see it) some faith that Generation Y can be intelligent and contemplative. We're not so bad.

I think that the constant portrayal of Generation Y as shallow and selfish is a self-fulfilling prophecy, and it's nice to see somebody break the mould.

raw

I thought I'd share some gorgeously unadorned pictures of Paris that I found on tumblr. Paris' beauty is inherent - it doesn't need flattering lighting or focus to show it off.

haruki murakami

Okay so I have become obsessed with Japanese author Haruki Murakami. His way with words is just incomparable. He can articulate things that I can only feel, and so beautifully.

As a result, you will most likely find a lot more of his quotes on this blog. Starting with —

"Potentiality knocks on the door of my heart. [On Seeing The 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning ]"
— Haruki Murakami (The Elephant Vanishes: Stories)

dreaming

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.”
— Gloria Steinem