Amado Mio

I have a friend who is originally from Puerto Rico. She is 58 years old – and just adorable. She is a lively woman who loves to dance more than anything. We often watch old movies together. The other night I went to her place and we watched “Gilda” a 40’s movie starring Rita Hayworth. Seen it before? If not, do it. It’s a brilliant tale – romantic and dramatic.

Speaking of things from old times… yesterday I picked up a vintage dress I’d bought. It’s a 50’s sun dress. I’d taken it to the tailor to get fitted properly. As well as some Gap pants to get taken up! I know that at Gap they have different lengths. But the petite was slightly too short. I opted to go up to the regular length, and get them taken up. I’m big into getting clothes fitted properly – spending that little extra at the tailor is worth it. I hate to see trousers to long on a person. It kills me, it really does. I totally notice that kind of thing. What is the point of paying $60 for a pair of trousers that look awkward? Or spend money on a dress that doesn’t fit perfectly? I’m real excited to wear my 50’s sundress. Maybe I’ll even post a pic or two up;) Watch this space.



I’m big into classical music. Have I mentioned that before? Well, I love it. Rachmaninov is my all time favourite composer. His piano concerto number 2 reduces me to tears every time. Well – there is a Rach concert coming up with that very concerto being played! I’m really hoping to get tickets, although I fear I’m too late. Here’s hoping:)

Pappadums anyone?

Last night my greek/Australian friend came over. She is very aussie – and very greek – all at the same time – and I love her to bits. She’s insanely smart. Speaks 5 languages and plays a few instruments. She plays the violin especially well. Me, I love to play piano. I used to play 3-4 hours every day, including practicing scales to keep my fingers “supple”, which help for the especially intricate pieces. Travelling and marriage have taken their toll on my musical abilities. I’m a little rusty to say the least. I can’t wrap my fingers around some pieces these days, which is frustrating. So recently, after work each day, I’ve been getting home and practicing for a half hour or so. It would be such a shame to lose what I once had! So last night my friend A came over, I made curry (which I’ll talk about more later), we shared a beer then played music. We have been playing “Let it Be” by the Beatles together and “La Vie En Rose”. I love French music, especially on piano and violin. So romantic! Next week a friend of ours is having a music evening, and we’re planning on playing a Nick Cave song together, along with our friend J who has recently taken up guitar. I’d better start looking at it, I have a week!

The curry was great, I have to say! It was a very spicy tomato based curry – so very good. We had it with rice, yoghurt with fresh mint & cucumber (to ease the spice), and sliced banana coated in coconut – as another side. A and I both are allergic to wheat, so didn’t have any garlic naan this time around! Curry along with a beer is one of my favourite combinations. A went to LA recently with her American husband and they ate at a really good Indian restaurant. Maybe I’ll try it out when we next go there.

My friend A recently located here from Australia. We were friends already in Oz. But her move over here has really helped me a lot with living here in the States. I struggled a long time with homesickness and not having a real close friend who I can relate to. I have missed the aussie sense of humour very much. I’m really grateful to have her here, even if only for a short time. Another of our friends is visiting with us next week.

I have this desk calendar “Don’t sweat the small stuff”. On Sunday June, 1st the message was “Remember, change is going to be there whether you like it or not. What we’re left with is the degree to which we embrace change or push it away.”

I’m a big believer in making the most of situations. Otherwise you can spend years regretting or feeling unsettled and unhappy. I came to America feeling really positive and wanting to make the most of it, although it wasn’t my choice of countries to live in. And I am happy to say I’ve done that (I think!). I’ve made some close friends, live in a beautiful area – and have a husband I love. A husband who isn’t a stick in the mud who wants to stay in one place forever.

I think when you get married you learn so much about yourself, and in many ways it is like getting to know yourself all over again. It is the same with moving overseas. So its been a massive year. I like to think I’ve embraced it all in an ok fashion :)

Flying Etsy

Today’s outfit includes white thin tee shirt, American Eagle Blazer, dark denim jeans, black haviana thongs (flip flops), Earrings from Etsy (picture below!)

Etsy have the most adorable earrings! I have bought a few pairs that are quite unique and beautiful.

I'm listening to Elvis Costello right now. It gets me thinking about New York and walking the streets there. How I would love to live there, work part time and spend my days reading in central park, having enough money to shop... (hehe) ride the subway and people watch. But that is only reserved for Sitcom life, correct? I love the idea of feeling mentally stimulated more often. I love where we live, but it is a quieter life. I love city life and the excitement that goes along with it.

Bush Nut City

I just found out a cousin of mine is getting married (!) I think of him as a kid still, but obviously he isn’t! I think he is 23 or 24 now. So his wedding will take place in a small town in Western Australia, which means I have quite a trek to make. I better start practicing the bush nut dance :)

I’m really happy for him, but feeling a little down at the same time – realizing how very far away I am from my family, friends and hometown. I can’t wait to all be back together at the same time. Unfortunately without our grandparents, who are now passed away. I miss my grandparents a lot at times. They were very European, with so many cute little traits. My granddad especially took a real interest in my cousins and I. I hope that as I grow older I can be closer with my family and share our lives together. My Mum and Uncle always lived close to each other, as well as my grandparents – and we grew up with our cousins being a close family. Sometimes I wonder if I will eventually one day have children – and live close with all of our family again. I miss that. After 7 years of travelling, being independent of all my family and doing my own thing (living in 2 other countries than Australia), marrying a foreigner… I have realized that in seeking my independence from everything – I’m ready to go home and be close again. That I do need my family.

My wardbrobe

I think my personal style is still evolving and I’m still figuring out what looks good on me. I have come a long way since my early twenties. Hopefully by 32 I have it down and out! I would describe the way I like to dress as:-

When dressing up:- Vintage, Glamorous (40’s)
When going to work:- Casual/Laid back
When hanging out with friends/weekends:- Preppy, Urban

Personal style says a lot about who you are. I love girly styles, floral dresses, hats, scarves and earrings. But I also like clean lines, so try to mix the two styles. I own a lot of vintage clothes. I buy vintage because clothes of yesteryear had so many cute details. Ruffled sleeves, sweet necklines, full skirts. I love little details in my clothes. Interesting buttons. Pleats. Good quality materials. I wouldn’t say I’m a fashionable or trendy person. But rather I take bits and pieces that are trendy, that suit my personality and make them my own.

Here are a few things that have made their way into my closet recently that I will be wearing to work:-

Steve Madden Sandles



American Eagle Jacket (with skinny jeans, white tee and gladiators!)






American Apparel tee shirt






American Eagle thin white teeshirt alternative (only $25!) as opposed to $60-$70 (you can't real see with the white background!)




Nili Lotan Shirt Dress (ebayed for a great price!) - i have been wearing this with my black leather jacket or denim vest.

American Eagle Scarf (which I'm thinking of taking back and swapping for a different colour!)

Fruit Flushing almost done!

So this afternoon is the last leg of my fruit flush. I have probably lost a few pounds, but more importantly flushed out all the junk food I ate last week. Today was tough – especially last night and this morning. I kept waking up last night hungry – and at 3am thought “this is stupid, just have a granola bar”. So I did. Totally not part of the cleanse – oh well. I’ve done well today though. Horribly hungry this morning, which has eased off this afternoon. I’m not feeling hungry at all – not counting down the next hour until my next piece of fruit - I will detail how successful it was tomorrow morning…
Watch this space.

Budgeting

So we went through our budget last night. Kazaah! It was horrible. I spend too much on the following:-

a) Clothes
b) Facials/Hair/Pedicures-Manicures/Personal Care items (ie. Eye creams!)
c) Groceries/Eating Out

These are the things I need to cut back on. I felt really depressed after looking at our budget. Here we are, living in an apartment, with one car… we have a good income – and are barely saving. We have things we want to do – and doing them means cutting back on things that aren’t necessities. I know I buy way too many clothes – and spend a lot on personal care. I can still have those things – but on a budget.

We are planning on living in a foreign country at some point – and travelling around it before we move home. To accomplish that, I really need to reign in my spending – which is bordering ridiculous. Travelling overseas is something I really want to do with my husband – especially while we’re so young. I’d hate to think my spending got in the way of that. So from this month its back on a budget.

I wasn’t this bad with spending living in Australia. I think living in California – a place where people have everything – and if not – it goes on credit cards… it affects you. You get a nonchalant attitude about spending. You start to want to have it all. Everyone else around you does. But we don’t want the debt that goes along with it.

Today is day 2 of the fruit flush. Its going really well! I’m feeling great…. Great albeit hungry! But I’m glad I’m doing this for my body. Its something I’ve been wanting to do for forever – and procrastinated on.

Fruit Flush

I decided to do a cleanse. There are so many different ones out there. I had checked out the Lemonade Master Cleanse – which lasts for 7 days (or 10 days?) – there is no way I can do that. Small steps! I ate a lot of junk food on the weekend and am feeling a little blah – and the jeans are a little tight;) I don’t have caffeine at all as it is – so I’m thinking I should be fine on this cleanse – and not experience the headaches my colleagues have been experiencing.

The cleanse is the 3 day Fruit Flush cleanse by Jay Robb. My colleague did the cleanse a couple of weeks ago, and he felt pretty good after it. His wife also did it (and lost 8Lb!). I don’t expect to lose that amount, which is fine. But I’d mostly like to feel energetic after it, and feel better within.

So today I am on the shakes. 3 days isn’t long… she’ll be right… ;)

Other things I want to do...

Trek to see the Great Wall of China

Visit France with my husband

Live in New York for a couple of months, really experience the city

TBC

More thoughts on my life as it stands

I have been thinking recently about the things I really want to do in my life – day to day, and as a goal. Last night I had a dream about Australia. I was staying at a good friend’s house and hanging out with them… then I was back in America. The dream felt so real to me, and today I felt at odds. Just that… at odds, and wishing more than anything that I was in Australia, in a leafy but warm suburb, feeling at home.

Sometimes I feel like I waste too many minutes in my day watching the clock tick by until it gets to 5pm. I’m at work 5 days a week. How many minutes and hours is that wishing I were elsewhere, doing something else, being somewhere else. It’s the thing I hate the most: wasting precious moments in my life. I know not every moment is going to be saturated with contentment, but I would like to feel fulfilled and like I’m doing what I enjoy. I have a brilliant job, I really do, don’t get me wrong. I think I have the nicest boss possible. A team I sincerely enjoy working with. I’m good at what I want to do. But this isn’t my dream. I’m still figuring it out I think. Some kids have it figured out in their early 20’s. I’m between my mid to late 20’s and still clueless as to what my dream is. I know the things I love to do. I love being at the beach, sitting under an umbrella and reading a book. Splashing about in clear water on a hot day. Bushwalking, bikeriding. Playing the piano – which I should do more of. Thrift shopping. Living in a big beautiful city close to the water and taking in the personality of my surroundings while drinking a cup of coffee (decaf that!). Being with my friends and bantering. Watching old 30’s and 40’s movies. I do some of these things to an extent, but have been feeling less fulfilled recently.

I love my husband and we have a great relationship, although very little in common besides our beliefs and our love of travelling. Debt ties you down with no way out, meaning the only option is to “do what you can”. I shouldn’t complain really. This isn’t a complaining post. But rather trying to figure my thoughts out. Where I’m at. A good friend of mine here who is recently in her 40’s said she used to look forward to her 30’s thinking she would have it all figured out. But now… she is really enjoying her 40’s, saying she was still insecure and working it all out in her 30’s. Maybe 40 is the new 30 then.