Brinner, Bubbly and Besties

For starters, I decided that I should indeed go to my class today, despite getting up late and not really wanting to go.

Then during that class I made friends with 2 girls who seemed really nice from the beginning.

Both of which are now in my group for the group project the unit requires!

A bonus I would have missed out on, had I not gone to class.

Then after class I picked up my first assignment and found out I got a Distinction...borderline High Distinction. Which had me so happy because I wasn't really sure how I had done.

Then I returned home and was reminded by a friend's status that my results from the two units I did in Japan were available. (She got 2 well earned High Distinctions!) Upon checking my own results I got the shock of my life when I saw that I got my first High Distinction for a unit!!

I actually got up and danced! :D

I have received HD's on particular assignments, but never the whole unit.

The best thing was that tonight I was going out to dinner with some girl friends anyway, so I kinda got to celebrate with Brinner! If you don't know this term...you should!

Jess and I celebrated a little earlier with some non-alcoholic sparkling cider

Today really was a good day!

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Creativity with food...you have to work with what you've got

- YSA that come to activities and make it fun

- Fun chats with my friends on a bed

- A Valentine's day with my Bro & SIL...it's nice to see people so happily in love

- Fireworks

- Being back looking after the girls...kids just say the funniest things

- Random text updates from my siblings

- Facing things I should have done and having it work out ok

- Almost being finished with my Project 365

- Time to think

- A few really awesome lessons at church

- A movie with my housemate...oh what fun we have

- Realisation that things are better then they seem...the power of positivity

- A break

- Life...always grateful to have a new day

What are you grateful for this week?

Gratitude Sunday

Today's Gratitude Sunday is going to be a little different...

Among other things this week, I truly learnt that I am ever so grateful for each and everyday that I am alive.

I was saddened this week to hear about the passing of Aaron King.

This is sad in and of itself, but if you know the King family you will also know that only four months ago they lost their son Noah. 

To read all about the family, please go to Lisa's blog...her words are much more adequate than my own.

If you would like to help this family, then please consider donating to help them pay for Aaron's funeral, a head stone for Noah and to help relieve the financial burdens they will face in the near future.

You can do this by heading to this page

I can not even begin to imagine what Lisa is going through. What I do know is that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is willing to help us get through life.

RIP Aaron. May you be enjoying time with Noah.

To Lisa and her 3 boys still here...may you feel of the Saviour's love and be able to face each and every day from here on out. I am thinking and praying for you all.

A little secret...

I'll let you in on a few little secrets...

- Japan has changed me, in a good way. (More on this at a later date)

- I have a burning desire to go to Europe and travel the world.

Let's talk about the second one for a moment.

I have been very lucky to have been to 6 countries around the world in my 20 years. I am extremely blessed to have parents who wanted me to see the world. When I was younger, we had a chart on the fridge that would mark the amount of money we had saved towards our family dream of going to Disneyland one day. 

We finally did that in 2002 and it was an amazing experience to have together. It is from this moment on that the bite from the travel bug hit. 

I love experiencing new cultures. Trying new food...even if I nearly do vomit. Communicating with others who have lived a completely different life. 

There is just something about travelling. So now that I have the goal of going to Europe in the next 18months, I have a lot of work to do.

I have already started saving and have the beginnings of a plan. 

I hope everything works out. 

Let me know where you've been in the world! I love hearing people's travel stories.

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Getting to go 'shopping' as part of study time

- Everything Christmas related starting to come out! 

- Curry rice...three times this week alone

- Snowman shaped donuts :D

- Arcade games and photo booth fun

- Free hugs from strangers

- Finding Milo!

- Funny English tags

- New food...the good and bad

- Getting to ride a ferris wheel! :D 

- Managing to find church and getting there on time 

- Cute kids

- This wonderful opportunity to be in Japan

- Having a lesson on just what I needed.

And so much more!! I really have so many things to be grateful for and need to take more time to be grateful for it.

Gratitude Sunday Series

This week I am grateful for:

- Being home with family

- Getting ready for Japan...excitement and nerves there!

- The Priesthood

- My nieces funny as laugh...I seriously need to record it one time

- My nephews smiles...adorable!

- Testimonies; others and my own

- Spending the afternoon helping a friend and catching up

- Imagination!

- Slowly getting better from being sick

- Friends who help me out when I really need it

- The Gospel being all around the world

- Love

- My morning wake up...also known as Darcey (it's nice to be so wanted :D)

- Life

- Skype and technology...amazing!

- Being finished with Uni for the semester

There is beauty all around

If we really take a moment to stop and look at the world around us...there is so much beauty.

On the way home from church on Sunday I noticed a big patch of purple flowers on the side of the highway. It was really beautiful. I wish I had been able to take a picture.

Then Kat, Chelsea, Camilla and I went for a walk along the beach in the afternoon.

Isn't it gorgeous!

I had to write my name :D 

Then tonight while driving down to Kat's place I saw this...

This picture doesn't even give the sunset justice. 

I am so blessed to live in this part of the world. There is always something beautiful to see...if we but look :D

What is beautiful in your part of the world??

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Cool new apps to play with

- Awesome apple updates that allow me to text from my ipod :D

- Mangoes!!

- Being able to help out in Nursery, those kids are too cute!

- Having the missionaries over for dinner

- Time with friends

- Butter chicken 3 times in one week :D

- The special muffin my friend made for me

- Games night

- Being taught

- Assignment extensions 

- Seeing new photos of my nephew

- Spending time with my brother & SIL

Gratitude Sunday

Lately I have been in a funk. I have taken it out on others and today I had the opportunity to stop and think for a while about the many ways I am blessed and the ways I can improve.

So,

This week I am grateful for:

- A loving Heavenly Father

- My Saviour who atoned for my sins

- My parents, who still sneak in kisses when they think we're not looking

- My life

- Knowledge

- The Spirit

- Sweet moments that make everything else worth it

I just want to keep it brief this week. 

Despite the many thousand things I could list if I really thought about just how much there is to be grateful for. 

Gratitude Sunday Series Guest Blogger: Mandy Voisin

This week I'd love to introduce you all to Mandy!

She is one seriously beautiful and talented girl.

I first fell in love with her blog when I read the story of how she and Kevin (her hubby) met.

Part 1, 2 & 3

GO read it now! :D

Here's Mandy:

Things I am grateful for:

1. Waking up to my husband's messy hair and smiling face every morning.

2. Living in a country where we can worship any way we choose.

3. Literature. The good kind.

4. My body that allows me to move and experience life on this earth.

5. Homemade popcorn every night - it's a ritual.

6. My education. Nothing has ever made me feel so fulfilled. 

7. Seasons that add variety. 

8. Nature and all of the beauty that accompanies it.

9. Poetry.

10. Sisters

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Isn't Mandy just awesome and sweet?!

Thanks for guest posting! :D

Some things I am grateful for this week:

- Getting my ipod back safely...serious blessing!

- Little comforts

- Skyping with Kat

- Extra work

- Being alive

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Also a special mention today to all those affected by the 9/11 attacks of 2001. Today, 10 years later so many are still affected. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that families can be together forever and that those who lost love ones can be with them again.

My thoughts go out to those affected by September 11, 2001.

Gratitude Sunday

Firstly Happy Father's Day!! :D Especially my own dad, aka Papa Smurf and my Heavenly Father.

This week I am grateful for:

- Skype sessions with my family, even if my niece does crack it because she's sick and my brother does weird things.

- Dancing sessions in the lounge room to random songs

- Cookies!! Taste so good, but so bad for you 

- The spider on the wall above the shower not crawling down!

- Spring! 

- Jess and my new tradition of toasting seasons :D

- Getting to celebrate Nelly's birthday

- Taking a trip around Hobart on a double decker bus and realising I have so much to explore right here

- Starting a Christmas project for a family member

- Getting extra work, such a blessing!

- The primary kids...they are too cute!! Well most of the time :P

- Sleep! I am forever grateful for that!

- Reminders

- Opportunities to face my fears, like getting 5 mins notice to teach a lesson in YSA sunday school

- A very nice e-mail from a friend and follower...you know who you are :D

- LIFE! :D

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for: 

- Getting the garden done and dusted! :D

- Spending time with Cinta and Nelly...on our random epic adventures

- Having a new calling...YSA rep

- That I have been able to serve in Primary...gonna miss them!

- The cute cupcakes my SIL made...they were delicious!

- Having a clean room...finally! :D

- Skype calls with Kat

- Water...seriously so grateful to have clean running water!!

- Reminders that Heavenly Father knows best and knows me personally

- Blessings! 

- Seeing my Mum and Sister briefly on Friday

- New ideas

- Motivation to do some things

- Life! 

What are you grateful for this week??

If you want the opportunity to guest post on the series click on the button below and e-mail me.

Even if you don't have a blog, e-mail me...I'm sure we can work something out :D

Gratitude Sunday Series Guest Blogger: Elise Blaha

Morning all!

So last week's post was late and this one is really early... :D

Today's guest is Elise.

She is amazingly talented and has a wonderful shop, which you should definitely check out! She works from home and does a darn good job of it.

You should also go check out her blog after too! It's awesome and has lots of crafty things, which I love!

Here's Elise:

Simple yet effective huh?!

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This week I am grateful for:

- Time to think and realisation moments

- Being able to "work" with two very funny girls

- Hearing from Kat while she's in America (OOOO-SA)

- Camping out in the lounge room in Jess and my cubby house

- Sara Lee Ice-cream

- Playing frisbee in the rain...and not falling over so I could drive home somewhat dry

- Opportunities

- Friends to give advice

- Followers...you are seriously awesome!

Don't forget if you want to be a Guest Blogger all you need to do is click the button below and e-mail me the details

And if you haven't already...you should definitely go enter my giveaway! It's ending this Wednesday so get involved for your chance to win :D

Gratitude Sunday Series Guest Blogger: Jen Baggiero

Hey Everyone!

Another guest blogger today...sorry this is a little late...Today has been pretty busy.

Hope you enjoy!

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A little intro on Jen:

Jen from Almost Grown-up: Reading, Writing, and Adventures in Quasi-Adulthood

Jen is a 2010 graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing. She has unfortunate addictions to diet sodas, Chapstick, and books. She blogs about her daily life, random thoughts, reading, and writing. She’s currently working on her first novel, but is looking forward to starting a new project very soon. Visit her at http://www.almostgrownup.net

Now on with the show...

First of all, I'm grateful that Lisa is letting me guest blog! I've never blogged anywhere but my own site and the Page Turners book blog before, so I'm very excited.

I'm also grateful...

...For $5 Tuesday movies at my local theatre. It is so hard for me to part with my hard-earned money; I’m constantly resisting the temptation to throw my money at them and sob “Take it! Just take it!” (I just want to see what would happen). But I love to go to the movies and $5 is much easier on my wallet than the usual ridiculous $9-$10 ticket.

...For the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 and Pottermore! The movie was amazing and I’m happy that Pottermore is working to keep Harry and the gang livin’ on.

…For the Library and my new Kindle, which keep my IV of books coming at a steady drip.

…For entertaining tweeters, authors, bloggers, and vloggers. I’m sure you have your own favorites and don’t need to hear mine.

...For 20SB’s Vlog Day, which actually made

me want to do another vlog when I actually have the time.

…That Chapsticks are inexpensive. I’m beginning to think I have a problem.

…To live (for one more week) in a city that has anything I could wish for: my university, a major downtown area, tourist locations galore, shopping, museums… I could make this list longer, but I’ll spare you. There’s enough to keep me busy. Let’s just leave it at that.

...To my parents' friend, who had supplied both them and me with many good, sturdy moving boxes. And they’re from Barnes ‘N Noble! Which makes me feel bookish, giggly, and strangely giddy.

…That I was actually able to sell my (too) low-impact exercise bike so I didn’t have to move it!

...To have friends who are willing to let me invade the

ir space for the month between homes so that I'm not entirely homeless. I may change my address for the month to:

“Jen The Futon in the Living Room c/o Ashley and Katie”

…To be debt-free since my parents instilled a deep and worthwhile fear of debt in me from an early age. I still remember my dad giving a Career Day speech when I was 10 and mentioning a stereo that took him years to pays off. I was wide-eyed with horror. That was why we had that ugly stereo? (We still have it, by the way, only I’ve now grown to appreciate the fact that it still functions this many years later)

...For a family that is always there for me

…For parents that are also my friends.

…For friends that make me laugh. All the time.

...To have figured out a way to save my money so that I can be a home-owner someday.

…For my flash drive, which allows me to transition from computer to computer, writing with ease.

...For my degree. As much as I make fun of myself for “wasting my time” studying English, I think it's made me a better writer.

...That I've finally figured out a crucial piece of my unfinished NaNoWriMo novel from last year. I really believe that it's only because of perseverance.

...For a renewed determination to write. The more I read author accounts of conventions, tours, and readings, the more determined I become to live that life myself someday.

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Thanks Jen for sharing with us some on the things you're grateful for.

Go check out her blog :D

This week I'm grateful for:

- Being able to go to Sydney for the weekend with my Mum and Sister for Time Out For Women (It was AMAZING!!)

- The Gospel...really grateful for that this week

- Life itself...it is all too quick and I want to make the most of it

- Facetime with my niece

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Face Time with my siblings and niece! BEST part of today :D

- Watching Winston play with the bubbles

- Seeing the mountain all covered in snow...soooo beautiful!

- Big breakfasts with friends

- Being back at Uni

- Having another exam done and having non-alcoholic drink to celebrate

- Flowers...they are so pretty.

- Bonfires

- Late night random road trips

- Sleepovers in our lounge room

- Instagram...makes me feel like I'm a cool photographer

- Being able to bake...and having food

- What warmth we are able to keep in the apartment

I really have so much to be grateful for. There are a lot of bad things in the world, but by focusing on the good brings me a lot more happiness.

Gratitude Sunday

This weeks edition come to you live from the Travers' homestead...well my parents house but that sounded cooler :D

This week I'm grateful for:

- Being at home with family

- Being able to see my nephew blessed...he is seriously cute!

- My brother doing air guitar and lip syncing

- My niece being able to talk more and how adorable her manners are

- Living in such a beautiful state

- Being allowed to drive the boat...and not crashing :D

- Getting all of my Institute Readings done for the week...a first this year!

- Seeing more of a positive side to myself instead of being so negative

- Laughing sessions

- My brother not really killing me when "attacking" me multiple times over the weekend

- Freedom

- My puppy Roxy...she gets SO excited!

Gratitude Sunday

This week I am grateful for:

- Driving up from Kat's house to church and seeing all the beauty this state has to offer

- My friendship with Kathryn

- Completing the Relationship course at church (also known as (Strengthening Marriage - adjusted for YSA)

- Family Home Evening with my bro and friends

- Good food :D

- Autumn leaves! I love the change of colour

- Funny movies

- Friends who try to cheer me up when I am in a funky mood

- Sunday afternoon naps

- Home teachers that come each month

- The Atonement of my Saviour

- Good dreams the night after I had a horrible nightmare

- Hattie being good in Primary :D

- Forgetting that it was combined today and so I didn't have to do what I had semi planned for music

Gratitude Sunday

Hello Peeps...yeah I'm calling you that!

Another week has come and gone so quickly!

This week I am grateful for:

- Random moments under the bridge

- Trips to Richmond with my bestie :D

- My Perth Bestie coming to visit!! <3

- Making masks

- Masquerade balls...

- the kids I look after

- my life

- The most work this week for the year!!! YAY!!!

- prayer

- Discussions with people investigating my church

- my testimony

- Music time going well with the kids in Primary

- Exciting new opportunities

- (I am actually grateful this week for) my need to always accept doing things that are asked of me

- having room to grow and improve

SO many things I can be grateful for...which makes me feel so blessed :D

Heavenly Father is too nice to me sometimes!

Gratitude Sunday...a little late

Yes I know I'm late...but I had a packed weekend...

This week I am grateful for:

- Playing boardgames with my siblings

- Having lunch with my Mum

- Drives through the state

- Work...always grateful for that

- Quiz nights with Uni friends

- Campouts in the lounge room

- Parties with friends

- Board game parties

- Running water

- Holds of my baby nephew...babies are just so precious

I really need to start these lists earlier in the week so I can remember everything I want to add...my memory is failing me this week

Happy Mother's Day and Gratitude Sunday

Hey Mama!! Happy Mother's Day! :D

You don't like pictures...so I've had to whip out an older one that you will allow me to show :P

This week I'm grateful for:

- My Mum

- Nanny

- Gran...even though I was too little to remember her

- Cuddles with Eric...how innocent that child is

- The Relationship course they're running at Church...I'm learning heaps

- Being able to think for myself

- Movies that make you keep thinking after they're finished

- The half English, half jibberish my niece comes out with...at least she's trying :P

- A new determination to be better and work harder

- Women that become mothers...that is one hard job!

- A cold that makes me appreciate being well

- Little compliments

- Time with family

- More work this week

- Funny ads for entertainment

- Great friends

- A house to live in and my needs being met

- Google...it answers so many questions

- Reading in the park

- Dessert competitions where I brought the same thing as Zoe :P

- Little projects from across the world