Marilyn Car Art

Pic

If someone would like to do this to my car when it gets a bit more dirt on it....feel free! 

It's much better than what normally happens to a dirty car. 

Oh hey there! I'm still alive

I am still kicking!

Just in case you were wondering...which of course you were no doubt. 

I've kinda missed my little space here on the ol' internet.

It's been an interesting couple of months full of highs and lows.

I have literally become a space cadet. If something isn't written down that I need to do or go to...it probably won't get done/or attended. 

I missed church one week because I had in my mind we were still in the afternoon...4 months into the year. I am still paying for that one amongst people that already knew before now.

The masters is going fairly well. I still suck at doing assignments earlier enough so it's not a rush or a day or so late. Of course it doesn't help when your teacher changes the assignment a week before it's due and you only find out a couple of days before it's due. 

I also went and visited my brother and sister-in-law in QLD for a quick 5 day trip and loved it!

I wish they still lived closer...along with all my friends who have moved up there!

It was fun while it lasted, but alas reality reared its ugly head and I was forced to return to work and study yet again. If only money didn't rule our functioning ability. 

The boat is going fairly well. It's starting to get quite cold on board and reminds me of my previous freezing apartment at times. A heater is on my list of things to acquire. Until then my jumpers have become my best friends again!

Speaking of boat life, I really need to write more about the hilarious things that have happened since I've been here. All I'll say is there's nothing like sharing facilities with a bunch of strangers...

It sure is a life changing experience. 

Well this girl has work in the morning and is dying to get warm in bed. 

I really do need to write on here more often...it will happen...I'm even going to write it down so I don't forget!!

6:30am...

Let's just say that mornings aren't really my best time.

I'm much more of a night owl.

So when I received an e-mail a little while ago to inform me that to sign up for the tutorials of my

units at university I would need to be ready to go at 6:30am the other morning I wasn't too trilled about.

But when you literally have to fight to get a tutorial spot...you get up for it.
If you're Nelly and me, you get up just after 6am and sit
 there refreshing the page until the madness starts.

It was crazy to witnessed the amount of people that were awake and signing up to tutorials within seconds of each other. I have never clicked so quickly.
The early start paid off though as I got all of the times I wanted!

I think teaching is going to be very interesting this year.

I am excitedly nervous to start on Monday!
Wish me luck :)

Home Sweet Boat

Say hello to my new home!

I've been living here for a couple of weeks now and slowly unpacking and getting used to the place...

although it seems like I moved into a retirement home.

The best things about living on a boat is that I've been forced to downsize. 

It's amazing how little value some things can have once you don't have the space for it

anymore.

I also don't have to clean the bathroom...because it's up at the marina.

It has some serious cool features like a blue light deck, music through the cabin and outside.

My bed is huge, and most things are built in.

The not so fun part is that it heats up really quickly inside on a hot day. 

The bathroom is so far away when you really need it.

The oven, cook top and fridge are tiny.

Waiting for the shower when you need it quickly. 

All in all it's been pretty good so far, I just want a regular internet connection is all! :D

Gratitude Sunday

Where has the time gone?

It feels like forever since I wrote anything on here...and my posts tell me it's been a couple months since I wrote last. 

I've had the occasional blog post written in my head, but never got on the actually blog to write it.

I could have started this year off with a recap of my 2012, or what my goals for the year are, 

but I never got around to writing those either.

Some how I find it perfect that today is when I wrote again.

There is never enough gratitude to be expressed.

and with that being said, here's some things I am grateful for at the moment:

- Changes

- My calling with the Primary kids at church

- My time with the girls I babysat, which came to an end this past Thursday

- The home I have

- My family

- Work

- Clean water

- Downsizing

- Getting to start my teaching course soon

- Almost being 22

- Feeling like I am moving in the right direction

- Fun texts to and from my brother and sister in law

- Free feeds and the company that comes with it! (It's always appreciated)

- Music for every mood

- My lil bro getting his mission call (England London South Mission!)

- Good walks and chats

- New friends

- Holidays

and so much more...

Take a moment

While scrolling through my facebook feed today I came across a very interesting video my brother had shared. 

Before I put my two cents in, take a look for yourself.

Original source

In a world that focuses so heavily on the negativity that surrounds us, this video was an amazing breath of fresh air. I loved this video.

I love that it shows that despite what people think, there are still a lot of good people in this world.
Stereotypes define too many people.
I hate people putting me into a box and deciding who I am.
Let's break the moulds and be better people :D

Remembrance Day

Lest We Forget.

Gratitude Sunday

I've been a little slack with my Gratitude Sunday posts of late unfortunately, so I thought it about time

I do one. I've kinda missed recapping the things I'm grateful for in my life.

My SIL's sister brought up a quote which said something like

"What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?"

Pure brilliance right there if you ask me!

So here goes...I'm thankful for:

- All the extra work the past week and a bit has brought (despite my very tired body)

- Beautiful days to wake up to

- Friends moving into my ward

- My new calling in Primary with the children at church, because despite how tiring they can be, they are totally worth it :D

- a new netball season starting up again this week

- a few new goals I've set for myself

- Being on the way to saving a set amount by the end of the year

- An awesome fireside tonight

- Promptings to do things

- 2 full MnM dispenser for when I need a little chocolate hit

- My brand new overlocker machine :D and at a bargain price!!

- Having a quick catch up with the parentals before they went away

- Dinner dates with friends

- A new month of daily photo challenges to complete

- The wonderful discover of sandwich thins...they're perfect for me

- My home and safety while so many in other parts of the world have lost so much

There is always something to be grateful for! So what are you grateful for at the moment?

RIPs Spider

Fact:

Spiders are not my friends....never have been, never will.

Last night while watching a movie on my laptop in the dark I felt my 'hair' annoying my neck so I flicked it and noticed something fly off onto my bed.

In the light of my laptop I discovered to my horror that it was a spider. 

While tracking it with my laptop and attempting to squash it....I LOST SIGHT OF IT!

Not cool.

After running for the light and quietly screaming about the spider...that was in my HAIR!!!...I tried to carefully find it.

After not finding it I tried to convince myself it had run off and I could get back in bed to sleep.

I was WRONG!

As I went to turn the light off I saw Mr Spider crawling off my laptop.

Well he wasn't sleeping in my bed for the night.

So I waited till he crawled away from my laptop and with a shoe in each hand I summoned the largest amount of courage I could, counted to 3 and hit it right on.

And just to make sure it wasn't faking death I squished it some more, picked it up with a tissue and took it out into the kitchen bin.

Sorry if you love spiders, but unless they stay away from me and my bedroom they die.

Rest in Pieces Mr Spider! 

Thanks for causing me to have bad dreams about spiders all night! 

NOT... 

House Sitting

So for the last month I've been house sitting.

There are a lot of pros to house sitting.

- A whole house to yourself

- A bathroom to yourself

- You can stay up as late or go to bed as early as you want (provisional on work of course)

- You limit your own bills, because you're not there to use it

- You get a working tv (well I did)

- You get a cleaner every couple of weeks (well I did)

I kinda got used to the little lifestyle I had there...it was a nice little break.

Almost like a mini holiday....but not quite. 

Now I am back in my own little room, having to share a small bathroom and back to reality.

The plus side of being back to my own life is not having a cat stalk me all the time.

I have all of my stuff when I need or want it in the one location.

I have space to put things away, instead of in bags on the bedroom floor. 

Have you ever house sat for anyone?

Did you have a good or bad experience? Goodness knows you can have some bad ones!

Gratitude Sunday

Hmmmm so it's been a few weeks! Time certainly does fly.

This week I am grateful for:

- My new calling at church working with the Primary kids

- Seeing my family this weekend

- Celebrating my little bro turning 18

- Daily photo challenge

- Extra work

- Getting to go to Sydney this coming weekend!

- Celebrating Lewie and Katrina's love...via a reception :D

- 'Date' night with Cat

- Good food

- Daylight savings...despite the 1hr less sleep I got

What are you grateful for this week?

The Background story

Everyone has one.

Sometimes we let people see our background story and be part of it.

Other times we hide that part of our selves.

Getting to know people is one of my favourite things about life.

Learning the ins and outs of a person allows you to connect with them. 

I saw this video over at The Wiegands blog.

I was really excited to watch it because I've seen Lisa Leonard's jewellery before, but love learning

the story behind the person as well.

Take a look and learn a little about Lisa and her family, I certainly am intrigued myself. 

and you can find her blog here.

#fmsphotoaday

Are you one of many people who recognise that hash tag?

Well...if you don't, it represents a list of things/actions to photograph every day for a month created

by Fat Mum Slim.

In case you want to join me, the list consists of:

1. Where you stood

2. Lunchtime

3. This happened today

4. What you read

5. Shadow

6. I'm thankful for...

7. Light

8. Angle

9. Red

10. Emotion

11. Something close-up

12. On the table

13. Landscape

14. Makes you laugh

15. Dinnertime

16. Something you wrote

17. Fruit

18. Made you smile today

19. Letters

20. 4 O'clock

21. Calm

22. In your town

23. The view from here

24. Weather

25. People

26. Listening to

27. Morning

28. Looking back

29. Moon

30. Clothes

31. Whatever you please

I'll be posting my photos each day to instagram.

If you want to follow along with mine, my instagram is: lisatrav

Let me know if you decided to do it too :D

One video.....

leads to another and another and another when you're on YouTube!

My brother Rhys and I were looking through a bunch of magic videos, and then he showed me this card trick one.

How he does that...I have no idea, but it is brilliant!
All I want to do is go and see a comedy or magic show now.
If only Penn and Teller did shows in Australia!!

Have you ever been to a magic show? If so, was it worth it?

Funniest tip to date...

Until tonight I thought I had received my weirdest/funniest tip from my brother,

which included 75c and a small tin of flavoured tuna.

Well...

Sorry bro, but you have definitely been beaten!

Tonight I received the following from a customer, who may or may not have been: 

a) drunk

b) stoned

c) both

Included was a burnt "Basement Jack's" CD, 80c, a fake moustache, some pickled ginger, wasabi, a scratchie with $2 winning on it and a lego cowboy! All in a Homer Simpson ziplock bag. 

I mean I've had some good monetary tips in my time, but this definitely tops the best tip to date!

I'm just surprised I didn't lose it laughing at him...though I nearly did!

Being a pizza delivery chick has definitely done wonders for my acting skills.

What do you get....?

When you take a scientist, liquid nitrogen and 1,500 table tennis balls?

EPIC!!!!
How cool would it be to be a scientist for a day and try different 'experiments' out...just for the fun of it!

*If you don't want to listen to the intro and everything, the real action happens at 3:30*

Gratitude Sunday

Today I want to share with you about the one decision I made today that left me grateful for the rest of the day.

Last night I went to a friend's birthday party and ended up chatting to a couple of friends into the very early hours of this morning. I'm talking 4:30am people!

The birds were chirping as I drove home to go to sleep.... -_-

I eventually got to sleep around 5am and woke up at various times throughout the morning.

As it got closer and closer to the time I was REALLY needing to get up to be able to make it to church on time, I thought "I really just don't want to go today. It won't matter if I miss one week."

That thought, was very unlike me. I actually quite enjoy going to church. It is my reboot for the week.

It was at this very moment, that I thought "No, I need to go, despite how tired I am."

So I dragged myself out of bed.

*Turning point*

Once I arrived at church, I instantly felt the spirit and had one of the most amazing Sunday's I have had in a very long time. 

If I'm completely honest, I've been struggling a lot lately. But there was just so much that was said today that I needed to hear. 

I enjoyed 3 hours of spiritual bliss.

And then I stayed around to go to the CES fireside.

WELL! I have no adequate words for just how amazing it was and how I was touched. 

So add another hour to that spiritual bliss!

My favourite quote from the Elder Holland's talk was:

via

I am so grateful that I was able to make the decision to get up and go to church, instead of staying in bed to sleep...I wouldn't have had as amazing a day as I did without it.

Gratitude Sunday

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately.

I find when I stop and think about things, I realise just how grateful I am to be where I am in my life.

It's nice to occasionally just stop and think about everything that you have right now,

in this very moment. 

Lately I have been grateful for:

- Having a fair bit of work between my jobs, which helps me to be both pay for things and save for travel and other fun things I want to do

- Time with my family. No matter how brief it is, seeing them is worth the 6 hours round trip of driving

- The sunshine; it always lifts my mood

- Friends

- New ideas and inspiration

- Music

- Feeling the spirit

- The knowledge that I can be with my family forever, especially those who have moved on already

- The innocence of children

- One very happy, smiling little girl who I got to hold today

- Seeing others happy

- The ability to let go off some pain that I've been holding on to 

- Being alive

- The possibilities that the future can hold

What are you grateful for at the moment?

Busy Busy Busy

So...having 3 jobs is keeping me pretty busy these days!

On the plus side, I am definitely learning how to be better organised.

I seem to get a lot more done when there is less time and more pressure...go figure!

While I am working a lot at the moment, it is merely a means to an end until I can start my Masters next year. 

Plus the ability to pay for some major bills on my own, as well as save for the travel I want to do is a mighty fine feeling.

I was definitely meant to live in this day and age...or I feel sorry for the people who would have been dealing with this feisty woman, had they told me I couldn't work. Thank you women's rights! 

Well I've worked 13 hours today and I have more in the morning so I'm off to bed!

Thank you parents for teaching me the value of work :D

The 'good ole' days

You always hear people say 

"oh I wish it was like the good ole days"

or 

"that reminds me of the good ole days"

via

It's funny how getting back into things you used to enjoy, or when you eat something you haven't had in ages and remember how good it is that all these good memories come flooding back.

My dad has just taken over a pharmacy not too far from where I live and I have been helping out there this week. I used to work in his pharmacy, where my family lives, for about 4 years. 

I loved working there, so being back in a pharmacy and having the knowledge come back has been awesome.

My dad's been staying with me over the last week and it's been good having him around.

Working together we don't always do so well. 

We can both get very stubborn, but hey that's what families for right?! 

He also brought me some Reese's Pieces and a could treats from his latest trip to the states and boy do I like me some foreign chocolate! :D 

It's nice to enjoy the 'good ole days' once in a while!