Life Like Lola

Lately

2012-02-27T15:22:00.002+10:00

Reading: The Help, Caitlyn Moran's How to be A Woman, uni readings.

Writing: a flurry of blog posts, a letter I won't send, two assignments.

Making:...nothing. All I make now is toast, I'm lucky to have my food all made for me at the moment.

Drinking: Water, ginger beer and Berocca. Warding off hangovers and mid-term 'run down'.

Listening: to more Busby Marou, Adele (again), to Galahs outside.

Playing: With instagram fairly often.

Enjoying: Caramel popcorn, catching up with friends, Friday Night Lights, watching a friend gain some serious career momentum.

Loving: sound sleep, my new Cloud 9 hair straightener, getting back into exercise.

Planning: our European getaway! Only 3 and a bit more months! Mental. We've still got lots to book but it is getting very exciting!

Teaching: about documentaries and The Crucible. I'm really enjoying my Senior classes at the moment, they bring some peace to my days.

On women & friendship

2012-02-26T14:55:00.003+10:00

I saw this at a conference last year and still believe it is one of the best things I've watched. Something I'm reminded of constantly is towards the end of the video (12:31) when Madeline Albright says her motto is:

There is a special place in Hell for women who don't help each other.

I have recently been put in an awful position by a girl who used to be my friend. She has been saying incredibly defamatory things about me to other girls we know. Thankfully, I am blessed with some very loyal, trustworthy friends who know better and squashed the gossip mongering. Still, when faced with seeing this girl the other day, rather than stop to speak to her about what she's been saying, I walked the other way.

In the time since this friend and I stopped speaking I have said nothing about her to anyone else. I have thought of her at times, and wondered how her life is but I know enough about friendships to know that sometimes it is better to let relationships die so you can put your energy into the worthwhile ones. What offended me so much is how openly vindictive she has behaved in response to nothing I have said or done to her.

Female relationships can often be rooted in suspicion, envy and snark. A friend's wife said to me recently, "I would much rather be the only girl in a group of colleagues, than to suffer the bitchiness I do". My tolerance for high drama relationships has never been very high. I remember I sat with 'the boys' for much of Year 8 because I realised very quickly that girls wanted to talk about boys and other girls. And that bored me. Even today, I gravitate towards groups of men because they are often far more welcoming, loyal and inviting than women. Not always, but generally.

I wonder, do any other girls feel this way? I remember reading about female friendships in a few places, and find it very interesting to know what motivates people to act out in certain ways. If anything, this debacle has made me realise how very grateful for the powerful, kind, crazy smart women in my life. Here's to choosing to be one of them.

A delayed absence.

2012-02-26T14:48:00.003+10:00

Blogger tells me it has been seven weeks since my last post. I read somewhere about how a successful blogger posts often, and often more than once a day. I'm clearly not in the running to become a successful, career blogger.

My blog does not fit a specific niche in the market. I contemplated deleting Lola but, to be honest, my favourite things about blogging is that it provides me with a way to stop and collate my thoughts more carefully than I do on twitter or facebook and, via this blog, communicate them and connected with some really great people.

I like that I have a little voice here.
So thanks for reading and sticking with Lola, no matter how irregular she is.

on Marriage & Affairs

2012-01-07T16:05:00.002+10:00

Growing up I devoured Disney ideas of love. I still like the Hollywood idea that a man would risk his pride to show the woman he loves that he loves her via a grand romantic gesture, while still remaining somewhat aloof and masculine. Yet, as the daughter of two people who have been separated, fairly amicably, for for 10 years, I have become more and more suspicious of, and unsure of my desire to get married. This is something I will maybe blog about again in the future.

For today, however, I'll just post this thought from Amanda Palmer's blog. I know little about her apart from being fairly sure she's quite creatively and musically "off beat" (thank you to my friend Amy for that adjective) but this article on her marriage is very interesting.

I like this sentence also:

"and most affairs burn hard and fast and then leave you with the smoldering debris of reality."

The things of 2011

2011-12-31T13:18:00.000+10:00

This is probably going to be my final blog post of 2011 and yes, it will take the form of a year in review a la... every blogger ever.

I thought it might also be a great chance to catch up as I haven't posted nearly as much this year.

The things I did:

+ went back to uni - I started my first year of post-graduate study this year in the form of a Masters of Educational studies. I did four subjects over the year and have four to go next year.

The balance between work and study is a tough one, and is bound to be more tricky next year as I move into a boarding role at my school. But, as I tell everyone, I like to be busy. I work better that way. It has definitely been an excellent choice for me to study now; no boyfriend or kids are around and I am allowed to be selfish with my time. This does, unfortunately mean that I spend two out of four Sundays doing only uni work and that at times I have 30+ drafts to read and uni assignments to begin, but somehow, I've done it.

+ was a bridesmaid

My good friends Amy and Michael sealed their love in September and it was one of the 'funnest' days I've had. The day ran so smoothly and with five other girls to spend the day with, there were always helping hands and lots of fun around. Looking through all the wedding photos there are few where we're not smiling! It was just what everyone wants from a wedding.

+ bought a ticket overseas - in June 2012 I'm heading to England with my friend Amy for four weeks. We'll go to England, Ireland, France, Italy and Greece in what is likely to be somewhat of a jam-packed, whirlwind trip!

+ helped at numerous school events -

As usual, school was very busy. I generally try to get involved in what's happening as I think it is all the extra things that add to my love of this job. This year I helped P & F ladies with a Spanish themed ball, went on Year 12 retreat, attended mass and funerals, filmed various events, helped with leadership activities and facilitated parts of our graduation and attended formals and dances.

+ finally bought a Canon D60 -

So many of my Film and Tv kids have beautiful DSLRs and I finally bought. I want to have a fairly good idea of how to use it before the trip next year and have taken some good photos. I'm getting there very slowly.

The music I loved:

+ Beyonce:

On a whim, during one of my moves of the year, I bought Beyonce's 4. I listened to it non-stop throughout Term 4 at school. No one makes you feel like more of an Independent Woman than Beyonce can.

+ Busby Marou:

Strolling through JB Hi Fi for my parents' Christmas presents, I bought a few for myself. I quickly fell in love with Busby Marou's Biding My Time and over the past two weeks have listened to their album on repeat. It is an excellent car CD and has strong sing-a-long qualities.

+ Adele:

Sometimes I have little moments of being ahead of the crowd and I picked up Adele's 21 a few weeks before it started getting played continuously on Top 40 radio. There is nothing better to listen to if you feel like crying in your car..

The blogs I love:

Sometimes I can get overwhelmed by amount of blogs in my google reader. Especially if I leave it alone for a few days. Who knew there could be so many fashion blogs to scroll through. These are the ones I always make sure to check.

Kendi Everyday:

+ Jen loves Kev:

+Smaggle:

+ Skylark and Son:

+ Girl with a Satchel:

+ the little things we do:

+ Brick by Book:

+ Love Kathya:

+ chelseaaa:

(obviously, all the images in this last section have been taken from the particular blog)

I quite like that New Years prompt people to reflect on what they've done and where they're at. To my surprise, I've actually fulfilled most of these goals I made last year. I saved for my trip, was really happy (more in the past few months than all year), considered my career goals and applied for and started studying! This year's goals will be a little of the same but mostly saving related and related to enjoying my time travelling.

Have a wonderful night tonight - whether you're home watching Sex & the City, out with friends watching fireworks or spent with your family.

& so I wish you all an amazing New Year's Eve.

see you in 2012.

Lately...

2011-12-19T11:02:00.000+10:00

Reading: blogs with slow, slow internet; Sonya Hartnett's Of a Boy, Women's Health

Writing: Not enough; this as a reminder that I do still potter about Lola from time to time; rugby drill for next season.

Making: Pavlova with too much cream and not enough strawberries. It seemed to be a failed attempt but not much can be wrong with the cream and berries on top.

Drinking: A whole lot of Milo - a sudden craving.

Listening: I went on a CD spree at JB HI FI the other day and came home with Nicki Minaj, Busby Marou, Boy and Bear plus a CD for both mum and dad.

Playing: Drop 7 on my iPhone. Thanks for the new addiction, Durdlin. Oh and with my precious new Canon 60D

Enjoying: Holidays; sleeping in until 10; being home with my mum; odd family dinners (mum, me and my sister's boyfriend); this slow way of life.

Loving: Holidays; being home; not needing to rush.

Planning: to finish organising my Christmas presents; a date with my grandma tomorrow morning; Christmas day (mum's house, grandma's house, dad's house?) and New Years plans.

How are YOU? Link me to your blog - I love that I'm on holidays and have time to catch up on all my reading. Thanks to the lovely Sophie Isobel for this catch up idea.

On Goodbyes

2011-11-21T20:42:00.002+10:00

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side

The summer's gone, and all the roses falling

'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

- Danny Boy

On Saturday I found myself watching something I thought I'd only ever see 'in the movies'.

I was asked by a lady at my school to film the funeral of her son. He died at 34 and his funeral was on Saturday. I didn't ask her any questions about why she wanted the footage; she even said to me that she thought it was an odd thing to do but that she and her husband would just feel better knowing they had it.

I felt like an uninvited guest walking into the chapel on Saturday morning. I didn't know her son. I barely know her. I had arrived early to position the camera and set up the tripod. I arrived just when she was looking in her son's coffin. My heart began to race at the thought of an open casket. It is not something I am comfortable with and until I watched 6 Feet Under I never really could understand why it was necessary. But I suppose, grief does strange things to us all and for many people, to see their loved one one last time would count for a lot.

I was under the impression that the casket would be open for the remainder of the service and it wasn't until the funeral directors began to reassemble the coffin that I realised what I had walked in on.

I watched as a father touched his son's face and cried and as a mum brushed her son's hair and kissed him for the last time. I watched their last goodbye to their boy. And I wondered if I would ever in my life witness something that would come close to being as intimate as that moment was.

When it is not you.

2011-11-07T12:37:00.001+10:00

Being an unattached woman who would rather not be somehow meant you were a nitwit, a bubblehead who had few concerns beyond shopping, pedicures and “Will he call?” My friends and I had no interest in shopping or pedicures, but that didn’t stop us from feeling wildly embarrassed that we longed for love.

- from Sometimes It's Not You, or the Math by Sara Eckel

10 Things

2011-10-23T09:32:00.006+10:00

1. This quote knocks me over: "When you're in love with someone, that person is the lighthouse of your universe."

2. A few weeks ago this sign was up outside my office. The power of trust:

- DON'T STEAL-

3. The postsecret app & this little gem:

4. Some of the professional photos from Amy & Michael's wedding have come out. The photography was done by Focus Films and I think from the little taster they've given us, Ames and Mick will have some beauties to choose from. What do you think?

5. Preparing for some big changes. I'm about half way through my last uni assignment of the year, am about to move out (but not sure where to, yet!) and have some career choices to make.

6. A daily reminder:

*you're

7. I got a tweet from Jess Rudd the other day and she'll be in Brisbane on the 3rd to publicise her new book, Ruby Blues. She's heading to Riverbend Books and I'm really hoping to head in to see her. She was lovely to meet at the Ultimate Girly High Tea so fingers crossed I can get out of AFL for the night.

8. In other news, I have an unhealthy omelette obsession. Well, the omelette itself is good for you:

whisk 2 eggs
pour into very hot, lightly oiled pan
sprinkle cheese and ham on one side
flip omelette onto the cheesy/ham side
flip onto your plate and devour

Last week I think I made about 4 of these after a colleague taught me his method. So great for nights when you get home too late.

Little washing up + tasty = dinner win.

9. Kids are very funny and thankfully I'm reminded of this every day. Some of my Year 9s showed me this video the other day. I'm not able to embed it so you'll just have to trust me. Needless to say, the kids and I have been 'creeping' around class during the week.

10.

Source: google.com.au via kforkarli on Pinterest

On being a YES person

2011-10-23T09:31:00.000+10:00

I'm sorry, blog, that I've neglected you.

On Thursday night, I did something exciting - I captained a mixed AFL team.

For those of you who don't know anything about AFL, don't worry, neither did I (or most of the girls on either team). A man I work with is the president of a local club and conned us in to playing in a mixed team.

It was SO fun.

And you know what was one of the best parts? I was able to run around that field the entire game and did not need to stop. I felt like a totally different person.

I spoke to another colleague the other day about being nervous about joining the AFL team. I'd said that I had never really played any sports ever and he commented that he'd have never thought I didn't like sport at school because I always say yes to everything and have a go. I quite liked that that's the person some people know me as.

Obsessed with...

2011-10-13T07:28:00.001+10:00

...Beyonce. Discuss.

On holidays

2011-09-26T11:58:00.002+10:00

There is no doubt that Lola has taken a backseat to life this year. Now that I am on school holidays, I have a little bit of spare time to catch you up with what has been happening.

Europe 2012 is now totally paid off! Another fortnight of living on a toight budget is ahead but then it will be time to start paying for accommodation in France and Italy and Greece! I had a dream last night that I was in Italy and all I wanted was Margherita pizza but didn't know how to ask for it. If you have any travel tips or must-dos, you know where to send them!

I keep reminding myself that this time next year I will only have to do two more assignments and I will be finished my Masters! I've got two fairly big assignments due in October so am trying to get my head around them while I'm home on holidays. Studying something you like is quite interesting and after my undergraduate degree dragging out for four years, it is nice to be reminded that studying can be interesting.

School finished two Fridays ago. The first four days were spent in and out of school as about 30 of our Year 12s hosted disabled companions for four days. It was the first time I'd been, in a very small way, involved with the camp. I knew I taught wonderful boys but this was just such a reminder of what good people they are.

In between the camp days, I spent one day with my dad and his best friends. It is nice to know your parents have people who love them.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the holidays, was my friend Amy's wedding. Last year she asked five us to be her bridesmaids. We planned a memorable hen's weekend away, went to a few dress fittings and then, before we knew it, it was Friday the 23rd!

Wedding day sunrise. I went for a run nice and early because I couldn't sleep.

Cut to three hours later and we were in hair and makeup. It was a hive of activity.

Hair & makeup done, dress on and awaiting the photographer's arrival.

In the limo on the way to the ceremony.

Amy and Michael both looked amazing and it was the perfect weather for a wedding; blue skies, light breeze and sunshine! These photos are just a couple from my phone on the day but I'm sure there will be plenty more to show soon!

One of my favourite things about the reception was Gary the DJ. He played some awesome cover versions and put me onto Boyce Avenue. I'm sold and have been downloading lots of their/his songs!

Yesterday I woke up fairly early and hit the road back to Bundaberg. It is so nice to feel relaxed and just enjoy being at home with my mum. I've been so busy for the past week so to wake up at 9:30 this morning, wash my car, make myself scrambled eggs and do a whole lot of nothing is so wonderful.

An Ode to Winter

2011-09-02T10:29:00.000+10:00

After the rain we saw at the start of the year, you came as a welcome relief.
There were mutterings that you were, in fact, our driest Winter in years. That's okay with us.
I put on my red Winter coat more times this year than any year before. You definitely were my chilliest Winter in years. I didn't mind. Much.

I moved into my 'new house' in Summer. The beginning of December. I was used to walking up the 43 stairs and sweating so much that I would, some days, need to take a shower after the journey. Lately, though, I've been able to get to the top and feel the relief of Winter's chilly breeze. Our neigbourhood seems to be about five degrees cooler than everywhere else.

The floorboards at home were too cold for me and most mornings the bathroom was filled with steam. I felt like a little kid who needed, "Just five more minutes", under that gorgeous hot water. Thick, black stockings were every girl's best friend as they became the Queens of Layering for three months. Flanelette becomes the most wonderful invention on Earth.

Now, though, I am looking forward to that sting of Queensland sun on my shoulders. The feeling of walking into an air conditioned room and feeling immediate relief. Of eating salads and buying ice blocks to eat during the day at school. Yesterday I had my first Mango of the season.

Spring has been welcomed with some final Winter showers and has, so far, brought some gloriously sunny days

My homeroom and I discussed yesterday, that as the heat begins, there is a buzz in the air, in the playground. Spring brings the anticipation of Summer. For now, that's all I can think of. I'll save the moaning about sweat trickling down my neck, back, legs and the difficulties of dressing as educator for another time.

What is your favourite thing about the end of a season?

10 Things

2011-08-26T11:32:00.005+10:00

First of all, and deservedly, this:

Brodie put it on her tumblr and I found it this morning. She gets me.

I've decided to start culling through my Google Reader. There are just far too many pictures of peoples' living rooms, cute babies and house renovations which are really not adding to the goodness of my day.

Finishing a uni assignment on educational change. While I do have to manage my time in order to fit in the work I need to do for my Masters, it really doesn't seem to be adding too much extra stress to my life. After the chaos of working out what I needed to write and how I'd manage to write it while I was also being handed about 120 assignments from my kids at school, the actual writing process only took a few solid sessions. Anyway, it is done and on its way to UQ. Hurray.

Sleeping to constant rain. If we have another wet season, I'd much prefer it to be like it was last week. More constant, less mental.

Trying on my bridesmaid dress. Amy's wedding is now less than a month away and the dress, with all its pins, is looking really great. I will show pictures after the wedding - I'm very excited to be a bridesmaid for the first time.

I was on the 'girl's door' at the dance last night. I often tell the boys that these dances kill my soul a little bit. And last night was no exception. What some parents let their kids go out in public in never fails to surprise me. The kids all enjoy it but an hour and a half in and I left.

I spent 90 minutes on the phone the other night and the best part about it was it only felt like 15 minutes.

Getting home I watched the second half of The Wallabies game. What a win! I only felt slightly lame about being at home watching the game with peanut butter toast and my pyjamas on.

The beautiful postsecret app trailer:

A colleague leaving a book she thinks I'll like in my pigeonhole.

On Treasure

2011-08-21T21:56:00.002+10:00

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

- from Harry Potter

10 things

2011-08-18T22:09:00.000+10:00

I swear 10 things is all that's keeping me blogging.

I found myself lying in bed tonight wondering what to do. I'm not interested in reading anything at the moment so if anyone has any suggestions, send them my way. I miss falling in love with characters.

Today I spent a few hours with my dear friend Sarah and baby Eden. Edey is 6 months old now and just amazing. She smiled and giggled at me and totally charmed lots of passers by with the headband Sarah made her and her big smile.

Waking up rested is my new favourite thing. Waking up around 10am for the past two mornings, running and going to the gym is making me feel much more like myself.

I was woken by calls at 11pm and 4am Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. None of this seems to serve any purpose but to disrupt what would've been a night of restful sleep.

My One Line a Day diary. I bought it a) because I'm a terrible journal-er and b) because I worry just how forgetful I've become. Plus, I like the thought of on my 30th birthday, being able to look back at the last 5 years using little triggers to remember the important, and not so important, things that happened. Unlike last year, I've written in it every day this year - I pack it on weekends away or school camps and write in it each night before bed.

Finding Nikki Gemmell's book right when I needed it.

The Gilmore Girls. Always.

Listening to my Uplate soundtrack while I blog. And do uni readings. Excellent background music.

I was introduced to Doreen Virtue by my first housemate. I now follow Doreen on twitter. I don't really know where I stand in terms of my spirituality or faith, but I do appreciate a lot of what Doreen has to say.

I've been sick around 4 times so far this year and on Tuesday realised I was burning out, slowly but surely. I was at school by 6:30am and still at 8am I hadn't gotten all I needed done for the day. I walked down to the staffroom and held back tears until I saw one of the ladies I work with and she gave me a big hug and I cried. Then a boy emailed me his draft and said thank you and that he hopes my nana is well. It made my day.

The fatal return

2011-08-17T20:17:00.004+10:00

"I went back, again and again. Just as I was extricating myself he'd call and sleep with me and the spiral of exhilaration and terror would begin all over again. He was the rock upon which I would break and break. I wasn't meeting anyone else, of course."

- From Nikki Gemmell's beautiful Pleasure: An almanac for the heart

10 Things

2011-08-10T19:48:00.005+10:00

beautiful image from weheartit

Eating Snakes and drinking juice, Milo, lemonade and watching too much Jersey Shore while I'm sick.

Hoodies with pyjama pants. Always super styling.

Being told I am an "amazing human being". It rarely gets better than that.

Road tripping this weekend with my dad to see my grandparents. Nana has dementia so, as Dad puts it, it can be a little "50 first dates" with her. I would like to think she could remember dad. But who knows, we'll see.

Long emails.

Catching up with my friend Pat. Reflecting on the Reds' victory, talking about feeling unsettled and being reminded that I'm pretty okay as I am.

Living on a tight budget and not feeling like I'm missing out on anything.

A confronting, one-sided conversation with a woman who was unknowingly upsetting me. I managed to keep a smile on my face the whole time and walk away with my head high.

Getting more involved in school. After rugby season finished, it is easy to feel a little disconnected from the fun parts of school. Saturday night I volunteered at the annual ball and had a great time. Then Monday we had a mass to remember a colleague who died last year. So many staff and boys turned up and it was really lovely and positive.

Beautiful, bright almost-Spring days. Brisbane really knows how to turn it on. I woke up most mornings in time for sunrise and I really think it is one of the most magical times of day.

How to Be Young

2011-08-09T07:02:00.002+10:00

"...just kiss people and go out and stay up late and wake up early and screw up and learn from your mistakes and then screw up again. It’s okay. This is your permission slip to act young."
- Ryan O'Connell, via thought catalog

10 things

2011-08-05T23:48:00.002+10:00

image via we heart it

+ The lady who has taken over our flight plans tried to charge us an extra $600. I emailed about the error and she said it had been added on as a mistake. AWESOME.

+ Westley talks far too much in The Princess Bride. He seemed all sweet and charming but then it turned out that he was Roberts and all of a sudden became so cocky. But he is seriously handy and VERY loyal.

+ Does anyone else find it frustrating when someone does not reply to a text message or a dinner invitation? Even if I don't want to do something, for no apparent reason, I try to be polite and make up a reason not to do something.

+The prices of products online continues to amaze me. Uni books that should've been $200 for less than $45 when ordered, used, online. On that, the makeup I use in Australia is considerably more expensive than it is in the US. It looks like I will be buying a bit and sending it to my little sissy to send on.

+ Sunday and yesterday I set my first 5km goals. I'm contemplating running this year's Bridge to Brisbane and while I'm definitely fit enough now, I wondered if I would actually be able to run the 5kms in a decent time. I've finally plotted a track around my house to run, and while I have to do that silly thing of touching a post half way along a path and then turning around and going back, I've finally hit just over 5kms.

+ I read this post at mamamia today. Cooking on a budget, as I have been doing in earnest lately, had really opened my eyes as to how much food I would normally waste during the week. Mostly just because I didn't FEEL like eating it. Rather than thinking a little more creatively about what I'd bought and what variety of ingredients I could use.

+ Gifts that keep on giving really are some of the best kind. My friend Amy got me a belated magazine subscription to Madison. I remember buying the first issue and thinking, "Finally, something I relate to." Since its inception, I think the magazine has veered into Marie Claire territory and so normally I would only buy it on special occasions (ie. school holidays) so it is nice to have something a little bit special arrive in the post for me each month.

+ Our hospitality kids cooked up a fierce green chicken curry at school yesterday. It was only $3 and was better than the attempts I've made at cooking one! Delightful.

+ Today I thought I'd lost all the films on one of our school hard drives. About an hour in the freezer and ta-DA! All the data has restored itself and I'm currently transferring it all to my laptop. Do you have any bizarre tricks that work when you're stuck?

+ Sarah Von posted about blogs without a theme the other day. I think that is where I've felt it difficult to blog, because I thought Lola didn't have a theme and that they were the only blogs people read. When I read Sarah's article, I realised that the blogs I mostly read, in full, and without skimming, are those without a theme. So here's to seeing what comes out of my brain..

On kissing.

2011-08-05T10:35:00.002+10:00

Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind.

- The Princess Bride

Uplate Soundtrack

2011-08-01T21:09:00.005+10:00

This is what I listen to when I'm up late at night:

Lump Sump - Bon Iver

Samson - Regina Spektor

Skinny Love-Bon Iver

Please Stay - Duffy

Kissing You - Des'ree

Shimmer - Fuel

I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie

The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields

Someone Like You - Adele

Distant Sun - Chris Cheney

Breathe Me - Sia

Blindsided - Bon Iver

Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons

It Ain't Me Babe - Dave Melillo

The Belly Of The Whale - Washington

Air "on the G string - Academy of St. Martyn in the Fields

Flame Trees - Sarah Blasko

Auld Lang Syne - Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis

Boring Budget Day

2011-07-31T18:52:00.004+10:00

This week, I put a third of my pay on my flight outta here and as a result, over the next six weeks I'm on a toight budget.

I discussed this with my friend Amy who, in order to pay for her and her fiance's wedding in September, has been living from a very controlled budget. Her first tip, try shopping at Aldi.

In my family, we joke about shopping at Aldi. Not because of the products themselves but because walking through the aisles often goes a little like this: flour, tomato paste, nappies, window cleaner. To their credit, Aldi definitely has given their store layout some consideration since I was last there.

Walking in, I was confronted with a family of five, doing their big Sunday shop and that's when I realised a single, 25 year old girl really wasn't the the shop's target demographic.

Regardless, I picked up everything on my list (chicken stock plus extras for possible meals this week, fettucine, juice and coconut cream plus school treats like museli bars, yoghurt and raisin toast). My total at Aldi was $13!

In other news, I just calculated the exact grocery shop and both Woolworths and Coles and they came up at least $10 more expensive. I know, reading about someone's grocery trip is not particularly exciting but I actually think it is quite interesting to see where exactly I'm wasting money. I also did a quick trip to the fruit and veg shop before heading across to Coles to grab some on sale chocolate.

Nothing can beat $2 Cadbury.

Lola takes on Travel

2011-07-29T14:46:00.000+10:00

image via weheartit

Sunday morning saw me meet up with my fellow bridesmaids and the bride for our meeting about our dresses. We met our lovely dressmaker, Mel and bombarded her with ideas and questions about our dresses. My friend, Amy, and I decided to head to STA Travel to see how much flights overseas would be for next year.

Amy and I had talked about flying into England, driving around Ireland, moseying our way through France before catching a train to Italy and cruising to Greece before flying back to Australia.

And now we're actually doing it.

We met with a lovely man who got us some seriously good flights, and as a result, we booked them right there on the spot. We are paying $1836 return, flying into Heathrow and out of Athens, from June 4 until July 4 next year.

I can hardly believe it.

After school I'd been so driven to teach and study. Meanwhile, people I know had started to wander the globe, with one friend travelling to at least one country a year and others living and working overseas. I've never had the yearning to build a life in another country. Unlike my brave little sister.

I wrote about my funk a few weeks ago and while I'm feeling somewhat better, I still feel like there are things I need to do and I think travel is one of them. I will turn 26 four days before we depart and to me, that seems like a perfect time to go.

The next six weeks will see me living on the tightest budget I've known since I finished university. But I know I can do it. And the fact that, in 6 weeks, I'll have in my hand a ticket to visit five the most beautiful countries on earth, makes it all the more worthwhile.

Where it had gotten her

2011-07-12T07:31:00.003+10:00

I follow Thought Catlog on twitter.

You should too.

I've just finished reading a story/article titled, Why You Shouldn't Be Nice To The Middle-Age Man At Work. I thought it might be a funny story to send to... a middle-age man at work, alas, it isn't, it is kind of sad.

Two phrases really stood out to me. These were my favourite parts:

"With pillowy lips and a nubile, overly fleshed-out body, it was the epitome of femininity that frightens younger men and fills older ones with a raging lust to pillage and rape."

"She was a good girl, she hadn’t done anything wrong, she had always been nice, and smiling, and a good listener, and sympathetic, and look where it had gotten her."

Go read it, let me know what you think.

Cleaning up

2011-07-06T19:47:00.003+10:00

Tonight seemed to me like a good time to clean up my bookmarks bar and revive my computer. I use my bookmarks to mostly store delicious recipes I want to try, fun ideas, beautiful outfits or my uni details.

Before I removed all the good things, I thought I'd share these.

My interest in weddings is not great. I love looking at beautiful photography and unique DIY ideas but I don't often drool over ring settings or bemoan the fact that a wedding is not on the horizon just yet. Then I saw this:

Isn't it pretty?

I found it here and I'd happily wear it any day, maybe in a less wedding inspired colour.

Thank you to those of you who commented on my less than Lola blog from the other day.

According to the Dalai Lama, it is these Simple Instructions that should be followed in life:

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

When you lose, don't use the lesson.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

When you realise you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Spend some time alone every day.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Remember that the best relationship is the one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

That last one gets me every time.

Who are you?

2011-07-04T16:24:00.003+10:00

I'm not quite sure who Lola is these days.

Last year, I lived well through Lola & tried to embrace the challenge I'd given myself. I think it worked. I found myself by loving, through feeling good & happy within myself and by working hard but in moderation. This year, I feel as if I've come undone.

After some more angst-filled moments at work, a colleague sat me down for a general talk and asked if there was anything else wrong. I started to cry. She told me that she thought I'd "lost my spark".

And I agree.

I don't often share the less desirable or happy aspects of my life on my blog as I'm under the impression that no one really likes to read sad things, but people do identify with honest things.

I've made some good choices this year, as a result of wanting to improve my own education and job possibilities but along the way, lately I have made some less, good choices. One big mistake has highlighted that I'm a little bit lost.

As someone who tries really hard to do the right thing all the time, and who generally puts other people before myself, owning up to mistakes and stupidity seems to be so difficult and I spend a lot of time beating myself up over it. I know there are people who do things that are far sillier and that have much worse consequences yet I struggle to contain the angst I feel over mistakes I make.

I was mostly prompted to write this as:

a) I wanted to get the blog back on track

b) I am back home and will have all my family around me so change and reflection feels safer than doing it on my own

c) I'm hoping to gain some wisdom from those of you who still drop by Lola; I'm fairly sure there is at least two of you

On love

2011-06-29T16:43:00.001+10:00

“I’m a feminist, but I think that romance has been taken away a bit for my generation. I think what people connect with in novels is this idea of an overpowering, encompassing love—and it being more important and special than anything and everything else.”

- Emma Watson on love from her Vogue interview

My Must Have List

2011-06-13T15:37:00.000+10:00

I was about to write a post this morning when I saw that lovely Bianca had tagged me. I can't refuse a game of Blogger tag so here I go.

Top 5 Must Haves:

In My Kitchen:

image via weheartit

+ Milo
+ Chocolate
+ numerous oils (peanut, vegetable, sesame, olive oil, spray etc)

+ a heap of spaghetti varieties
+ peanut butter

In My Closet:

image via weheartit

- black tights/stockings
- lotso flat shoes (red, tan, black, silver, embellished silver)
- many work dresses (mostly Cue, Target and Vanessa Tong)
- cardigans (again with the colour wheel: dark green, yellow, red, black, pink, purple)
- jeggings (the comfiest things I've sucked my legs into)

In My Bag:

> about 9 lipglosses
> car keys with a kitty key ring to remind me of my sisters
> pink-cased iPhone 3
> red Country Road Wallet
> a lot of 'club' cards that rarely get used

On My TV:

image via weheartit
* masterchef
* glee
* grey's anatomy
* friends repeats
* offspring

In My Speakers:

= Noah & the Whale
= Lissie
= Adele

= Rhianna
= And thanks to some of my Year 11s, an island gentleman named Mohombi

In My Google Reader:

I hope you are enjoying the Queen's birthday today. I celebrated the beautiful Winter weather by going to the gym, making a 'grown up' salad (mixed leaves, Tasmanian fetta, sundried tomatoes, red onion, lemon juice and oil) and pizza. I've just finished marking some Year 9 & 10 assignments and plan on writing the day away and watching Sex & the City.

How wonderful.

2011-05-31T11:46:00.001+10:00

They may hack my account and send details to all my friends about che@p lapt0p$, but hotmail sure knows how to bring the birthday joy!

Things I Love

2011-05-27T18:47:00.005+10:00

The other day my friend Taylor asked me what was happening with Lola at the moment. I said, she's still there and I'll keep her but I hate it when people post "I'm too busy" posts. I just like it when the blogs I like pop up occasionally. It is like a little treat from the internet Gods.

My Masters studies are going pretty well. I've achieved at the level I was hoping and am a lot more surprised than other people that I could. I told a friend of mine what I got for a mark and he just went "yeah" (like, no biggie, whatever) and before I could get too mad, he said, "Well as if you wouldn't." Despite the tone, it is good to know other people have some faith in me! I read so much year 9 work that I thought, perhaps, that I would start to write like they do.

Next Tuesday I turn 25. Half of fifty. I am really looking forward to it. I look forward to most birthdays. This is what I was doing this time last year.

watching Friends for an hour each night

when my housemate makes me dinner

afternoon naps

layering

cool mornings

foggy starts to the day

OMO washing liquid. My clothes smell so good.

being VERY close to finishing my first

sitting in flanelette pyjamas and a hot pink hoodie

red nails

unexpected compliments

standing up for myself

looking up recipes

contemplating weekends away

planning Amy's Hen's night!

"Send him light & love every time you think of him and drop it"

Smartie chocolate

Mint tea (I actually wrote "mint chocolate" - just a minor error)

alphabetised DVDs

This. Thanks Sister. Harry Potter fans will love this.

sending nice texts to my mum

buying from ASOS (and crossing my fingers very hard that my goods will arrive in the right size)

an unexpected dinner invitation from my lovely Sarah

planning my birthday feast for Tuesday night

my lovely 13C rugby team having won 3 of 3 games. Tomorrow will be a big test for them.

retrospect. This time last year seems like it was just here.

late night Milo

A Stepping Stone

2011-04-20T15:08:00.001+10:00

I was reading Mamamia this afternoon and Brendan Maclean wrote about being a stepping stone to his ex-boyfriend's future. I loved this:

We guide people, change their lives for better or for worse and even if we don’t know it at the time they do the same to us. And if sharing your experience has improved life for someone else, inspired them or made becoming the person they want to be a little easier than damn it, you should be proud. After all someone was your stepping stone once, someone helped you along the way, someone gave you part of their story to tell.

Go here to read the whole article.

Singledom by Alison Berge

2011-04-19T13:21:00.003+10:00

I am currently skimming Berge's Singledom: It's normal, so relax and came across this quote:

I want to be naked with my partner, but if they don’t remember the difference between me and a porn star, they might as well put their own dick in their eye.

Well said.

Some things

2011-04-15T13:41:00.001+10:00

Something thoughtful

A few weeks before that, a man who works at school, and is a little off the wall, came to visit and present me with these. He said, "I have something beautiful for you."

Karli circa 2009 & Karli circa 2010

The second one is incredibly similar to my Year 9 school photo

Something to think about:

Something that made me laugh

Something bittersweet

Beautiful scenes from Hervey Bay on the day the Brisbane region was inundated by flood waters

Something that doesn't happen often

Two weeks ago my dad came to visit. He had a new, surprise tattoo. He bought me my first OPI nail polish:

We went to watch the Broncos play:

This was my second Broncos game for the year. The first one saw me watch one of my "Be My Boyfriend" crushes play:

Oh yeah, our tickets were about 150 metres above playing level. Needless to say, it wasn't quite the romantic encounter I'd imagined.

An Update

2011-04-15T12:54:00.005+10:00

A shout out to Carole King, my Joni Mitchell, who gave me a title for this post.

I've just moved my laptop out to the deck. The view from this deck is the first thing that made me fall in love with my house.

The day I first came to look at it...

Today, from my seat at our table.

Sometimes I wish I worked from home and could sit out in the middle of the 'bush/rainforest' to write all day. Then I turn on the TV and realise my one true love is bad day time TV and would be a TERRIBLE from home worker.

This week I began holidays. As someone who works in the Independent/Catholic schools sector, my holidays begin about a week before my State school comrades. Believe me, after a killer 11 week term, I am so thankful for the extra week. Monday and Tuesday saw me complete my first Masters assignment; a 2000 word essay on leadership and management theories. It was actually quite interesting once I got into the reading but that has definitely been the most difficult thing so far, just finding time to get the reading done.

On Wednesday I set off to UQ to hand in my first assessment. I had to navigate the library and the printers. I've found my best line to get people to help is, "I'm sorry but I'm an external student and..." So far I've been really impressed with all the staff I've come in contact with. Only 19 months and that Masters shall be mine.

Yesterday I spent the day with my friend Sarah and her little baby girl Eden who is 2 months old today:

Later today I will get to hang out with my friend Amy and then tomorrow I'm off to a conference for teachers wanting to, at some point, get into leadership positions. It sounds like a really valuable and practical conference (organised by women) so hopefully it will be worthwhile.

Sunday morning, bright and early, I plan on packing my Yaris and heading four hours North to go home for a rest.

How are you? Rested?

Happiness is a Fish Taco

2011-04-09T15:54:00.005+10:00

Sometimes all it takes to make you feel like yourself is a clean room and a delicious meal.

Tatiana at Love, Life Lace posted this recipe the other day and after eating the most amazing fish tacos at Splendour in the Grass last year, I knew I had to give them a go.

Guacamole & Lime Crema

Pico de gallo

Salted cabbage

Beer battered Snapper

The final product

As amazing as these were, I could barely get through one. I am already looking forward to having the leftovers for dinner tonight. I put everything out on the table on the deck to eat and looked out over the valley we live on top of. It is the most beautiful day.

P.S. Apologies for my absence. All I can say is this term has been a real killer.

Welcome

2011-03-21T20:47:00.002+10:00

Welcome to my one new follower. It is nice to know people are around even if most of the time I am writing for about 5 of you.

Today ended as one of those days of 'storm and stress.' It was one of those days where you encounter people you had managed to forget existed for awhile. It was an afternoon that saw my Year 9s in hysterics as they spent a whole lesson looking for "penises" on the powerpoints being shown. The night didn't bring anything better with unwelcome revelations and news that my grandparents cat died. (I didn't like the cat, Milo, but I hate the thought that my grandparents are upset and that it affects them).

So, despite its blatant sentimentality, this was particularly welcome.

Images via Table Tonic via theyallhateus

Lola Recommends:

2011-03-19T22:29:00.000+10:00

This blog has earned its place in my RSS feed.

"Just-littlethings"

Some of the entries that pop up I just shrug at, but more often I find myself sitting, smiling and nodding knowingly at my computer.

I like this:

and love this:

This one I saw a few weeks ago and it really made me smile.

One of my biggest learning curves I've had so far while teaching boys was realising that being able to catch a ball may be the difference between my own safety and gaining a serious concussion in the middle of the yard.

After many Year 12 telling me the importance of 'absorbing the ball' and showing me the best way to throw and hold a rugby ball, I had my biggest moment of success.

There was space of about 20 metres (this may or may not be an exaggeration, my spatial judgment isn't fantastic) and after bouncing a small, handball ball in the air and then with a look at me, and then a look at the ball, my 'coach' signalled that it was time to test my catching ability.

Let me say, I caught that ball and I did it in a dress.

#winning.

Things I Love

2011-03-17T16:44:00.002+10:00

This list is really spurred on by a rather awful dream I had last night on top of all the disastrous events that are taking place in our world. What stories we will have for our children.

positive feedback from a uni co-ordinator. He liked my writing. Mission accomplished (it may only count for 10% but that's something!)

that I'm busy, but not sick. Really sucking all the positive I can out of that one!

plans to travel home for Easter

my little sister getting life changing news

the gym. I'm so glad I love it so much. My housemate said that she admires my fitness routine and I'm kind of impressed with myself. It is so easy to stop though when I'm this run off my feet.

becoming a Level 1 certified Rugby Coach (very soon)

the amazing raspberry tiramisu from this month's Super Food Ideas (worth buying JUST for this!)

twitter

the jar of Lent money that sits next to my desk and is slowly increasing

when kids write things like 'Have a great day tomorrow, Miss' at the end of their emails

dressing in theme (St Pat's today!)

3 more weeks of school. The countdown has begun.

Give You What You Need: Work/Life Balance

2011-03-07T20:39:00.005+10:00

After the awful deaths of two colleagues within five months, my school has emphasised the importance of having a work/life balance. This is one of the most difficult things for any working person (aka, everyone). My lovely friend, The Sequin Cat, expressed the difficulties she is currently having with balancing life & school. So, four years into my working life, I thought I might just share what I've been doing.

This year, for me has already taken a turn for the busy. I am now in my second week of university, for the second time around, and am studying externally. The choice to take on my masters this year, as opposed to another time, was influenced by a few wise words from some colleagues. They went something like:

You don't have a boyfriend. You don't have kids. Why don't you just do it?

Nothing like the truth, huh?

But I figured, they're right. I can allocate my time as I please and I really loved the idea that by the time I am 26, I will have my two degrees as well as my Masters. Pat on the back.

All of a sudden though, I was being forced to balance extra things. I've always been a little bit of a high achiever in terms of my commitments. For about two years, while teaching full time, I also worked a casual job as well as tutoring and coaching various football teams.

Today I submitted my very first assignment, a blog (thank goodness!). I spent 100 minutes this afternoon frantically typing and trying to work out APA in-text referencing. I was exhausted by the end but quickly went along to a staff forum for an hour and a half. Tempted to just head home and collapse, I knew how much better I'd feel after a trip to the gym. Luckily there were leftovers and Snack chocolate awaiting me at home.

This was a big day for me. I've still got at least one (really, more like five) uni readings to do before bed tonight but instead I decided to sit down with my laptop (& google reader), Glee and an episode of Sex and the City.

Looking at the way I break up my own time, my suggestions include:

be organised - fill folders, create space on your desk, update your calendars daily with commitments so going through life is as easy as humanly possible for yourself

allocate time for certain things - Sunday afternoons I read the weekend papers, Monday nights I watch Glee, Wednesdays I usually stay after school to get planning done, before bed I read one uni reading

make tasks smaller - in the teaching world, for many of us, marking can become the bane of our existence. On receiving a class's assignments, I alphabetise them and then break the roll up into groups of five. Then, I choose time to mark. Each time I sit to do it, I will select the next five on the list and won't stop marking until those are done. These small goals allow me to keep my sanity and also make me feel like I am making small achievements as I go. Seeing a list of 40 assignments can make you want to die slowly; a few piles of 5s though, not so bad

pack your lunch or put it all in a bag in the fridge the night before so you can just grab it before you go

get up earlier. An extra fifteen minutes in the morning might mean getting to your desk to check emails or organise your day if you had to hurry out the afternoon before (exactly what I'll be doing tomorrow!)

multi-task. Tomorrow night I'll spend around two and a half hours at the hairdresser, so rather than read magazines, I'm going to take my uni readings with me

In terms of managing stress, calming down and being happy, I say:

choose a sleep in day. Saturday is mine

eat chocolate and enjoy it. The ladies at the tuckshop nod knowingly when I come begging for "whatever chocolate you have"

indulge in some mind numbing activity - magazines, trashy tv or movies you love

it might belong on the other list, but schedule time in advance. This week is probably my busiest this term. I had a staff meeting and then the gym this afternoon. Tuesday is planning, then a 5pm hair appointment and baking some delicious dessert for Wednesday. Wednesday I'm seeing friends for dinner. Thursday I'm off to see Julius Caesar with colleagues and Friday I'm meeting my husband (ahem). Then Saturday I have an all day Drama conference. I know this week is busy and so I know that I have to use what time I have wisely

get outside or into the gym. I have become one of those weirdos who spouts the benefits of exercise. There are few things that have the power to alter my mood as significantly as getting into the gym, listening to some Justin Beiber on Channel V or running along my new suburb, trying not to be spotted by students, can. I always feel much fresher and any thoughts I have going on in my head have time to settle

All this advice comes from a girl who, in Year 6, was so stressed that her mum had to take her to a masseuse who told her I was incredibly anxious and stressed out - all over a Tournament of the Minds competition.

I would love to hear how you balance your life, particularly from those people in relationships. The times I've had a loved one to consider, as well as myself, parts of my life, often the domestic side (laundry/cleaning, not baking) has fallen apart a little bit.

Speaking of, I'm now off to listen to Adele's 21, fold my clothes and organise tomorrow's outfit.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-03-02T15:34:00.005+10:00

I am truly surprised that I got around to posting today but the reason is because I am at home with laryngitis so I have a little extra time on my hands!

Here is what is keeping me happy:

Sleeping until 9:37am this morning. It is a school day Thursday, but after teaching all day yesterday, minus my voice, my colleagues ordered me not to come in today.

Being told by possibly the oldest member of staff, who kind of reminds me of my grandpa, how pretty my dress was and that it makes everyone happy.

Watching The Notebook while marking assignments.

Receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from Can-Do Campbell and his crew for volunteering during the Brisbane Floods

Having flowers delivered to me at school, with the card simply reading Happy Autumn, Lola. I imagined there was some handsome suitor after me but he actually took the form of my lovely friend Kellee.

1 week in, doing a great job of sticking to my month-long No spending on beauty products or clothes budget. 3 weeks to go!

My middle sister planning to come a visit me for a night.

Watching Daytime TV.

Writing out all my thoughts, in hope that it cures my laryngitis. Apparently it means I'm holding something back/need to talk about something.

Having a friend and his girlfriend take time out of their day to show me around uni.

Plans to attend a 3 hour long Rugby seminar. Should be entertaining.

Fantastic and delicious Bridesmaid brunch with four awesome girls. Amy put on a great spread: raspberry danishes, almond and orange friands with warm orange sauce, chipolatas, wilted spinach, mushrooms, bacon, halumi and a fruit platter. So tasty. We made a few decisions about our other Amy's Hen's night. If anyone has any classy yet cheeky suggestions, let me know!

Beginning The Book Thief.

Late night storms.

Cake for breakfast and lunch.

How are you? Well and healthy? We are into the third month of 2011, are you where you wanted to be?

The High

2011-02-26T21:51:00.004+10:00

I don't know what it is about me and posting quote-type things lately, because this is definitely not the direction I had in mind for Lola, but things just keep on popping up and staying in my head.

I read, and adored, Eat, Pray, Love while I was on my final teaching prac in 2007. I used to read it on the hour long bus ride from school while listening to Paolo Nutini.

The following quote surfaced on La Mia Vita the other day and has since been stuck in my head:

I have a history of making decisions very quickly about men. I have always fallen in love fast and without measuring risks. I have a tendency not only to see the best in everyone, but to assume that everyone is emotionally capable of reaching his highest potential. I have fallen in love more times than I care to count with the highest potential of a man, rather than with the man himself, and I have hung onto the relationship for a long time (sometimes far too long) waiting for the man to ascend to his own greatness. Many times in romance I have been a victim of my own optimism.

- Elizabeth Gilbert

II would much rather be THIS girl:

Unfathomable

2011-02-25T21:28:00.001+10:00

In class today my Year 9s and I were watching an episode of Australian Story entitled 'Unfathomable'. It is about 'Honeymoon Killer' Gabe Watson and the alleged murder of his wife, Tina.

I said, to no one in particular, "Geez I hope I don't fall in love with and marry a man who wants to kill me."

One boy had tuned in and replied with a shrug, "Well, you'll be dead so you won't know anyway."

They are the speakers of truth.

Just so you know:

2011-02-22T19:35:00.001+10:00

You are luminous, breath taking, and flat out gorgeous.

Just a reminder from Already Pretty

Your People

2011-02-20T17:32:00.004+10:00

"That's the thing with "your people". They might not know exactly what you do, but most of the time they know exactly who you are. That's how they push your buttons."

This extract from Kirsty Rice's article on Mamamia really struck a chord with me.

Sometimes the truth hurts and often it hurts most when it comes from "your people."

I think sometimes the best relationships come from finding someone who seems to immediately be one of "your people".

My people text me quotes from movies, tell me about tacky events happening at local nightclubs, call me before their afternoon naps and share recipes with me. They are the mirror that doesn't lie, they tell me if I am looking healthy and call it when they sense my unhappiness.

Do we all have love/hate/love relationships with your people?

Easy Sunday

2011-02-20T16:53:00.000+10:00

Sunday afternoons are kind of the perfect part of the day. The sun is peeking over the verandah but the air con is keeping the heat at bay. It is one of those beautiful afternoons.

I didn't have much blogging time this week as I found out I was:

a) accepted to complete my Masters of Educational Studies with the University of Queensland

b) an "Auntie" to my friend's little girl

c) held up by reading Year 9 English drafts

It has been nice to find time this weekend to sit down and type out a few thoughts. This is coming in place of Thursday's Things I Love.

some time alone. My housemates have been out most of the weekend and it has been really nice to just plod and potter about the house on my own.

Eden Elizabeth.

On Tuesday, my friend Sarah gave birth to a beautiful little girl. I was lucky enough to meet her when she was pretty brand new and it is honestly one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced. One minute she was inside Sarah and the next minute she's a part of the world. Mental. I spent a couple of hours with them today and it is amazing just how much she has changed in a few days. Totally gorgeous.

Being healthy. Last week knocked me around big time in terms of my health and I'm just so grateful to be feeling like myself again. I got to a spin class on Thursday and then went for my first run around my neighbourhood Friday night (and almost died from the humidity!) and I forgot how much I'd begun enjoying getting fit.

Zumba. Always.

Blogging while eating Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream.

Spoiling myself with cooked breakfast.

Bill Granger's coconut and lime slice.

Appreciative students.

Statement necklaces and short hair.

Taking time to read the newspaper.

What're your favourite things about Sundays? Later a friend is coming for dinner and then I plan on tidying up my room and planning a week's worth of outfits. Are there routines you stick to or do you just enjoy the day?

On Romance. Kind of.

2011-02-14T21:24:00.003+10:00

I had not planned to post on or in regards to Valentine's Day. I think most people have fairly strong opinions on the subject. I groaned audibly in this morning's meeting when our boss wished us a Happy Valentine's Day (I even got a few chuckles from the over 40s) but my opinion on Valentine's Day is generally one of appreciation. I think it is nice when people remind each other how much they love the other. It has nothing to do with falsities or commercialism. Just a lovely day of love. It does not necessarily mean exchanging foil balloons and red roses but I think it is pretty wonderful that people want to let everyone know who they love. Plus, today I had to yell at a Year 12 boy for not focussing on my QCS lesson because he was creating such a fuss over making a (kind of terrible but sweet) Valentine's Day card, so I feel like I need to redeem my love vibes.

So while I sit and watch the beginning of Sleepless in Seattle (and wonder WHY the gorgeous Meg Ryan ever resorted to surgery), I thought I'd share a few carefully disguised examples of when lurve has made me smile.

Sister, this is a pretty corny post so feel free to skip to the bottom. You'll like that bit.

Beautiful image from the inspiring Dallas Clayton

After an awfully awful day where all I wanted to do is sit at the bottom of the shower and wash the day away, P* texted to say there was someone outside to see me. It was him with a bunch of beautiful flowers and the best hug of my life.

L took out a blanket from the back of his car, on the point of the beach and wrapped us up and pointed out constellations he knew.

V would write me letters and give them to me every day. I made him home-made chocolates and he left me roses on my letter box.

My mum left brown paper bags full of lollies on our beds when we were in Primary school. It is one of my favourite memories. There is just something magical about leaving your room one way and coming home to find it tidy and with LOLLIES. ON. YOUR. BED.

The first time the one you like gets to meet your friends. And it goes amazingly well and then you kiss and eat sweet calzone on the street.

My friend K bringing me three roses, two yellow for friendship.

R once took me to the beach and played me a song he'd written about me. That night he also gave me a painting he'd done and gifted me a silver bracelet.

The first time I ever felt that '**' was on a volleyball trip in Year 8 and I remember seeing this Year 10 boy for the first time and I was like, "Huh, so this is what Sweet Valley was talking about." He went on to push over some bins when I sent my friend to break up with him a month later.

Cut to eleven years later, in the middle of a late night escapade, O took me into the middle of a park, bunched me up into his arms and hugged me under a cloudy, grey night sky and I remember looking up at that beautiful sky and thinking, "Oh shit, I think I might love him."

Any you want to share?

If that post found you rolling your eyes at my mushy sentimentality (I don't blame you) then I hope you enjoy the following:

Thanks to the hilarious Zoe Foster for those gems.

* Initials have been changed to protect identities. Some people may even have been mentioned twice under various alphabetical aliases. I'm sneaky like that.

** Not sure what to call it. It's not a spark. But it has happened with every person I've been attracted to. That, "Oh hi, it's you, moment."

2011-02-12T15:10:00.000+10:00

This list, like many of them, was started and then stopped but this time it wasn't out of my laziness but due to illness. Today marks my fourth day in bed and needless to say, I. am. over. it.

I'm not particularly great at being sick but when that is coupled with a total inability to eat, move around or work out whether I am hot or cold, I find the whole experience totally frustrating.

I'm really digging deep this week to work out what I am grateful for:

My new Dolce and Gabbana frames. I just got a text telling me they are ready for collection but I am in no shape to hit the shops right now. Lovely service from OPSM at Chermside, even if the glasses were a little more expensive than I'd hoped.

Laying in bed listening to Alicia Keys

A beautiful Valentine's Day gift/care package from my friend Amy: the most delicious and sickly sweet Vanilla and Caramel candle from Peter Alexander & a copy of this month's Madison. Plus, ginger beer, lucozade, oranges, Easy Mac, 2 minute Noodles, icy poles and some Sara Lee ice cream

lots of Lucozade and ginger beer

back to back Sex and the City episodes

my hilarious sister's new webisode - My Gay Boyfriend

The pile of books beside my bed. Just waiting. I've been able to sink my teeth into One Day in the days I've been sick and it is really good

People offering a helping hand when I least expect it

Cute boys checking me in at the Doctor

My normally healthy and fit body.

Not having to wear makeup or do my hair for four days...actually, not really, I love doing that so I would just like to get better NOW.

Before this makes me crazy, let me know how're you feeling!

Things My Students Teach Me Week 14

2011-02-09T18:45:00.000+10:00

"I am not second best"

image via ohsobeautifulpaper.com

This little gem came to me yesterday afternoon from a 15 year old boy. I taught him for much of last year and he constantly spoke about the girls who were in love with his six pack and often asked me for my opinion as to which girl sounded 'better'. He mentioned that the girl he had liked had blown him off but was trying to get him back. He said to me, "But Miss, I told her, I'm not second best."

That idea came to me as seriously mature for a) a boy and b) a 15 year old boy.

It also made me wonder how many girls his age would say the same if the situation were reversed. Or how many girls in their twenties would be confident enough to say the same.

I'm not sure whether I would be able to stand up for myself and say that to someone I loved but I think that would mostly be about fear of them not sticking around when probably, it is not worth it in the first place.

Oh, and to all those people who gave me their poached eggs tips, I am slowly getting there and have had moderate amounts of success. Which, of course, is a far better result than moderate amounts of failure.

How to: Poach an Egg

2011-02-05T09:18:00.000+10:00

Anyone?

My ideal breakfast tomorrow morning (or now, but hey, that's unlikely) would be eggs benedict that I could make myself. I cannot for the life of me poach an egg. I've tried adding vinegar, spiralling the water like crazy etc etc.

I mean, I managed to make macarons, but can't for the life of me poach an egg.

Please help.

Hi Friday, Thanks for Coming

2011-02-04T18:59:00.005+10:00

Today marks the end of Week 2 back at school. Already the boys' shirts are untucked more often, task sheets are being handed out and today, I slept past my 'snooze' time. I realised last night that if I power on the way I've been going:

5:30 - Wake up

7:00 - Arrive at school

4:30 - Leave school

5:00- Gym

7:00 - Dinner

10:00 - Bed

I'm going to wear myself out so, so fast. This is a common occurrence amongst teachers. We work hard (just to blow our collective horns for a moment) and sacrifice a lot of our own lives in order to ensure we're doing the best job for our students. As a result we tend to pick up whatever viruses are going around and can be knocked around pretty hard. I proved this theory with my mild case of crazy and the terrible throat infection I got in the last week of school last year.

Is there something you do to help your work/life balance? A friend at work swears by doing all work at her desk before she leaves so she never takes planning home.

Tonight I was tempted to get something easy for dinner and go to bed early but instead, had a beer with colleagues after school, chatted with my new housemate and then got ready for dinner with Amy.

Normally my Saturdays revolve around my 11:30am Zumba class (It really is love) but I think tomorrow I will let the day unravel a little more slowly. I have coffee with a friend planned at 2 and am off to get my weary ageing eyes checked at 3pm. I am super keen on some Prada and Chanel glasses but think I should make my Private health fund work for me for a change and seeing as I can get a pair of glasses for free, it might not be worth bothering with brand names.

I've struggled to sit down in front of the laptop this week and tap out something of quality on here as most of my brain work seems to happen between 8am and 3:10pm. I did, however, change Life Like Lola's layout. I hastily threw together the banner up the top but the rest is the Strawberry Shortcake design over at pugly pixel. This marks the start of my learning more about html this year and hopefully, making Lola a little prettier and more reflective of the actual blog.

Let me know what you think and how you are and who you are. I might not be writing on this blog much but am still reading a lot of them.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-01-27T21:20:00.000+10:00

Coming to you once more, on time, on a Thursday.

This las week as just flown by but at the same time hasn't gone fast enough! Last week back at school was mostly about meetings and official things and so this week marks our first week of term.

image via weheartit

Week 1 back at school. When Year 8ers still look little and adorable and sweet and the new seniors can't quite believe that they're finally at the top of the food chain

Excellent Week 1 outfits

Sweet compliments from my colleagues

Getting into twitter

Planning lessons the old fashioned way - straight to a notebook

The way our College comes together. Today was the funeral of one of our most energetic and wonderful teachers, he was the sort of man who gave everything he had to the school. At times like this there is nothing like knowing you can lean on your extended family when you need to.

My new 'K' necklace

Watching a combination of Bridget Jones' Diary, (500) Days of Summer and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in class

Anticipating the arrival of Sarah's baby!! (I am beyond excited!)

Spending yesterday in and beside the pool, eating too much salad and barbequed goods followed by the best pavlova ever

A pretty normal conversation with an ex-boyfriend

Being super sore but knowing it is from an awesome boxing workout

Getting an awesome post-crappy day haircut and deciding it was time to chop it all off! Here is what happens when you've been awake 11 hours and try to take a photo for your social networking pals:

Untitled from Karli on Vimeo.

The last still is my favourite.

How was your week? Did you celebrate Australia day? How is life treating you one month into 2011?

Never Let Me Go

2011-01-22T22:05:00.003+10:00

Holy heck I just realised I posted about Never Let Me Go all the way back in November with the best intentions to complete the novel that month for Lola's Bookclub. All I can say to that is:

HA!

This book has haunted me for the past 3 months. It is the first of the books I have chosen for bookclub that I didn't actually enjoy reading. I believe Time was wrong when they said it was, "The best novel of the decade." Wrongity-wrong-wrong.

I bought two copies of this novel, one for me and one for a friend for his birthday. If I see him again, I will have to apologise.

I'd bet my negative review would come to a shock to some. I know Amie read the novel quickly and loved it and my friend Kate explained that she couldn't put it down and convinced me not to give up. I wish they'd just said, "Skip ahead to the last twenty pages." I feel like I didn't particularly like the characters and found the pace of the storyline quite tedious.

Have you read it? What do you think?

I rarely 'give up' on books but was so, so close with Never Let Me Go.

I'm so hoping this is a case of movie trumping book!

Relationship Diseases

2011-01-17T23:45:00.000+10:00

No, this post has nothing to do with STIs. Or are they STDS? I can't keep up but either way, they have no place here.

The diseases I speak of are those things that get passed onto you, that filter into you life by way of a special someone/paramour/'friend' and all of a sudden they become your own. Or they will forever remind you of them. At least, forever in the very Taylor Swift definition of the word, you know, at least they stay with you for much of your late teens/early twenties.*

Confused?

Okay.

On Saturday afternoon, caked in mud and dressed in clothes typically relegated to Saturday morning Rugby training, the only thing I wanted was a cold drink. An alcoholic one at that. This is rather unusual for me as I could count the times I drank last year and not even use all my fingers. My drink of choice was a six can pack of Rum and Cola. This is nothing big in itself but my rum drinking is not something that started as a result of growing up in the drink's place of birth but is something I have inherited from the guys I have dated.

I mean, its not as if I do not like or enjoy drinking it but it is something that I have taken from my old life/love and it has partly shaped the me that will be the girl my future love falls in love with. Ooh getting serious...

Perhaps it was just the effects of the rum but I realised I do this with other things as well, sports teams for example. One boyfriend was a mad West Ham United fan and now, if I were to cheer on any Premier League team, that would be the one. I even have the song burnt into my brain, along with the quote, "Play me like a drum" that was uttered after one boyfriend watched Kung Pow one too many times. From that same boyfriend I also got my favourite slice recipe. Comments or habits from people who have, at one time or another, been important to us, have such ongoing effects. It might might be that now you always wear liquid eyeliner and when you wear certain shirt it reminds you of them as that's what you wore the night you first held hands. And he liked them both on you.

I wondered if I was the only one who found this happening so sought counsel. After trying really hard to clearly explain this concept to a guy friend he told me that girls worry too much and over think everything and was that what I meant? No. On further explanation, he understood and responded that he can now make a mean risotto.

Another friend was told by a boyfriend that she never offered him a drink when he was over. Now, as a result of his comment, her guests are always asked if they would like a drink when they arrive. She made sense of this "phenomena" much better than I could (I think she will be Lola's ghost writer from now on) when she said, "people in our lives leave traces like that, it's just the ones that we care about most that we're most likely to carry with us."

Now I'm really interested in hearing what you've got? Anything that you didn't realise was apart of your day-to-day that is a result of someone you cared about (at one point in time or another)?

*It is very possible they last a lot longer but as I am only 24 I can not go ahead and assume I will remember/do these things when I am older.

Things I Love Thursday (On Friday)

2011-01-14T18:24:00.006+10:00

I doubted that I would get back to blogging this week. This is for a few reasons:

I was stuck in Hervey Bay, the Bruce Highway closed due to flooding in Gympie and Maryborough
On the 11 of January, while Brisbane prepared for unprecedented floods, I was sunbaking on the beach. And feeling some serious guilt over it.
Half of Brisbane is currently flooded or volunteering to help clean up mud and mess while I spend my afternoon dropping of dry cleaning, fuelling up the car and going to the gym.

So when it comes to thinking about things I love, I didn't want to give the impression that my mind was free of worry. Then yesterday I checked my email (and RSS feed) after not looking at it for a week and was delighted with your comments and they really reminded me how important it is to be grateful for what we have. So here goes:

I have a new girl crush on Anna Bligh. I have little interest in politics. Just ask Z. But Anna is like the mum you'd want to have right now. She is calm and strong. She does not try to play politics and hide emotion in what must be the most difficult time in her career. She is also an excellent public speaker, rarely needing to look at her notes. I feel pretty safe in her hands.

Channel 7. It is like crack for those eager to know everything about flooded Queensland.

Queensland spirit. I just got so choked up watching the story of this 50-something-year-old man who couldn't just walk past a lady's house and had to go in to help. It broke his heart. He in turn broke mine and all of a sudden I was tearing up at the telly.

My dad. He was working security at Bundaberg airport yesterday when the RAAF delivered supplies and this is what he wrote on facebook:

Just before the last plane left today, it's pilot came up to me and introduced himslef and said to me - Listen we're going to take off shortly but tell the people to hang around cos we'll do a flyover of the airport and give Bundaberg a big wave. Well I cudda give him a big hug! And when the big monster took off and did a huge circuit of the airport and we lost sight of it behind the treeline, we thought oh it must have been told to return to base. Then we saw it turning in the distance, landing lights ablaze and it lined up the runway and swooped down and did a rock and roll, then turned and banked steeply to the south, still waving to Bundaberg as it left. Well I nearly buckelled!

Buying magazines for the last time these holidays. I don't like to indulge in Cosmopolitan unless time allows. The rest of the time I feel I am just becoming more shallow.

Winning a Lush goodies pack from Girl With a Satchel.

Signing up with Volunteering Queensland.

Planning to buy a Kitchen Aid mixer for my 25th Birthday. It isn't until May, that's why it is just a plan for now.

I hope wherever you are reading this from, you are safe and dry. If you're not, let me know what I can do. Seriously.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-01-06T22:08:00.000+10:00

Heck yes this Things I Love Thursday is finally going out on time!

In the midst of another heavy rain shower, I'm really reaching deep into my 'good' stores to find things that make me happy even when EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS DAMP and I've seen approximately 3 DAYS OF SUNSHINE IN 6 WEEKS. But hey, whatever.

image

While an umbrella is currently necessary, the blue sky is hopeful

Getting back to the gym. Unlike a lot of other people, my New Year's resolution has nothing to do with increasing exercise as I'm pretty happy with the way things are going. Having a 10 day break over Christmas and finally getting back to the gym has been such a relief. It has made my brain feel so much calmer as well.
Finding time to see friends. I swam with Katy yesterday, have spent afternoons with Sarah, had dinner with Amy and am catching up with my friend Kate this afternoon. Life is good with girlfriends.

This scene:

Wearing jeans in January. Thanks, rain.

Embarking on a beach getaway tomorrow. 5 or so days away from Brisbane, hopefully in the sunshine, should be just the ticket for final relaxation before heading back to school.

Covering my school diary. I really am a super nerd. Covering my diary makes me feel a little more excited about the year and seeing all that clean, blank space is a little bit inspiring.

Watching Drew Barrymore movies in bed.

Finally making almost perfect macarons with Amy. It may have taken us, oh, about two and a half hours, but finally we did it.

food was very carefully styled by Amy

Finding the perfect first day back to school dress. I MAY even take an outfit photo but...probably not.

Choc chip, peppermint frappucinos from Starbucks

A perfectly timed day

You know, writing down what you're grateful for is supposedly quite good for you and it means more good might even come your way, so go on, let me know what you love.

Things I Love Thursday (On Friday)

2010-12-31T18:40:00.000+10:00

A very New Yearsy image via weheartit

This is the final TILT for 2010 and surprisingly, it is going out on the day it is supposed to!

Who'd have thought that could happen!?

HA! See, I wrote all that yesterday, I'm hopeless. If this is a sign of how well I keep New Year's Resolutions then I wouldn't put my money on me.

Things that I love that helped end 2010 on a good note:

My mum being so excited about having a new car. It has been nine years since we got our Camry and I can still remember how great I thought it was when mum and dad picked me up for volleyball training the day they got it.

Blue sky. After 9 days of rain (the 9 days I spent home with my family - 10 minutes from the beach) the blue sky is like the most beautiful thing you could ever see.

Catching up with my friend Adam. My mum refers to him as 'My Adam' (as in hers), she loves him and is just waiting for the day we announce our engagement. It is nice to know friendships from high school can last so long and remain so normal.

a rain-free drive back to Brisbane today.

Zumba anticipation - back to the normal gym routine next week after a two week break.

Crashing a couple's NYE. I did this last year as well and it was awesome. This year I'll ring in 2011 with Sarah & Ben and another couple. Oh, as well as the thousands of other firework watchers at South Bank.

Preparing homemade sausage rolls and chocolate coated cake balls (recipe to come) for tonight's picnic

Rosehip oil

Lola celebrated her first birthday (a little over a week ago..)

The new doona my mum bought me. As soon as I got home I unpacked and changed my doona over. It is so much fuller and makes my bed look so much better. I thought it might be a good omen to have it on and ready to sleep in to start 2011

Lola's 12 Days of Christmas: Days 8 through 12

2010-12-29T16:01:00.000+10:00

This broadcast of Life Like Lola comes live from Bundaberg, which has now been declared a flood disaster zone. Go here for some awesome pictures. Oh, and I'm fine, my feet are just a bit soggy but there are some parts of town that aren't looking so flash.

Christmas day, the 25th, saw Lola's 12 Days of Christmas come to an end.

At last count I still had to:

Befriend a neighbour
Show someone you love them
Do something to celebrate the Christmas season, that can only be done in your hemisphere

Boycott the shops today and spend time doing something uplifting/meaningful
Try not to fight with family members today

Alrighty, well I was not able to befriend a neighbour. This is because I was in Bundaberg for Christmas and our neighbours are already befriended by my mum and sister. The lady to the right came over right before our Christmas feast, drunk and carting two sticky handed children in tow. Not cool dude. Anyway, consider her befriended. While to the left of us lives one of my sister's best friends. Done. Friended. Tick.

You can see I'm still feeing super festive, huh!?

While he may not have known it, I showed my grandpa I loved him when I went to visit and found him pottering about in the back garden. He had just (as in the day before) had yet another skin cancer cut out and had decided it was the best time to go and pick awkwardly positioned cherry tomatoes from the vine. I went and helped and, with my arm around him, wandered back inside. Feeling the love? Tick.

I had specifically designed the "Do something to celebrate the Christmas season, that can only be done in your hemisphere" challenge for my time at home. Normally, December holidays would see us drive the ten minutes to the beach, usually in the ultimate heat of the day, lay on the sand, swim a bit and get an ice cream or slurpy on the way home. Instead, I patted my frightened dog as we hid inside watching way too much Keeping Up With The Kardashians because it was pouring rain outside and toads were swimming in a backyard. Sadly, the was no chance to throw a shrimp on the barbie or anything equally Aussie. Tick? No, FAIL.

Also, I didn't boycott the shops, namely because there was absolutely nothing else to do. I did set up the Christmas tree however, and that was very festive and non-commercial (I mean, I bought the decorations last year, so of course that doesn't count..). Tick? Maybe..kind of.

Finally, on Christmas day I did quietly complete my final challenge. This is one that has become increasingly difficult, mostly because you get lots of differing opinions and feelings that seem to arise on Christmas day that don't come to the surface for the rest of the year (when family mostly communicates via facebook and phone). I am so happy though that this year, there was no fighting with family members. There may have been some snide remarks about OTHER people, but as Z suggested, we were able to direct these at a common enemy! But at the end of the day, food was enjoyed, drink and my minty ice cream cake was consumed and rain was avoided.

Now if only the flood would subside and the sun would come out so I could feel like I'm actually on holiday and not under house arrest.

Lola's 12 Days of Christmas: Day 5, 6 and 7 (ish)

2010-12-23T17:36:00.006+10:00

Okay, so I have a confession.

It is really freakin hard to 'accidentally' complete these 12 Days of Christmas tasks/challenges.

If I'd set ones like:

take road trip with my sister
gossip about boys
catch up for coffee with best friend from high school
do excess Christmas shopping
read trashy magazines while wearing a face mask

I'd be done and could crown myself queen of Christmas challenges with my shining Christmas halo. Instead, I've put off posting in favour of drinking obscene amounts of Milo and watching Sex and the City 2.

I mean I know nothing will happen if I don't complete my list, it isn't like Christmas will be ruined or anything but I was certainly hoping I might be able to make something more of the festive season.

Thinking about what I have left on my list, the ones I could maybe tick off would be:

Complete a Random Act of Kindness

Today, at the shops an old lady dropped a bag of shopping and was then having trouble putting her other stuff into a bag so I picked up the one off the floor and helped her. She said, "Thanks love, Merry Christmas." Yesterday, I complimented a check-out girl on her 'festive tie' and wished her a Merry Christmas after she explained she didn't want to wear a 'Santa's naughty little helper' shirt like the other girls (girl power, sister). Oh, and last week, on the foul peak hour drive from The Gap to Taringa, I let a few cars go in front of me. If that's not kindness..

Do something fun for a child

Last week at the baby shower, I repeatedly took gorgeous baby Tia over to look at Sarah's dog, Chino. One of the only words Tia can say is "D...OG" and she was seriously fascinated by Chino. So I guess, in her books, that's something fun.

Indulge your inner child and look at Christmas lights

Last night, as I was dropping my sister back to her place (my little sister lives with her boyfriend - cue my quarter life crisis), I went past a cul-de-sac that was looking particularly festive. So while it was accidental Christmas light indulgence, I think it still counts.

What do you think? Could I qualify for Christmas angel status yet, or what?

In the next two days I have to/want to:

Do something to celebrate the Christmas season, that can only be done in your hemisphere

Show someone you love them

Try not to fight with family members today

Befriend a neighbour

Boycott the shops today and spend time doing something uplifting/meaningful

If you have any ideas how to complete those by Christmas night, enquire within.

Lola's 12 Days of Christmas: Day 4

2010-12-19T18:00:00.000+10:00

In the madness that is Christmas holidays, Lola has fallen by the wayside. This means that next week will see me be rather creative as I attempt to:

Do something to celebrate the Christmas season, that can only be done in your hemisphere

Show someone you love them

Try not to fight with family members today

Complete a Random Act of Kindness

Do something fun for a child

Befriend a neighbour

Boycott the shops today and spend time doing something uplifting/meaningful

Indulge your inner child and look at christmas lights

...all in time for Christmas next Saturday.

Yesterday and today I managed to tick one off my list:

Spend time with an old friend and remember why you remained friends for so long

Last night I spent time with my friend Sarah who is currently pregnant with her first baby, a little girl. I met Sarah in kindy and she is most definitely my oldest friend.

We were pushed back together when we were 12, in time to start Year 8 together.

Since then we have celebrated many birthdays together, lived together, celebrated her wedding to lovely Ben (at which I was the MC) and now I get to spend time with her as she and Ben prepare for the impending arrival of their beautiful daughter.

Sarah's Wedding, Sept 2008

Christmas Eve, 2009

My 24th Birthday, May 2010

Sarah's Baby Shower, December 2010

Today was Sah's baby shower and last night I hung out with her, baked and decorated some girl appropriate cupcakes, babysat gorgeous Tia and generally just chilled out.

Over the past couple of weeks, Sah and I have had some time to shop and hang out together and it always surprises me how comfortable our relationship is and just how much it hasn't changed. I used to spend weekends over at Sarah's house, experimenting with makeup and hair dos and Sarah would go through her wardrobe to find us outfits to wear. We would play the start of My Heart Will Go On and watch 10 Things I hate About You until both us and her twin, Nic, knew all the words.

Our relationship is pretty much the same now; I usually leave her house with a bag full of borrowed clothes and we still watch terribly bad movies (not that 10 Things is bad) while talking about boys. And now babies.

I am so stupidly excited about meeting her little girl and I know Sarah and Ben will be such wonderful parents because they love each other so much. While it feels like forever, the next seven weeks will undoubtedly fly by!

So of all Lola's 12 Days Challenges so far, finding that comfort and joy of being with an old friend at Christmas time really reminds you what the festive season is all about.

Things I Love Thursday (On Friday)

2010-12-17T08:00:00.004+10:00

As I write today's Things I Love Thursday (Yes, I know, but it is Friday!) I am sitting in the waiting room of the place where my car is being serviced. I sit her smugly on my Mac, listening to multiple Glee soundtracks and exploring options of doing my Masters.

Tasty and pretty via weheartit

picnics with the Greens. Kel and Super Husband have done an awesome job raising two very sweet boys

baking Snickerdoodles

plans to create these for Sarah's baby shower

girly date nights/days with good friends

Massaman curry at Sing's, Rosalie

avoiding school holidays masses (and mental, South East Queensland storms) by heading to smaller Gold Class cinemas

delicious Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway getting their kits off. Amazing.

grazing. I've not made a 'proper' meal since Monday I think. It has been kind of awesome just picking up whatever I feel like. I'm really bucking the 'routine' trend I'm fond of throughout the term.

stumbling on secret, delicious Cake shops that sell sweet and pretty macarons

finally reading more of Never Let Me Go

that my little sister will be bringing me a delivery of Haigh's chocolate when she arrives on Monday

With a week until Christmas, what's making you happy?

Lola's 12 Days of Christmas: Day 3

2010-12-16T18:20:00.001+10:00

Day 3 started off really well, with a brunch catch up with one of my favourite colleagues. He reminds me off my dad a little, very no-nonsense and an excellent head nodder.

After a warm morning of chat and an excellent banana smoothie (plus my delivery of yesterday's Christmas treats to him) we went on a successful macaron hunt.

Post-treats, I bought the latest Frankie and settled in to read it before realising there was a serious storm cloud approaching. As I'd booked a date with Amy to see Love and Other Drugs(excellent/sad/rom-com-y. Good nudity. Win.) I realised I needed to high tail it out! Just in time. By the time we were going into our cinema, it was all Voldemort-y and green outside.

Cut to a few hours later and I was sitting cross legged on my floor, eating candy canes and peppermint chocolates while I listened to the rain hit the deck.

Oh, and while doing this I was also completing Day 3's challenge cue:

Send a card to an old friend or family member.

As I had already sent my family Christmas cards, I sat and wrote to two overseas friends/pen pals/awesome bloggers. The first card was to my friend and pen pal Caiti whom I met via our blogs. The second was to rad Diana at our.city.lights.

My love of stationary and greeting cards is really indulged at Christmas time. I'd chosen these awesome cards for some colleagues and the girls' cards:

These are from Kikki-K and for the pack of 10 cost $14.95.

I love that they aren't too spangly or anything and they're made of the most lovely cardboard.

Anyhoo, it was so nice to sit and get out some thoughts to the girls as well as wishing them an excellent festive season. After all, "what a wonderful thing is the mail, capable of conveying across continents a warm human hand-clasp."

Go on, go hand-clasp someone who you haven't seen in awhile.

Lola's 12 Days of Christmas: Day 2

2010-12-16T12:15:00.000+10:00

I'm watching Lorelai and Christopher watch Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn. S'wonderful.

Yesterday was Day 2 of Lola's 12 Days of Christmas and I spent it in the kitchen cooking up treats so I could complete my second 'challenge':

Share a Christmas treat with someone else

I knew this week I'd be catching up with a few friends and thought what better way to say Merry Christmas/I think of you/ Hi I like to bake, then by sharing some delicious Snickerdoodles with them (no, they don't have Snickers in them).

These are definitely the prettiest of the biscuits. The other lot stuck mostly to each other. Still tasty.

Stack up the biscuits into little piles

Wrap said biscuit piles in festive tissue paper and cellophane. Beautiful. Ish. My wrapping skills are not particularly blog worthy.

Then deliver treats to friends and share the leftover biscuit bits with housemates and friends.

Stay tuned for today's Day of Christmas challenge to be blogged about later today.

Lola's 12 Days of Christmas: Day 1

2010-12-14T20:01:00.005+10:00

Today I spent mostly indoors. For two reasons:

1. My housemate and her family went out so I worked like a mental woman to make our place spotless

2. Because I am sick of driving. I feel like that is basically all I have done since I moved.

So I thought it quite a nice idea to start my 12 Days of Christmas by focusing on myself a little bit and working out what I want.

Today I ticked off: Make goals for yourself and seal a copy in an envelope, to be opened in a year

I put off doing this all day and maybe because some of these goals are a little personal.

In the spirit of sharing and giving and communicating too much information via the internetz, here're my goals for 2011:

I tried to make them a little broad - love, career, life and cash.

Some of these things I've been thinking about for a little while but had kind of forced them to the back of my head because first I wanted to just finish school, then I had to think about moving house and now both of those things are done I can finally tackle all the other bits on my mind!

I've tucked this away in my Audrey Hepburn journal with a few other special bits and pieces. No doubt I will stumble on it next year and hopefully smile because I did it all.

Lola's 12 Days of Christmas

2010-12-12T12:40:00.000+10:00

So Lola's 12 Days of Christmas is almost upon us/me. I officially start checking things off my list on Tuesday but thought I best publish this list before I:

a) chicken out

b) decide all I want to do these holidays is lay in bed and listen to the rain.

1. Spend time with an old friend and remember why you have remained friends for so long

2. Do something to celebrate the Christmas season, that can only be done in your hemisphere

3. Show someone you love them

4. Try not to fight with family members today

5. Complete a Random Act of Kindness

6. Make goals for yourself and seal a copy in an envelope, to be opened in a year

7. Do something fun for a child

8. Send a card to an old friend or family member

9. Befriend a neighbour

10. Share a Christmas treat with someone else

11. Boycott the shops today and spend time doing something uplifting/meaningful

12. Indulge your inner child and look at christmas lights

What do you think of 'The List'?

Anything you want me to include/exclude?

Please go to rockstar diaries and check out Naomi's beautiful list because a lot of these come from/are inspired by hers!

Things I Love Thursday (On Friday)

2010-12-10T20:30:00.001+10:00

I can't believe that as I write this, I am watching a couple get married on TV. Oh Morning TV, what will you think of next. Just for the record, it is like a car accident, you just cannot turn away.*

The first thing I love this week is that I am actually on holidays. Sometimes, while I fret over what to fill my time with, I forget how lucky I am to have such a decent break. I spoke to a girl at the gym yesterday and she only has Christmas and Boxing Day off. I am super lucky. I love that I am able to have enough time to unwind and then get excited about the year ahead, I think I would find that far more difficult without the break.

Also,

listening to Norah Jones and being reminded of trying on my formal dress

delicious brownies - possibly the best result of this never-fail recipe

hanging out with my friend Sarah. She expects her first baby, a little girl, in about 9 weeks now and I am just beyond excited

establishing a good gym routine for the holidays

that my housemate made me fried rice for dinner. Cooking in this weather seemed utterly unbearable

On that note, air conditioning

Blue skies

Actually writing in my 'One Line a Day' journal

Dinner plans for the weekend

Feeling settled in my new house. I have the most beautiful view from the front deck and it gets the best afternoon breeze.

*So I wrote that this morning and after then watching Gorgi's baby shower on The Circle, I decided to get up and do something with my day.

Ramblings and a Challenge

2010-12-09T13:00:00.000+10:00

It has been almost a year since I sat down at home and wrote my first post on Life Like Lola. This blog has been something of an experiment, a way to better interact with other bloggers and also a way to challenge myself.

It has proved that I am terrible at sticking to a schedule when it comes to reading (I read 8 books, that I can remember this year...not the 12 I had hoped. I don't know how anyone is able to do the 52 in 52 weeks). It has also confirmed that internet dating is not a world I am ready to explore.

On the other hand, the blog also made me accountable. It 'forced' me to join a Futsal team, coach a rugby team, plant and go on outings and DO STUFF!

Writing on Lola has also made me actually write more, for myself, rather than for school, which is a big plus. A friend said to me today that he doesn't really get what blogs are for and it made me wonder what Lola has really been 'for'.

Mostly, it has just been for me. To be better, to help me pinpoint what I want, to make connections. It has also become a way to help me communicate better with my sister.

Lola started on the 21st of December last year as a result of a particularly time consuming year at school and discussion with my family about what I was doing with my life. They wanted to see me happier, and talk less of my job and more of myself. So for me, 2010 was a year I wanted to embark on some change, maybe to fall a little bit in love, to be happier and more confident. Some of which happened.

Thankfully.

And it forced me to re-evaluate what I wanted and what I don't want.

Looking back over the year, my involvement in my job has not really changed, but I've involved myself in things I've wanted to be involved in, rather than being swept up in saying yes to things I think I should be involved in. So this year has not been drastically different on that level, however, at the end of last year I felt like I had no life apart from my work, now I do.

This is probably one of those self-indulgent posts bloggers do to justify their lack of interesting content or lack of ...something. ACTUALLY, it isn't really to do that at all (well, maybe a tiny bit). It is to, in part, introduce my project for December. I found it quite difficult to publish regular posts while teaching all year and trying to be creative and inspired in the classroom (which is really important for me). So I thought the holidays are the perfect opportunity for me to write more on Lola.

Plus, I tend to quietly freak out when holidays begin (yes, I'm a teacher and yes, I get lots of holidays. The end.) as it leaves a usually very organised and well-planned Karli with very little to do. And this concerns me.

So for my December challenge, inspired by rockstar diaries' Taza and her mum's 25 Christmas Challenge, on the 14th December (until the 25th), I will begin Lola's 12 Days of Christmas.

A few of the ideas I will take from Naomi herself and I have a list of my own but would love to hear what you would think would be an awesome way to kick-start the holidays and get into the Christmas spirit. They might be ideas specifically Christmas related, devoted to Summer or just general thoughts on what you think Lola should do.

I'll start compiling the ideas and post the list in the next few days, before the Challenge commences.

Until then, I'm off to eat peppermint M&Ms and hunt through my moving boxes so I can find Hanson's Snowed In, because Christmas just isn't the same without it..

Merry Christmas Lola

2010-12-08T17:30:00.000+10:00

Yesterday, a lovely girl at Witchery said to me, "Are we just getting older or is Chrismas really getting worse?"

I think it may be a little bit of both. While online shopping has eased some of the pain of finding a park at any Westfield centre (particularly, Chermside. Note to all: park on the roof on top of David Jones. It is like the secret miracle of car parks), it has also made finding and purchasing a much more simple experience.

Lots of bloggers are posting gift guides at the moment, however, I'd be particularly hopeless at this because I am seriously STRUGGLING for what to buy people this Christmas. Recently, I had started noting down things that I really liked and so rather than write some sort of gift guide for other people, I will just write one for myself, or rather, for Lola.

1. The minute I saw this picture I knew it would need to find its way to my bedroom wall:

This lovely Audrey-inspired print can be found here, on flapperdoodle's etsy store and it is only $5.

2. I fell in love with Kendi's initial necklace. So much so that I cyber-stalked all her archived posts to find out where she got it. (What? That's not at all creepy..)

It turns out you can get this similar one from Urban Outfitters for only $18. Excellent.

3. Another print, this one, this time, for my office. There are so many at this store that I would love to have but I think this one is a beautiful daily reminder.

The price baffled me though, 750 SEK. For all I know, that's a made up currency..

4. The Frankie diary has been floating around the bloggy world for a little while and I've been hoping to win one!

It looks super pretty and the separate monthly calendar has really sold me. It is available on the Frankie website for an unknown price as the website said the item wasn't found....that's awkward. Off to Borders then to see if they have any left...

5. This would be the most ultimate of all gifts. I don't know why I want a KitchenAid mixer so bad but it would make baking so, so much prettier and more enjoyable!

I think the most difficult part of purchasing one of these would be choosing the colour. These are available for only $288 on Amazon! That's amazing seeing as in most shops they come in at around $600.

What would you LOVE to unwrap this Christmas? (No, this is not supposed to have any type of innuendo attached..)

Things I Love Thursday (On Friday)

2010-12-03T10:50:00.003+10:00

Beautiful image via weheartit

As I am currently in the process of moving house, I was really tempted not to post this week.

After my little spaz out last week, I ended up at the doctor with a case of tonsillitis. Looking back over this term, I had been holding in a lot of personal and professional stress and that finally manifested itself. I am still holding off on really letting myself sleep in or relax as the move, and having to organise my life, has been playing on my mind.

I also haven't gotten time to sit down and read Never Let Me Go but I'm thinking that might be an excellent way to begin my Summer holidays.

So after much head scratching, here is all that I am grateful for this week:

my sister and her boyfriend coming down especially to help me move

sitting outside on my laptop so I can get some internetz and the lovely painter who is working next door, seeing me and striking up conversation. I can only imagine how strange I must look sitting on the concrete on my Mac.

making decisions that kind of suck and give you that achey, stay awakey head/heart pain but ultimately are for the best

having friends who see through the stress and tell you what you need to hear

eating cinnamon scrolls in bed

fitting all my clothes in my new cupboard. Just.

Christmas anticipation

school ending for the year

receiving my leave loading payment. Moving really stings when it comes to rent doubling up, cleaning costs, driving back and forth plus preparing for Christmas and impending rego. In saying that, I'm not actually sure what leave loading really IS or why I get it, but hell, I'm super grateful for it!

my kind doctor. She's an Asian lady in her thirties and is so sweet and gentle and honest. It makes going to the doctor not quite so awful.

my sister constantly posting new ideas for her Christmas presents on my facebook wall

hitting my goal weight this week. I have been gradually losing since Term 2 and am feeling really good.

doing 'jobs' - packing, booking my car in for a service, redirecting mail, pumping up my tyres. Nothing makes me feel more independent and grown up.

I thought I was really going to struggle with this list but as always, once I sat down to write, things just seem to come up and it really makes me realise that nothing's ever as bad as it seems right then. Actually, things are quite good.

Lola's Dream Dates: Part 3

2010-11-28T12:30:00.002+10:00

The final installment of Lola's Dream Dates is upon us.

These are beginning to get a little more seasonal, as some things are just perfect for Summer in Oz (apologies to those reading overseas...are there many?)

So without further adieu, leave the computer open for your lover so they can check out where they should take you for your next Dream Date:

- When the nights become just that little bit hotter, pack a blanket and picnic basket and head to the moonlight cinema.

In Australia's capital cities over summer, the Moonlight Cinema takes part and allows us to get outside and enjoy some entertainment in the open. I went this year for my Valentine's Day and, for all those prospective lovers out there, I would love to go again this year. Maybe an early Valentine's Day though as Breakfast at Tiffany's is on on the 10th of Feb! It was so nice to see lots of couples hanging out, curling up and eating delicious goodies they packed to share with each other.

- Pre-Christmas Celebrations

This idea is taken in part from my high school boyfriend who surprised me with a Christmas light watching adventure when we were in Year 12. I love Christmas and sometimes it is hard to work out when to celebrate with your loved one if you won't be seeing them on Christmas Day. Put up the tree together, eat rum balls on the deck and trade presents. Top the night off with making out under misteltoe while listening to Hanson's Snowed In. (Trust me, it is better than it sounds..)

- Spontaneous Adventure Date.

Then there are those nights when you have your shower, go to bed and lie there, wanting to do something more. Call up your sweetheart and quickly put on whatever is closest to you. All that matters is that you're with them. It doesn't matter that you have work tomorrow - as long as you're together you will be happy, even if your eyes feel sawdusty the next day.

Let him take you to his favourite place, surprise him with target practice and some eggs. (Obviously, I could never throw an egg to deliberately vandalise something. Well, not unless they were deviled.)

Cuddle up to each other in a park, with the clouds all grey overhead and be happy you're together.

A Small Secret

2010-11-26T18:27:00.008+10:00

You know how every week (lately, and usually late) I post about all those things that I'm grateful for?

Well, those things are true but there has been something niggling at my list writing lately. I think that blogging allows us all to present certain aspects of our personalities and lives. Obviously this is both a good thing and a bad thing. On my blog I try to be generally honest as Lola, as a baby blog, was here to aide me in 2010 on my search for something...

I do also subscribe to the Laws of Attraction (putting out what you hope to get - which is generally what I try to do with Lola), which means I often put out into the blog, things I hope to manifest. But in the name of full disclosure, I think it is time to be a little more honest.

So basically, I am not happy right now.

I have this sense of anxiety and a general feeling of 'being wired,' as a colleague and lovely friend put it to me today. This feeling of restlessness is just killing me at the moment. Or it felt like it when I was sitting on the floor of the hot shower at 12:30am hoping it would be the thing that would lull me to sleep. Alas, it wasn't as I was still totally awake and 1:30pm and up at 5:30am. I also feel that as a result of this general exhaustion, I'm pushing away everything that is really important to me because I'm worried I'll just ruin it anyway.

The first sign of this was feeling like I've been a cranky teacher this past month and for me, that's a real shock. I'm usually super happy to be at work and recently it has felt like a real chore. I enjoy it mostly while I'm there but lately "I'm just not that into" it.

I think it is best described as a feeling of being a little displaced or my mum would probably say I feel "a bit off". I'm hoping this feeling dissipates as I complete report cards, move house, properly begin holidays and spend some time with my family and friends.

This weekend, in an attempt to reinvigorate myself, I'm going to date Lola. No, this does not mean putting any of my special Lola dates into action but I'm going to do things I really, really love. At the moment my ideas circle around a movie, Saturday morning Zumba, breakfast at my favourite place, baking and buying new face cleanser. I know, what can I say, my needs are diverse.

And mostly food related.

Things I Love Thursday on Friday

2010-11-26T07:27:00.007+10:00

I'm making this list on a day I really am thankful for; the last day of the school term! While we teachers will be back for 3 days next week doing reporting, today is the last day we see the boys before they venture off to their X-Boxes for the next 6-8 weeks playing Black Ops. Awesome.

image via weheartit

It is the last day of Term!

I have felt really appreciated by some of my students. I've been given some lovely gifts from boys and their parents to say thank you and it really makes me realise, on those days when waking up to come in to school is difficult, that I'm doing an important job

I'm not sure if I am thankful for it but I am definitely enjoying being on twitter. You can find me here

My family. Talking to my mum and sisters about Christmas is super exciting. We're not often in the same place for long so I'm excited that a month from now we'll all be hanging out together

On that note, my very clever sister

A beautiful Christmas delivery from Sarah yesterday. She picked up my new Mimco bag. After much uncertainty, I went with the classic Mimco style.

This is actually my "Secret" Santa gift from my sister so I am under strict instructions not to use it between now and Christmas. Sigh. So this lovely bag is currently packed up in my cupboard.

Oh and just seeing my beautiful friend, Sarah and her truly awesome baby belly. I can't wait to meet her little girl!

Chris Cheney's cover of Distant Sun. It has been my anthem for the week. I love it when a song really comes along and finds you and this really did this week. My favourite bit: I don't pretend to know what you want, but I offer love. Bianca made an awesome playlist with this in it, you should get it here.

I'm really thankful for how healthy and fit I feel at the moment. Since beginning our Healthy Lifestyle Challenge in Term 2 this year, I've mostly kept up good habits and have managed to get to my 'goal' weight. I think Zumba is partly to thank..

Planning day trips with friends and anticipating the relief that comes with the start of the holidays. It has been a big year.

I guess if I was celebrating Thanksgiving (which, really, sounds like one of the better American holidays - I'm looking at you, Halloween..) I would be thankful for a job that I enjoy and that makes me feel a sense of personal fulfillment while still being challenging, a family that is there whenever I need them, good friends and all those other people in my life who make all the little moments better just by being there.

So,

Lola's Dream Dates: Part 2

2010-11-21T20:00:00.002+10:00

Welcome back to Lola's Dream Dates. It is Sunday night and I am at home watching Offspring and am about to indulge in some Sara Lee Cookies and Cream ice cream. If I had my choice, I would much rather be doing one of the following. How about you?

- When the blue skies become too irresistible, jump into your togs for a day trip to the coast.

In my book, fish and chips and ice cream make an excellent late lunch. Have a siesta under a shady spot before heading home with sand caked to your feet and enjoy how lovely and salty you both are.

- So the boy does not get overwhelmed by the soppiness of all these girl chosen dates, compromise with a fun, man-appropriate date. Putt Putt is always a winner for a fun and the novelty night/day date.

Be wary of the competitive streak - yours and his.

- Or for something extra sweet, get dressed up and head out for dinner to the place you had your first date. I would be an absolute sucker for this.

Share dessert pizza on the street before walking down the street with your arms around each other like one of those frustratingly happy couples.

Sigh.

Have you ever had a particularly soppy date or moment? Willing to share?

Go here for Part 1 of Lola's Dream Date and stay tuned for the final, Part 3.

Things I Love Thursday (On Saturday!)

2010-11-20T17:45:00.000+10:00

Yep, it really does. Image via weheartit

Thursday night Zumba

Sneaky, Thursday night, post-Zumba drinks. Going out on a school night was surprisingly easy.

Black Forrest Cadbury chocolate

Making my first Roast Pork. It is in the oven as we speak and smells AMAZING.

Friday night Harry Potter date. It was fantastic but kind of scary. The filmmaking was just awesome - everything looked just beautiful. This time last year, almost to the day, I was finishing the very last Harry Potter book. Since the books came out, I had flat out refused to read the series because I thought, "Pff, as if ANYONE would want to read about a wizard." Losers. Turns out, I was so so wrong. I had to eat my words and I urge anyone anti-HP to give it a go.

The most amazing gift from a Year 12 boy and his parents. I was presented with a beautiful Tiffany & Co. bag and this is what was inside:

(please excuse my pre-gym face)

It is a silk neck scarf/tie but I'm thinking it will be a great headband or wrist decorator. I'm even thinking of tying it in a bow and putting a pin on the back to attach to a black dress. Pretty!

A delicious mid week dinner of macadamia crusted chicken and these amazing sweet potatoes.

I am so thankful for the rain that held off yesterday. We have a rather spectacular graduation celebration at the school where I teach. It involves A LOT of work. It was a beautiful, busy, hot overcast day. But an absolute success.

Not (really) crying at graduation. I'm a bit hopeless and had a bit of a teary last year. This year I only got a little choked up when a boy said, "I'll really miss you, Miss. Thank you for all your help." Aw.

A text from my dad that said, "No worries, I got your back."

What was your graduation day like? Have you received any compliments lately that make your heart all melty? More importantly, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HARRY POTTER!?

2010-11-14T18:15:00.000+10:00

This comes from Z and Brodo.

Best read half-heartedly while watching the news.

What are you wearing now?
The most comfortable shorts known to man - stretchy, no-good-for-anything-else-than-being-at-home Everlasts and a pretty nautical top. Mismatched all the way.

What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading?
Some really bad drafts and so far, quite good, Never Let Me Go.

Do you nap a lot?
More now than ever. The first week of term usually sees me nap from about 4pm-6pm. I napped today for about an hour and a half. I try not to because I feel like they're the best sleeps and waking up from them is a little like being ripped from the womb.

What’s your current obsession/addiction?
Side parted hair, pulled behind my left ear in a little bun; chocolate Breaka always.

Which item from your closet are you wearing most lately?
Numerous nautical tops, Witchery silver embellished shoes even though they kill my poor bunion (yes, ew)

What's for dinner?
Caesar salad and lamb cutlets were on the plan but I mistakingly had some sandwiches a little while ago so now I'm not hungry. Boo.

What was the last thing you bought?
Jam, butter, bread, Cos lettuce, chocolate raspberry bullets and lamb cutlets.

What are you listening to right now?
Flashback on Channel 7 news.

What time do you usually get up?
5:50am. Very specific.

What is your most challenging goal right now?
Cash. Not having enough. Moving. Balancing work life/social life.

Say something to the person who tagged you:
She didn't tag me but, hey sister, you're funny. Most of the time.

If you could have a house–totally paid for, fully furnished–anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be?
Somewhere with a green front yard and comfortable, sunny lounge room.

Favourite vacation spot?
Bundy because it is home.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
Maybe my black work dress. It just feels classic and pretty. I love wearing it.

Favourite pair of shoes you keep going back to over and over, even though your closet is overflowing with a zillion others.
The Witchery ones I mentioned before.

What is your favourite item of jewellery?
Big, cubic zirconia studs that Helen bought me for maybe my 18th.

Name one thing that you cannot live without?
Milo. Peanut butter.

What was the last movie that you saw?
Fully - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. 10 minutes of 27 Dresses. Don't judge me.

What's your favourite movie (You can only name one title, it doesn't have to be your ultimate favourite but just the first one that pops into your head)?
10 Things I Hate About You.

What is your favourite weather, and why?
At the moment, sunny Spring days that don't make you bust a sweat. Killer blue skies.

Lola's Dream Dates: Part 1

2010-11-14T12:19:00.000+10:00

On Friday night, Blake, Kate and I enjoyed our dinner at Mecca Bah about 30 centimetres away from a couple we guessed were on their second date.

The conversation seemed awkward, the plates were too big to share on a little table and the atmosphere made getting to know each other difficult.

It got me thinking, if Lola got to plan and execute perfect dates, these would definitely be on the agenda:

- Buy tickets to Harry Potter. Avoid big cinema locations and hit the Dendy instead.

Who said movie night can't be a little bit fancy? Extra points if you wear your Gryffindor shoes and sport an Owl clutch.

- Sunday morning picnics are absolutely my choice of dates.

Take advantage of the beautiful weather with croissants and ham and bottles of orange juice. Lay back, read the paper and enjoy playing footsies in the park.

- Late night date night. Maybe he finished work late or you had to get to 7:30 Zumba, so dinner got put off.

Meet up later for 10 0'clock tacos on the floor while watching really bad TV and talking about your day.

Stay tuned for the Part 2 and 3.*

Do you have any special Dream Dates you want covered or you'd like to share with me? What has been your most special date so far?

*Honesty Disclaimer: Polyvore is being a right prick and not publishing any of my outfits ergo the need for 'parts'.

Things I Love Thursday (On Saturday!)

2010-11-13T10:20:00.000+10:00

Flowers! The top bunch I bought after a yucky day last week and the ones below were a surprise from one of my departing Year 12s

My Harry Potter marathon. I'm writing this while watching Order of the Phoenix. I would love to be as well spoken as Hermione.

That there are only 10 more school days. This year has flown by at a frightful speed but I'm really quite over this term!

Being given a 2 boxes of chocolates, a bottle of shampoo and a $50 Myer voucher from various departing kids. Makes everything that little bit sweeter.

Eating that chocolate for breakfast

Zumba. It is so nice to feel so good about yourself in a room full of equally uncoordinated women

Dark brown hair and red red lips

Cocktails and delicious food at Meccah Bah to end the week

How was your week? What made it good?

Things I Love Thursday

2010-11-06T14:30:00.000+10:00

This Thursday was one of those exhausting ones where it is tough to find anything to be thankful for. I got home from the gym, utterly exhuasted after a tough week and just couldn't think of anything to write. Then yesterday, I was sent home sick from work. After not feeling like myself for a good week, I'm ready to snap out of the blues with a dose of goodness.

Now it is Saturday afternoon and today is one of my favourite kind of Saturday's; perfect, perfect weather.

This is what I just love:

My 'single man' lunch and dinner of potato wedges, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce

late night phone calls

Mid morning champagne

That Blake got in from America this morning!

Plans to make my famous cob loaf tonight

That there is someone who makes me feel like this:

Ben's 30th birthday celebration tonight

That I have marked one draft so far today, hey, I'll take whatever progress I can at this point!

New underwear and pretty dresses

Having only 3 more weeks of school to go. They'll be HUGE weeks, but still!

That my dad is coming to visit tomorrow!

Talking to my sisters. It is so helpful to talk to people who know you SO well

How are you? Did anything make you super happy? Did you have a 'funky' week as well?

October Challenge: Budget Update 4

2010-10-31T18:06:00.005+10:00

Image via weheartit.com

Today, the last day of October, sees me finish my October Budget Challenge.

Thank you, your applause is appreciated.

For me, this all came out of my addiction to snapping up 'bargains' or spending frivolously on nailpolish or eyeshadow. I'm also very bad at saying no to new clothes, particularly at this time of the year, with lots of pretty summery things coming into fashion! In the past month, the only clothes I have bought have been 2 pairs of underwear and one pair of sunglasses. Yesterday, I also splashed out on $23 of accessories at Diva to wear to an engagement party. So while I didn't buy any new outfits, I guess I did break the 'don't buy anything new' rule I had made. I know, I know, I'm only cheating myself.

A month after starting this challenge, I have a better understanding of where I spend my money. Looking over my bank statement, there's a lot of spending happening at Woolworths and Coles. And while a girl's gotta eat, November will see me get a better grip on food budgeting and cooking, mostly, for one.

This challenge has proved to me how much room I don't have to move in my budget and that those more expensive social engagements we all love to attend, must be more realistically factored into the budget ie. dinner + drinks + cab = more than expected. It is nice to have a direction.

I'm looking forward to buying this book:

After reading an article Antonia wrote for maybe Madison magazine, I found a lot of what she'd said resonated with me so I'll let you know how I go with the book!

I'd like to think that by this time next year, Lola'll be living large...or something.

Things I Love Thursday

2010-10-28T19:30:00.000+10:00

- An uplifiting message from a new blog reader, Kimberley. Kind words never fail to make my day!

- Eating coconut ice as I sit here and type this

- Leaving school just before the bell and having to wear my cardigan as a hat for protection from the sudden down pour

- Being told this morning that I resembled Audrey Hepburn in my chosen outfit. Some people really know the way to my heart.

- Eating my Crunchy Nut Cornflakes (sudden cereal obsession) out of an oversized Cupcake mug my mum bought me

- Watching someone open a present I had struggled to buy, only for them to be speechless

- That I have quite a few beautiful dresses to choose from (and yet I am really struggling for what to wear to my gorgeous friends'- Amy and Michael - engagement party)

- Wearing wedges all day at school and not getting blisters

- Getting into a good hair/makeup routine of a morning. Having a few inches cut off has really made quite a difference.

- Maybe making this for dinner

- Excellent compliments from wonderful men

- Sweaty nights at the gym to relive the stress of the day

- That it is half way through the term

What's making your heart race?

November Book Club: Never Let Me Go

2010-10-26T19:57:00.006+10:00

This book comes recommended by my very intelligent and good-looking friend, Blake.

He is very clever and told me I, and all who read Lola should read this before the film comes out.

Now if that didn't sell you, the headline on the cover might.

"The Best Novel Of The Decade" - TIME

If that doesn't sell you, I don't know what will.

Go out and buy yourself one now so we can read together this November. I have a feeling, we won't be sorry.

October Challenge: Budget Update 3 - On Eating, Loving and Budgeting

2010-10-24T18:44:00.005+10:00

Last night I took my fried-marking brain (I have three classes of drafts to mark, that's 76 drafts over a weekend. Plus, Monday..) off to see Eat, Pray, Love.

I'd put out to my facebook that I had somewhat low hopes as the movie has been pretty much panned by most people I've come in contact with. I seriously adored the book as well so this upped my nervousness of Book Not Properly Translating to Film syndrome. I am very happy to report that I loved the film as well. I laughed, I cried, I ignored the fact that there was some serious 'happy ending-y' vibes but I think it successfully encompassed a lot of the guilt many of us feel in our lives. Guilt for living to well, not treating ourselves, or others, well enough, guilt for having so much but not being happy.

It sure made me realise that I was:

a) not to feel guilty about breaking my Challenge when I bought new ($20) sunglasses after breaking my two favourite pairs.

and

b) that I have fallen out of love with food lately.

For me, that last one is definitely more upsetting/shocking/utterly devastating.

Sarah Wilson wrote about this scene awhile ago and while I don't quite remember it from the book, I really thought it was quite beautifully done in the film. Basically, Elizabeth serves herself a plate of food she loves, that don't generally go together, and sat on the floor, reading and doing nothing.

This afternoon I made my own plate.

All I felt like was a baguette with salmon and philly cheese, chopped apple and some fizzy raspberry drink and I sat and ate it on what was one of the most beautiful Spring days. There are other things I would probably add but for this hot afternoon, that was just perfect.

Tonight, rather than having the tasty but boring Latina pasta and sauce I've been turning to of late, I'm cooking up broccoli, carrot and potatoes with a fillet mignon. Totally posh and delicious.

With only one more week of my challenge to go, I think I'm doing okay, however present buying of late has really put a spanner in the budgeting works - it always seems to be the unknown stuff that crops up and ruins my best laid plans. Well, I'll blame them anyway.

I did have a look over my food purchases for the last fortnight and was a little mortified by how much I spend on not a lot of food. My love for cooking does just not extend to dinner. Well, not lately it hasn't. So I want to know, what's your favourite go-to meal? What do you love to cook? Or even better, what do you love to eat? What would be on your perfect plate?

Things I Love Thursday (On Friday)

2010-10-22T22:13:00.000+10:00

beautiful picture via weheartit.com

Waking up happy

Good hair and make up to finish what has been a somewhat hellish week

Late night adventures

Surprise bunches of flowers after hideous sad days

Having two days away from the classroom and having boys 'Welcome' me back to class

When you've driven somewhere for the first time and you never even know it exists and then, after you've been there once it is almost like you can feel the map in your brain extend to a whole new section of your world

Finding the winning, best ever chocolate cupcake recipe

Friday mornings

Zumba anticipation

Book Depository orders arriving! Stay tuned, Book Club recommencing next week with a corker!

Sunny but cool Spring Days. There is some really awesome weather around this week and it is nice to still be able to throw on a cardigan. Not sure if it is time to bare my Winter arms just yet.

But speaking of Winter arms, I've been thoroughly enjoying the work outs I've had lately with some of my colleagues. It is nice to unwind and be pushed by our "trainer" (colleague). He keeps us from getting bored and distracted and chatty. Mostly because we are out of breath the entire time!

So, who or what are you loving this week?

October Challenge: Budget Update 2

2010-10-17T21:26:00.001+10:00

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Did you know, this October has 5 weekends? Well it does. So that means 10 days where I am not working and thus have time to spare. I never realised until this challenge how much time I spend at the shops, whether it is actually looking for something or just generally browsing. Let me tell you, that is a lot of lost time.

I've attempted to fill in some of this 'lost time' with other activities that fall under the "free" option. These have included a friend's birthday night and supervising semi-formals. You know, the usual.

With no big plans for today, I decided it was time to venture to Westfield Chermside, my favourite shopping destination, to see what damage I could do or avoid. I had two things I was on the look out for:

Wrapping paper for a friend's engagement present
A birthday present for a friend

I managed to get both and then fed myself at Wagamama's as reward for sticking to the task at hand. I would probably have high-fived myself if I could.

I found not going into Sportsgirl, Myer, The Body Shop etc really helped with the whole no-buying-thing.

I can understand why guys don't particularly like shopping, they dislike the whole "wandering with no purpose for things they may or may not need/want" whereas, in comparison, girls seem to love the wander. It wasn't the most enjoyable of shopping trips but I got what I had to get, so I guess in that regard it was a successful one.

Next on the list is how the billz are being paid. Normally what I would do is on the Friday I'm paid, pay EVERYTHING I need to pay off and hope I have some leftover. This fortnight I'm trying something new. I haven't put any money into my savings or transferred payments to my owing tax or computer account. I found that paying everything straight away or putting the cash aside made me feel a little stranded for the rest of the fortnight. So instead, I've just been more cautious and obviously, am not spending on a lot of things I would normally find attractive (Yes, mascara and lipgloss I'm talking to YOU!). Looking at my bank balance seriously today, I think this experiment is working well so far. It is nice to see a little more cash there, but know I can't spend it all. Normally, I probably would!

With exactly 2 weeks left of not buying anything new for October, I think my cupboard is faring pretty well. I'm definitely finding different combinations and settling happily on my favourite outfits if they work. Nothing wrong with a little repetition!

It has been helpful to hear your finance stories - good or bad and I'd love to hear more. If you have any budgeting tools or tips that you've found easy to stick to I'd be interested to hear how it works for you.

Things I Love Thursday

2010-10-15T23:00:00.000+10:00

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That after quite a crappy, frustrating afternoon with my Year 12s I spent an hour in the hairdresser and am now sporting a fresh, long bob. It feels like something of a relief to get rid of that long hair.

Tonight went off to the Year 11 Semi-Formal. Always a fun night, as long as everyone is on their best behaviour. This group were some of my first students I taught so it was exciting to see them (mostly) looking all fancy.

While I miss the sunny days, SO MUCH, I still love these nights I'm able to listen to the rain while I sleep, or blog.

Writing and listening to Bon Iver and Regina Spektor. Any other suggestions for my 'Up Late' mix?

Embracing the Zumba craze. At first I thought it would be a hellishly uncool and disastrous class but it turned out to be only uncool and incredible fun. I think I may be hooked.

Thursday night workouts with some colleagues. Fun, challenging and time really flies. Plus there is this beautiful serenity being at school when no kids are around and we're not in teacher mode.

Hoping for a beautiful weekend despite the weather

Crunchy Nut cravings for breakfast all week.

My sister being totally, physically fine after a car accident this week (dislike: not being closer to home!)

That the October Challenge is forcing/encouraging me to be more creative with my outfits, knowing I'm not going to "just get" something new anytime soon!

October Challenge: Budget Update 1

2010-10-10T19:00:00.000+10:00

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This week marked my first successful week of the October Budget Challenge. I am paid fortnightly, on a Friday, so fighting the temptation to buy things over that first weekend is always my biggest hurdle. This weekend it was made more difficult as the weather was consistently terrible and as a result the shops were singing out to be wandered through. And I admit, wander I did. For about 10 minutes and then I realised how boring it was to wander, knowing you're DEFINITELY not buying so I sensibly headed home.

Phew.

Lola - 1 vs. Shops- 0.

I've also been cutting back on going to the grocery store. I know, a girl's gotta eat. I realised thought that I just love buying food but often buy in excess of what I will actually consume. I've had countless times where I've bought a crisper full of vegies and then end up throwing them all out because they go soft before I can cook them. Today I would've normally done a big shop but ended up with about 10 things, mostly for school lunches this week (yoghurt, bread and ham, CHEAP CHOCOLATE BREAKA!).

Friday saw me post off my first grouping of eBay sales and after postage costs and some ebay fees, I think I've made a profit of about $130. While the initial process of setting up items to sell and linking PayPal to my accounts was a little more complicated than I first imagined, overall I think it was definitely worthwhile considering they were items I didn't wear anymore.

I realised after starting the Challenge, that I had a layby at Myer on a gorgeous Cue dress for my friend's engagement party at the end of the month. I decided that I would use the money I made on eBay to pay off the layby, rather than dipping into my 'actual' money. Whatever is leftover of the eBay cash will go straight into my savings account. Bam. Problem solved.

I'd love to hear how you manage your pay when you first get it. Or hints for weekly meal planning. I know, money's a totally personal thing but go anonymous in your comments and then you can definitely divulge your joy in spending a quarter of your pay on lipgloss, underwear and chocolate.

Just me?

Things I Love Thursday

2010-10-09T13:40:00.000+10:00

image

I love:

that I have this excited, bubbling feeling in my belly about teaching. Over the holidays I felt a little bit like I'd lost it and just pondered what else in the world I would do. I have a lot of faith that I could find work in a different field if I wanted to but imagining the thought of not working with teenagers kind of bores me. It is so nice to know know that this is definitely THE job for me.

chocolate Breaka. Always. Always.

Well put together outfits. I'm starting to get a better sense of what my 'personal style' is. While I don't place a huge emphasis on clothing and what I wear/whether it even looks 'good' to the outside world, it feels nice to just feel good.

excellent side pony tails.

the beautiful, incredible Spring days we have been having in Brisbane that are followed by some pretty amazing Spring storms.

perhaps the best thing that happened this week is something that wouldn't be up here if I was ever on time with my posts. Good on me. My gorgeous friend Amy has asked me to be one of her bridesmaids! I was totally surprised and it just makes more excited for her and Michael to get married! Ah, love.

Things I Love Thursday

2010-10-02T22:00:00.001+10:00

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These holidays seem like they have gone faster than normal which is kind of strange because I really didn't do a whole lot. I think my body and mind needed a lot of recovery time Post Term 3. That's not particularly unusual though as Term 3 is always pretty huge. I'm hoping that Term 4 goes well - I'm looking forward to being excited about teaching again and trying some new activities with the boys. It is always good to change routine. What're you hoping for?

* watching Forrest Gump in a hoodie. Spring got cold.

* that it is October!

* the Qweekend dinner at Era Bistro last night. So much fun and lots of delicious food and plenty of drink. It was nice to meet journalists who are really passionate about their work and totally approachable as well

* finding new, cute blogs through other cute blogs

* changing up the look of Lola

* joking that Lola could almost be a stripper's name. Hmm..

* writing this list while listening to Bon Iver. It is like he feels my melancholy and responds totally appropriately, leaving me feeling listened to or something

* getting onboard the Zumba train. It really is incredibly fun.

* being invited for an impromptu pot-luck dinner to help give feedback on a practice wedding cake. Thoroughly enjoyable with really nice company.

* this:

* Hazlenut Fudge Sara Lee ice cream. Also, homemade chicken sausage rolls.

* that there is always hope.

* the rain. It doesn't seem to be going away. In fact there have been approximately two moments of sunshine during my school holidays but I've decided to embrace the rain. It lulled me to sleep for three hours this afternoon and is back keeping me company as I write this.

* that I haven't spent much of my holidays planning for school. That will change tomorrow. Nothing like some last minute inspiration.

* that people are supportive of my October Budget Challenge - $0 spent yesterday and only groceries bought today. 2 days in - going strong.

Your turn. Let's here it!

October Challenge: Budget

2010-09-30T13:09:00.004+10:00

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Monday saw me walk out of the Tax Man's office with my proverbial tail between my legs. While the news from the Tax Man was not pleasant, far from it, it highlighted something I have been thinking for the better part of the year; where the heck does my money go?

While sure, rent, car payments and paying off my wonderful laptop are necessities, there seems to be a whole lot of cash that is unaccounted for and is being whittled away into clothes, mascara and stationary. So, in order to combat the need I currently have of rationing my food before each fortnight's pay, I am embarking on a challenge for all of October. I will not spend a cent on clothing, beauty products or services and will not buy any excess stationary (because, with 3 full pencil cases in my desk drawer, I think enough is enough). This challenge is somewhat inspired by the Salvo's "Nothing New" campaign in which people are encourage to live more sustainably by only buying second hand for the month of October.

I should point out that the things I buy are not particularly extravagant. I don't buy designer clothes, I don't have some unhealthy addiction to shoes but I do spend little bits of money on 'things' that then, shock horror, add up to a lot of money. Case in point: I went to Myer the other day to get a baby present for a friend. I spent $25 on the baby, $15 on a little T-Shirt for myself, $40 on a layby and $44 on two lipglosses. Yep, so more than $100 later I wonder why my bank balance is looking different to what I had planned for the fortnight.

Obviously this is not a new idea. Lots of people forego shopping for different reasons. Sarah Wilson experimented with the idea and was able to go for 4 MONTHS without shopping. That seems like a long time but not impossible. While I don't think I have a particular addiction to shopping, I do enjoy it. It means for the next month I'm definitely going to have to be more creative with my current spring wardrobe. I find this is the hardest time of the year to dress professionally and appropriately at work. Bare arms and legs are not such a great idea. So that's one challenge to overcome already. Also, one of my best girlfriends is having her engagement party so it means I will be doing my own hair and makeup (with the makeup I already own) rather than booking in to get it done.

While my goal is to save money, I also thought, maybe in October I might be able to MAKE some cash as well, so on Tuesday I somewhat ruthlessly culled my wardrobe and made my foray into selling clothes on Ebay. I have put up for sale items that I haven't worn for a long time. Most of the items are being 'watched' at the moment, so on Sunday, if the prices stay where they are, I may be $280 ahead.

So, blog, I hope you stick around for the ride and hopefully this time next month, I can take you out for a nice meal because, well, I can. Maybe.